New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-07-29
IN ADMIRABLE SELECTION.

At last decision has been reached as to the
burial place of General Grant, and the choice Is
an admirable one. The family have declai ed
their preference for the Riverside Park. the site
chosen being that of the old Clarcmont House,
which, after standing nearly century and u
quarter, will give place TO the tomb and monu-
ment of the Nations hero. 1t would be i'm
possible To find 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 a stretch OF the Sound on
the other hand, it only remains TO secure a
noble and fitting monumental edifice to make
this the most remarkable and beautiful
mausoleum in the country. The family OF the
deceased General have shown sound judgmcn!
and conspcuously good taste i'll their choice OF
site and inasmuch as the Riverside Park,
especially in that part is still uncomplcted, II
will be possible to harmonic its arrangement
and decorations with the plan OF the monu-
ment, so as to secure the best landscape effects.
The choice of so effective a site, however,
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 enable them
to produce a monument which will be worthy
of its purpose and its position. There can be
no doubt that in a few years this part of River
side Park will be one of the most beautiful and
popular of the resorts OF the city, and the Sc
lection of it for 1.-THE resting-place of General
| Grant may well lead to its al pr Jpriation in a
Il .f tl...c. Inf Il
memorials and other artistic records which are
from time to time demanded by the passing
away of historic characters. The sit Iaton il
| one which lends itself readily to such uses, and
they in turn, far from interfering with the
original purpose of the park reservation, will
ennoble and beautify the peoples pleasure
ground, and confer upon it special and endur-
ing distinction.
No such objections as were raised against the
interment In the more frequented portion OF
Central Park can apply to the site OF the Clare
mont House. which will remain. SO far con-
Germs this part of it what the erection OF the
| Grant monument must make it, spot apart,
dedicated in perpetuity to the glory OF a hero
| and the gratitude and love of a Nation. As yet
| indeed the character of the monument to be
| erected is undetermined. 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 architectural skill and
genius can devise; and it is desirable that it
should be distinctvely an American design. 1t
must reflect Not only the career of the great
| dead it commemOra es, but the National history
with whose early developments its site is so in
timately associated, and failure to grasp all
the requirements of such monument would
dwarf and narrow the outcome, that the
National feeling would be only imperfectly ex-
| pressed.
| There is abundant cause for cOngratu-
lation at the felicity of the choice of Cen
eral Grants burial-plac His family have done
all that is in their power to secure success for
| che enshrinement of their dead Now let il 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 ediico that rises
above the dead soldiers tomb as in the life it is
intended to preserve the memory of through
| The centuries.