Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-08-06
An Admirable Selection.

i An Admirable selection.
At last decision has been reached a:
to the burial place of Gen. Grant, and
the choice is an admirable one. The
family have declared their preference
i for the Riverside Park, the site chosen
being that of the old Claremont House
which, after standing nearly century
and quarter, will give place to the
tomb and monument of the Nations he+
70. 1t would be impossible to find a
more imposing situation. At the upper
end of the Riverside Park, on lofty
ground, commanding unequalled views
in all directions, embracing the Hudson
to the Tappan Zee, and even stretch OF
the Sound on the other hand, it only re-
mains to secure noble and fitting men-
umental edifice to make this the most
remarkable and beautiful mausoleum in
in the country. The family of the de-
ceased General have shown sound judg
ment and conspicuous good taste in their
choice of site; and ilasmuch as the
Riverside Park especially in that part,
is still uncompleted, it will be possible
to harmonic its arrangement and deco
rations with the plan Of the monument,
so as to secure the best landscape effects.
The choice of so effective site. how
ever, renders it all the more important
that the structure itself should be in
harmony with its surroundings, and the
most cautious and earnest consideration
will have to be given to the plans. So
noble situation should stimulate the
imagination of the architects, and ena
BILE them to produce a monument which
will be worthy of its purpose and its
position. There can be no doubt that in
few years this part of Riverside Park
will be one of the most beautiful and
popular of the resorts of the city, and
the selection of it for the resting place
of Gen. Grant may well lead to its APP
preparation in special way for the dis
play of those sculptural memorials and
other artistic records which are from
time TO time demanded by the passing
away of historic characters. The situa-
ton is one which lends itself readily to
such uses, and they in turn, far from in
terferiDg with the original putpose of
the park reservation, will ennoble and
beautify the peoples pleasure ground,
and confer upon it special and enduring
distinction.
No such objections as were raised
against the interment in the more fre>
quented portion Of Central Park can APT
ply to the site of the Claremont House.
which will remain, so far as concerns
this part of it; what the erection of the
Grant monument must make it, spot
apart, dedicated in perpetuity to the glo-
ry of hero and the gratitude and love
of a Nation. AS yet indeed the charac+
ter of the monument to be erected is un-
determined. Whether it be the offering
of the whole country or otherwise, how
ever, it is equally necessary that it shall
be the best that American architechtu-
raj skill and genius can devise; and it is
desirable that it should be distinctively
an American design. 1t must reflect not
only the career of the great dead it COM
memorates, but the National history
with whose early developments its site
is so intimately associated, and fall
ure to grasp all the requirements Of such
a monument would dwarf and narrow
the outcome, so that the National feel
ing would be only imperfectly expressed.
There is abundant cause for congratu-
lation at the felicity of the choice of
General Grants burial place. His fami-
ly have done all that is in their power
to secure success for the enshrinementI
of their dead. Now let it be seen to
that the succeeding steps in the great
work are taken with equal Judgment,
and that high duty well and faithfully
performed may be expressed as clearly
in the ediice that rises above the dead
soldiers tomb as in the life it is intend
ed to preserve the memory of through |
the centuries IN. Y. Tribune.