The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1885-03-04
From our regular Correspondent.
Washington Letter.

The dedication of the Washington
Monument on Saturday last was mem
orable affair. 1t was national event,
and may say the whole nation united
i'll the expression of JOY and gratitude over
the completion of the memorial, for the
ceremonies brought to the Capitol mill
tarv and civic organizations from every
part of the country. It is a eonsun1Hna.
ton which ten years ago seemed not
likely to occur during the present CEN
tury. Today it is perfect structure,
piercing the sky, the highest monument
ever raised by human hands, and will be
a wonder and delight forever, to all who
gaze upon it.
The dedicatory programme was admir-
ably carried out, both at the Monument
and at the Capitol. The procession pre-
sented splendid appearance on the
smooth, cleanly swept floor of Pennsyl-
vania Avenue, and finer military dis
play has seldom been seen, even in this
city of memorable pageants. At the
head of the line, mounted on a fine black
horse, and enveloped in large black
cloak, rode the General of the Army,
Little Phil. Sheridan" followed by
four Aids. General Ayers marshalled
another division of the procession, and
General Fitz-Hugh Lee, on large bay
stallion brought up another. President
Arthur followed about midway in the
procession. He was in an open carriage,
the only one in the line drawn by four
horses. He was cheered and jeered
alongt the route. One uncouth individual
shouted, "Hello Chet.. old boy, am sor-
ry 1 can't go fishing with you next sum-
mer." The sun shone upon the cele-
bration, but the winter wind was pierre
ing. The crowds on the streets hugged
the lee-side of the buildings in their eff
forts to keep comfortable, and seemed
far more desirous of witnessing the mil
itary display than the ceremonies. The
programme at the base of the Monu-
ment comprised prayer; remarks en-
bodying history OF the Monument by
w. w. Corcoran, the first vice-president
of the Monument society; Masonic GER
emonies; remarks by Col. Casey, the
Engineer of the Commission, delivering
the monument to the President of the
United States, and the dedication Of the
Monument to the name and memory of
George Washington by the President.
Senator Sherman presided and prefaced
his introductions by saying no one was
expected to take off his hat, not even
the speakers. The wind came to the
Monument from every point of the COM
pass; from Virginia, across the frozen
Potomac on one side, and across icy
Babcock Lake ON the other, and the crowd
seated on the grand stand kept their
feet moving to get warm. At the close
of President Arthur's speech, the assem-
blage broke into cheers, and at signal
from the chairman, Senator Sherman,
the military wheeled into line, the civic
bodies and distinguished participants in
the proceedings of the day sought their
carriages, and the pageant proceeded to
the Capitol. There it was reviewed by
the President from the east front and
dismissed. The procession was an hour
in passing point, there being about five
thousand persons in line. The program
me at the Capitol was as follows: Prayer
by the pastor of Pohick church, near
Mount Vernon Grafton by Hon. Robert
Winthrop, of Massachusetts, read by