National Republican., 1884-05-13
A HISTORY IN STONE.

inscriptions Upon Blocks Which Have
Been Contributed for the Washington
Monument.
In the lapidarium, a wooden building near
tho base of the Washington monument. there
are about 100 curious stones sent ut various
times by societies, states, aud nations to be
incorporated in the monument. Many of
thom are large, elaborately carved, and must
have cost thousands of dollars, They have
inscribed upon them tho names of the givcr,
usually with dato and motto. Somo were
placed in the monument by the original
Washington Monument society, but since the
government has taken hold of the work none
of them have been used. They will probably
bo inserted in front Of the platforms after
the SHAFT is complete.
Tho largest and finest stone Is presented by
tho CORPORATION OF Philadelphia" and is so
inscribed. The Bremen" and Greece"
stones come next in size and beauty. OnU is
inscribed "Tho Closophic Society, n. J.," an
other Jefferson Society, Va" Then thero
are stones inscribed "Oldcst Inhabitants, ID.
c., 1870" American Medical Association"
Nebraska" Tho Sons of Now England in
Canada" Arabia" "China," Brazil"
Kansas, 1861" Nevada 1851" Georgia
Convention, 1850" Sabbath School. Phila.
delphia, 1853" There is u stone inscribed
From the Temple of Esculapius, Island Of
Paros, 1855" Another, THE FREQ Swiss
Confederation. 1870" aud Engine Company
Northern Liberty, Philadelphia" Fire
Department, Philadelphia, 1882" la Fay
cite Masons, n. Y. City, 1853" Grand
Lodge of Pennsylvania, 1s51," and "Con-
tnontal Guard, Now Orleans, 1856" the two
last named being very large stones"
"drand Division Sons of Temperance Of
Illinois, 1856" marks one stone. II will be
observed that the date is earlier than the
alleged discovery of Martha Washington's
account books with items OF wines for her
husband. "Deseret (Utah) Holiness to the
Lord" with an engraved beehive, marks
another stone, but there is no allusion to
polygamy. Battle Ground, Long Island"
and From BraddoCk's Field" marks two
interesting rocks. "Charlestown, the Bunker
Hill Battle Ground" with representation of
the Bunker Hill monument, appears upon
another. The block engraved Michigan" is
OF solid copper.
"The State Of Louisiana--Ever Faithful
to the Constitution and the Union" and
"Tennessoe-tho Federal Union, it must be
Preserved" are two inscriptions containing
a world of meaning. They were sent many
years before the war. when tho only talk Of
secession came from away north of Mason
aud DiXon's line. Cherokee Nation, 1Sj5"
"Templars of Honor aud Temperapce-Truth,
Love- Purity, and Fidolity;" New York,
with cont-of.arms, n shield marked "Ex-
cesior;' "Norriss Locomotive Works, Phila-
delphia," with u locomotive; Salem, Mass"
with no mention Of witchcrait; vermont"
with u shield, Freedom and Uuity;" Sons
of Temperance, Pennsylvania" are some of
the interesting Inscriptions
One sandstone block, IL by 90 inches, sent
by Switzerland, is inscribed, This block of
stone is from tho original chupel built to
William Tell, in 1885. ON Lake Lucerne,
Switzerland at the spot where he escaped
from Gessler." Since that stone was sent
here the Historical society of Switzerland
has demonstrated that no such person Us Tell
and Gcssler ever existed. In the late ency-
clopedias the first named goes down as
Tell, William, q mythical hero of Switzer-
land Then tho wise men show that similar
traditions exist in many nations, especially
in Persia, where tyrant compels u hunter
to shoot an apple from his sons head. Tho
story in Persia also includes the flight of tho
second arrow. Nevertheless, the stone be-
longs to the monument in honor OF besuti-
full story of patriotism, even if its hero is IA
myth.