Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-12-17
GREATEST MONUMENT.
A White Column Erected in
Washington's Honor.
Description of the Magnificent Shaft the
Loftiest in Existence,

loftiest of all the creations OF men, mas
slowly arisen, during the past lew
years, to thu memory of Washington
1t is situated near the Potomac, in the
midst Of the groves and gardens ol our
beautiful national capital, not far from
the Presidents House. 1t is now
nearly completed and will be dedicated
with imposing ceremonies on the next
anniversary of Washington's blrthday'
In height it will exceed the pyramid
of Cheops by nearly a hundred ieet'
the ball Of ST. Peters by almost as
much. The famous London monument
by sir Christopher Wren is a little
more than one-thrd its height; the
cupola of st. Pauls would seem almost
a dwarf at its side. Our accomplished
builder has made an excursion into the
regions of the air quite unparalleled
and seems to rise easily with his great
theme above all the labors of the past.
Yet it is a acurious trait, showing the
close connection between the early and
| the later discoveries of science, that
the Washington Monument is built
almost with the exact proportion Oh IN
Egyptian obelisk. This was found to
be the best guide for the construction
of so tall a pillar. The monument is
ten times as high as it is broad at Its
base. 1t will be 5j5 feet high. 1t is
an enlarged obelisk, a copy of the soll-
tlry shaft that still points out the de-
serted site of IIeliopolis, or the ruddy
pillars that adorn the Central Park
and nearly all the great capitals OF
Europe-eXiles of Egypt. But our
American column will add to its at
fractions many cOnvenencQs unknown
to the anc ent or even modern builders.
Wren monument or Trajan's column
at Rome, could only be assembled by a
weary flight of steps. In WashinStons
the visitor will be seized upon by the
genius of steam, and raised in q few
moments in comfortable elevator
almost to the copper apex at its top,
1t is white marble on the outside,
granite within. Iron columns rising
to the top support the elevator. The
foundation is 50 solid, the proportion
so Just, that the tail pillar shows
scarcely detection from the line Of
strictest rectltude.
Globes of electric light will adorn
the interior. There will be no dark
ness in the shaft. The copper point
at the top conducts the lightning to
the ground. 1t will never be struck
like the statue Of Jupiter on the Roman
Capitol. The electric experiments OF
Franklin will be remembered by every
visitor, No one can examine this re-
markablc column without feeling that
a new advance has been made in arChi-
lecture, and the various devices used
in its construction show the triumph
of modern skill Why should we not
have houses as tall? Why abandon
the upper regions of the air and cling
SO closely TO the tainted earth? Before
the visitor to the Washington Monu-
ment will open a prospect as far as
any the eye of man has restel on. lie
will look down upon a land OF freedom.
The scene is crowned with historical
memories some sad, some full of hope
and joy. Before him flows the broad
Potomac; not far away is Mount Yer
non. Beneath him are battle-helds
and scenes of bitter struggle in the
past, and now the quiet city, hid in
groves and gardens, sleeping in the
shades of perpetual peace.
1t is Il hundred years since Washing
ton, victorious yet sad, sick, impover-
ished, and almost desponding, had
returned to Mount Vernon, hoping to
find rest. But for him there was to be
no repose He was drawn at once into
that violent political contest that fol-
lowed the cessation of the war. lie
led the party Of union. Ills mental
labors were ceaseless and excessive; he
grew Old early. But he was success
full. The disturbed and dsordered
country rose to prosperity and peace.
Its enemies, who had forctold its utter
RUIN, were amazcl at its progress.
The Union sprang up fair and shnpely
from the builders hand, and it WAS
chiefly by the influence OF Washington's
spotless name and ceasuleSs toll that
the nation became one. It's this peri
pd in his life that the new monument
will most litly commemorate. 1t was
then that he became more than ever
the author of modern freedom.
This lofty and magnificent column
will attract for generations the rcver-
ent curiosity of irecmna. They will
come from every part of the world to
visit the city, the monument, and the
rrave Uf Washington. The obeltsk
Recorded only the name of Il despot
ind the sorrows of the people. a
Traian and Marcus Aurelias were
; the masters of nation Of slaves. The
legends and monuments of European
kings grow stale and Improbable. The
white marble shaft ut Washington re-
calls namn dear to all mankind
Hayper'S Weekly.
Recent vital statistics show that
under the agh Of fifteen there are more
bows than girls, but after the fifteenth
, wear there are more women than men,
1 and between the ages of ninety and
, | ,n, bn,lrnJ II, ,,r,nnrt ion IL thrhpIn