Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1883-06-08

so that it would be feature seen from dis
tanee, SO that it could be made to seem part
of the rock itself But the objection to this
is that neither fifty thousand dollars
nor five hundred thousand dol
lars would be enough to accomplish
it in a style worthy of the object-Worthy of
this commanding and noble site. The lower
Green-Wooster Squsre-has besn suggested.
But the objection of its being where relative
ly few would see it holds good as to this
place, and the certainty of its being soon
neglected and utterly forlorn looking is as
great here as elsewhere. A spot on the low
er part of the central Green has been once
given by the Common Council and has been
accepted in behalf of the Grand Army, which
no seems to repudiate its former action
and to ask for one and another site-indi-
eating an unsettled state of mind as
one or another set of people speak IN
it's behalf This spot has the advantage of
being where it will be seen if that is an OBJ
iect, and where it will be SO forced upon the
public attention that for very shame con-
slant care must be given to it, and as con-
stant an expense must be entailed upon the
public in one way or another to keep it pre-
sentable. The same is true of the spot be-
fore the New Haven House. In this place
the number of people who will see it will be
smaller than if it is placed on the site once
given on the lower Green. 1t will be largely
hidden by Trinity church and the foliage.
But it will be nearer Chapel street where
some will pass. It will be far better than
the site of the State House, if that shall be
removed.
But the money used in the way W an iso-
lated monument is very likely to be wasted
with the very best intentions. To try to
save and to utilize to the very best advan-
tage the public money ought not to be mat
ter of Indifference to any taxpayer or to be
matter of reproaeh to anyone who plainly
seeks that object and that object only. There
is nothing in the statute providing that towns
may raise money by public tax for making
suitable memorials to the fallen soldiers to
prevent towns from giving the memorial
such form as to them shall seem fit.
Let US then utilize the money we have al
ready voted SO as to accomplish two objects
at the same time and make each more secure
by its connection with the other. In form
of a memorial library building placed
wherever it may be it will make it most GER
tain that the well earned fame of the soldiers
shall be forever associated with vital and per-
petually recurring feelings, with necessary
interests, and permanent and emo
bling considerations of public educa
ton. Made into library building
it will be certain to avoid that
worst calamity that can befall it-a decay of
recollection and of interest in the soldiers
intensified, if not turned to positive disgust,
by pile possibly of doubtful taste to begin
with, and going likewise to a gradual decay
an object no one can delight in and no one
will wish to remove. A thousand times bet
ter is it to let patriotism and learning, public
gratitude and public usefulness be forever
inseparably linked together in such build
ing and both will immeasurably gain by the
association. No one will blush at the ap-
pearance of such a noble and enduring me-
mortal to the soldiers. No one will regret to
see public library baptized in the name
and fame of the glorious soldiers of the Re-
public. JOSEPH SHELDON.