Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-02-28
MONUMENT.


The Noblest Monument of Man to
Man.
Special Correspondence Of the ~1NrER-OczAx.l
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2l.-This will be a
memorable day for the people of Wash
ington and for the thousands of stran-
gers within her gates. The national
monument, erected to the memory of
George Washington, was dedicated with
becoming pomp and ceremony. The
massive memorial has been slowly grow
ing toward its apex for thirty-six years.
To-day prayers were offered for it, patri-
otto music was d~iscoursed about, flowers
OF rhetoric were strewn over it and
wreathed around it, and it was formally
pronounced a finished work. 1t is the
noblest monument ever reared by man
to man. 1t exceeds the pyramids in
height, as we'll as all monuments of an
Gent or modern times, and it transcends
them all in the moral grandeur of the
sentiment that reared 1t and in the
character it commentaries. When the
corner stone was laid in l848, the ora
tor of the occasion, Hon. Robert Win.
throp, said in his address: "Build it to
the skies, you cannot outreach the loft
mess of his principles; found it upon
eternal rock, you cannot make it more
enduring than his fame; construct it of
the peerless Parian marble, you cannot
make it purer than his life; exhaust
upon it the principles of ancient and
modern art, you cannot make it more
proportionate than his character"
A grand stand decorated with flags,
streamers and bunting had been erected
at the base of the monument. On this
the president, congress and invited
guests, distinguished and otherwise, to
the number of about fifteen hundred,
assembled to hear the speeches. At
their conclusion the immense process
sion, which had been arranging for hours
to fall properly in line, proceeded to
march TO the capitol, marshalled by
Gen. Sheridan. Members of congress
rode in carriages, and all the aides rep
resenting states and territories were on
horseback. Brass bands we're scattered
along in the line at intervals; there were
various battal'ons of military, many
civic organizations and companies of
secret orders, notably the Freemasons.
All these bodies, with their bright uni
forms, floating banners, and gorgeous
regalia, marching to the strains of patrl-
otto airs, presented a stirring spectacle.
Nearly every lodge in the United
States was represented in the parade.
During the progress of the march to the
capitol batteries Of artillery, stationed
respectively at Fort Myer, the navy yard
and in the White lot near the monu-
ment, fred simultaneously a salute of
n hundred guns. At the capitol the
ceremonies assumed a more exclusive
character. Of course the whole world
could not get into the hall of represen-
~tatives. Its capacity was adequate for
only about two thousand people. So
congress and its families and friends,
including the diplomatic corps, the JUS
tees of the supreme court, ex-senators,
cabinet officers, ex-cabinet officers, the
president, and last but not least the
surviving kith and kin of the Father Of
his Country entered, and the doors of
the capitol were closed to those who had
no tickets. There are thirteen descend
ants bearing the name of Washington.
Having been assigned to places on the
floor of the hall they came in a body
and sat together in a row. 1t Is a little
remarkable that the number should
correspond with the thirteen original
colonies. The favored two thousand
people heard an grafton read, which
had been sent by Mr.. Winthrop, the or,
ator of the laying of the corner stone
being still too feeble to appear in per-
son. They then heard an oral Grafton
by Hon. John W. Daniels, congressman
elect from Virginia. There was music
by the Marine band composed expressly
for the occasion. There was first an
opening prayer, lastly a benediction,
and the distinguished assembly dis
persed. Tonight in the monument
grounds the display Of fireworks was
very elaborate. 1t included fifty mum,
bers, embracing bomb shells, bouquets
of rockets, flights of meteoric balloons,
and fountains Of fire. Among the sci
pieces was a dolphin fountain, composed
of two golden dolphins supporting c
basin in diamond lace work. From
this a life-size figure issued holding ar
urn, from which issued a stream of silvel
fire and spray. There was a represen
tation of Niagara falls, seventy feet il
length and fifty feet high, another of thu
Goddess Of Liberty, and an equestrian
statue of George Washington above
which lowered the American eagle.
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Death of Mrs. Raymond.
Fargo Democrat.
Sad intelligence has been received
announcing the death of Mrs. John B
RAYMOND at Washington, D. c., Friday