The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-29
THE NATIONAL MONUMENT TO GERMANY
Description OF the WOrk-NOw Et Was
Projected and Carried Into Execu-

rion.
Yesterday was set apart for the inaugu-
ration at Nedcrwarld, near Bingcn,
OF the national monument 10 Ger
mama. A telegram Of that date says:
The unveiling OF this great master
work Will take place to-day at noon
after preceding festivities I'm the neighbor-
ing towns and villages. The Emperor will
attend, i'm the presence OF the German
princes and high officials. 1t is expected
that $4,000 warriors. 5000 singers, and
1000 turner's will be present. Prince
Bismarck. who always had IN aversion to
noisy demonstrations, will not be present,
nor Will the recluSe King OF Bavaria, nor
the old Duke OF Brunswick. nor the King
Of Wurtemberg, who is not in good health.
In the citv OF Bingen grand SchueiZen-
fest for a whole week will take place, and
the occasion, moreover, will he celebrated
by race Of all the German rowing clubs
and a great procession OF all the turner's OF
RhinchesSia.
The Schuetzen Society Of Bingen will
distribute for prizes caps and gold and sill
Yer medals. with the words " Inauguration
OF the National Monumcnt-Schuetzen
bung, Bingcn," engraved on one side, and
1888" These medals also bear the head Of
the Emperor and OF the statue OF Ger
mania.
HISTORY or THE WORK.
Soon after the victories OF the Germans
in IS70-'71, when all of the Geman States
were united in one powerful empire. it
was determined to perpetuate the event by
the erection of a great national memorial.
The project was proposed by Herr l1eyl,
superintendent OF the royal bath in Wies-
baden. Emperor William patronzed and
supported the project, and contributions
flowed i'm from all over the nation. A
number Of sculptOrs were requested to
submit models for the monument.
That offered by the celebrated professor.
Dr.. Johannes Schill.ng, OF Dresden, was
judged TO he the best. and in 1874 he re-
ceiyed the order for the monument. which
it was determined to erect at the Nieder
wald, near Ruedesheim, spot celebrated
for the beauty Of rs scenery. The founda-
ton for the monument was laid September
1C, 1877. with imposing ceremony. After
the great stone upon which the memorial
was to be erected was sunk in the ground
the Emperor struck it three times with a
hammer, saying, rs he did so: "As my
father once spoke TO the Prussian people
ut the monument OF Frederic the Great,
in Berlin, so | to-day on this occasion eX-
claim also. 'In memory to the fallen
braves. in honor OF the living, and for an
example to the rising generatiOn.V Then
the Emperor's son, the Crown Prince, also
gave three blows of the hammer upon the
stone, with the words With God for the
Emperor and Germany"
THE SITE AND PEDESTAL.
The place on which the monument is
erected is called "NOgler'S Ruh." 1t
stands on a great height, and the approach
from the Ruedesheim side is difficult. Great
trouble was found in transporting the
building material, and the conveyance OF
single mammoth sandstone often took sew
eral DAYS. The foundation extends nine.
teen and three-fourths feet under the soil,
and the whole structure, including the
pedestal, is eighty-two feet high. The cost
OF this portion OF the monument was about
1000 marks, or S2j,0)). The pedestal,
rising from artificial rocks, OyerlookS the
forests OF the Niederwald. y broad carriage
drive has been laid around the base ina asemi-
circle, and fronting the river stands a
watch-tOwer, which. after the unveiling OF
the monument, will be mounted by
guard OF honor selected from the inyalds
Of the FrancO-German war. The SEMI
circular stone wall separates the monument
from the surrounding vineyards. On the
centre Of this wall balcony i to he built,
from which the superb view across the
river can be seen to perfection.
The pedestal Of the monument bears the
following inscription: :" In remembrance
Of the war OF the whole German nation in
1S70-;71. Peace ut Frankfort October .,
ISL" Then follow the names OF the regi-
meats and the battles in which they partici-
pated and the words spoken by Emperor
William when the foundaton-stone was
laid.
THE STATUE OF MARS.
From the foundations, stairs ascend to
balcony, the base OF the artistic part Of the
monument. Here, 10 the left on high
pedestal. stands a colossal statue OF Mars,
the God OF War. 1t is marked by its
strength and energy. In the right hand
the figure grasps a sword, as though in the
act OF striking, while in the other hand is
is a trumpet held to the lips, with which TO
sound the war cry. Flames are represent
ed issuing from the top OF the helmet, and
expression OF the eyes and face is one OF
vengeance mingled with confidence.
The companion figure 10 the right is an
alIcgory OF Peace, graceful youth, full OF
tranquility, with the symbolical oliye-twig
I'm ore hand, cornucopia OF fruits and
flowers in the other, and propheSying the
blessing OF peaceful progress and labor.
Each OF these figures is eighteen feet high.
The helmeted head OF Mars alone measures
four feet, and the trumpet which the God
OF War holds in his hands is almost eight
feet long.
FIGURES IN BAS-RELlEF.
Between the two statues OF Mars and OF
Peace, along the whole front OF the I'M
mense base on which the head figure
" "Germania " stands, is large reief-plate
showing about 200 figures in lifc-size,
among them the Emperor, the Crown
Prince. Prince Bismarck, Count Moltke,
and all the other German princes and gem
erals who took part in the war. Emperor
William sitting on horseback Is seen in
the centre Of the groups. lie has Just
passed through portal decorated with the
flags and arms OF the confederated States
and Of the three free cities Of Germany. In
the foreground, on both sides, are stand
ing the leaders OF the German army, with
their chiefs OF staff; In the background the
leaders OF the different divisions OF the
army and squads OF infantry, cavalry, artil-
lery, etc.
Beneath these groups Of figures are en-
graved the 1--WE yerses OF the song Die
Wachf am Rheiu.v Above the plafe hOyerN