Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-12-04
The Washington Monument.

Eugene Lawrence, in Harper's Week
~, gives the following account of tie
Washington monument:
A fair white marble column, the
Hottest of all the creations of men, has
slowly arisen, during the last few years,
to the memory of Washington. 1t Is
situated near the Potomac, in the midst
of the groves and gardens of our beau
tiful national capital, not far from the
Presidents House. 1t is now nearly
completed. In a few months the last
stone will be placed ON the wonderful
pillar and it will be dedicated with i'm
posing ceremonies on the next anniyer-
sary of Washington's birthday. In
height it will exceed the pyramid of
Cheops by nearly hundred feet, and
the ball of st. Peters by almost as much.
The famous London monument by
Sir Christopher Wren is a little more
than one-third its height; the cupola of
st. Paul's would seem almost a dwarf
by 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 curious trait, showing the
close connection between the earlier
and the later discoveries of science. that
the Washington Monument is built al
most with the exact proportions of an
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 the base.
1t will be 555 feet high.
Onr American column will add to IFS
attractions many conveniences I'M
known to ancient or even modern build
ers. Wren's monument, or Traian's
Column at Rome, could be assembled
only by a weary flight of steps. In
Washington's the visitor will be seized
upon by the genius of steam and raised
in few moments in comfortable ele-
yator almost to the copper apex at the
top. 1t is white marble on the outside,
granite within. Iron columns rising
to the top support the elevator The
foundation is SO solid, the proportions
so just, that the tall pillar shows scarce
ly detection from the line of strictest
rectitude.
Globes of electric light will adorn the
interior. There will be no darkness in
the interior of 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. None can examine this remark
able column without feeling that new
advance has been made in architecture,
and the various devices used in its con-
struction show the triumph of modern
skill. Why should we not have houses
as tall? Why abandon the upper re-
gions of the air and cling so closely to
the tainted earth? Before the visitor to
the Washington Monument will open a
prospect rs fair as any the eye of man
has rested on. He will look down upon
a land of freedom. The scene is crowd
ed with historical memories sad,
some full of hope and joy. Before him
flows the broad Potomac; not far away
is Mt. Vernon Beneath him are battle
fields 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.
This lofty and magnificent column will
attract for generations the reverent GU
riosity of freemen. They will come
from every part of the world to visit the
city, the monument and the grave of
Washington. The legends and monu-
-ments of European kings grow stale
and Improbable. The white marble
shaft at Washington recalls name dear
to all mankind