The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-04
THE GRANT MEMORIAL.
An American Walhalla-A Practical and
Artistic Suggestion.

Artistic Suggestion.
Art Union.
Let the Grant memorial be made what that OF
Washington was intended to be-a hall of patri-
OTIS and heroes, of whom the Nation has cause to
be reverentially proud
The most magnificent monument in the world
is the Bavarian Walhalla. In the Northern
mythology Walhalla means the place of abode of
those who fall In battle as heroes. In modern
reality it is a superb temple erected by Ludwig
I, of Bavaria, between 1880 and 1S41 to the
glory of his fatherland 1t was intended as a
temple of fame for all Germany, and
of the building was made by the great
architect, Won Klenze, and the chief sculptors
of Bavaria contributed to the execution of the
plan. The Walhalla is built OH an eminence
2o0 feet above the Danube, at Donaustauf, near
Regensburg suburb of Munich, and cost 800 :
900 forms, which means half as mnny of our
dollars 1t is built in the style of the Parthenon
is nearly the same in size, of marble end is in
fact splendid hail. filled with statues. busts
and other sculptured semblances of the great
men of Germany and with carved memorials of
her legends and history. The Walhala is a
place of pilgrimage for all good Germans and
tourists and amply repays the journey. 1t is in
itself a noble art gallery and an awe-inspiring
monument to the greatness of one of the great
est nations on the globe.
In the front of this superb edifce rises another
stupendous memorial, the Bavaria. 1t was
erected by Ludwig /, of Bavaria from a model
by Schwanthaler, the greatest sculptor of modern
Germany 1t is a single female figure sixty five
feet high on thirty -foothigh pedestal. Beside
the figure crouches lion. The statue was cast
from Turkish and Norwegian cannon taken in
battle Internally it is as remarkable as it is
externally imposing. There is door in the back
part of the pedestal which gives on stoae stair
case OF Sixty steps. These lead into the figure,
from which side passage takes you into the
body of the lion. Fftyreieht more steps con-
duct into the head where there are seats and
openings for the enjoyment of the view. Thirty
one people can stand IL the head alone. The body
was cast in seven pieces and the lion in five The
statue was unveiled in August 1850, having
taken six years to finish. 1t contains seventy
eight tons of metal. The Bavaria is really part
of the Walhalla, standing, as it does, in front of
that noble structure, over whose portal it keeps
steady and faithful guard. The cost of the Ba-
varia was about one hundred thousand dollars.
What we would suggest is the building of q
vast temple like the Walhalla This should be
permanently dedicated to General Grant, and
his statue should be its first occupant. 1t should
then be filled. as time goes on, with the statues
and busts of our great men, and it should be so
designed that extensions could be made without
detriment to its architectural unity. Such a
structure, so tenanted, would become national
temple, place of popular pilgrimage, and it's ST.
lent hall, peopled with the bronze and marble
efigies of our illustrious dead, would make it
the most sacred and instructive place in the
country
Whatever monument may be raised upon the
spot where the dead warrior makes his last
bivouac; however striking and splendid this
monument may and doubtless will be, it will
still be rather local than a national work. Let
1t serve to mark his resting place, and remind
the city's holiday makers of q true American
and great soldier, who earned all the love and
gratitude of tho land he helped to make illustri-
Gus. But In the city where the Nations govern
ment centers; where the official palaces Of free