Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-20

COLUMBUS MEM0RIALA
A Grand Arch Co Commemorate the DIS
covery Of the New worlA.
A SUGGESTION MADE IN A PAPER Rxrosx THE
LITERARY socIETY-ExIsrING MONUMENTS
TO coLUMBus-THE PROPOSED NEW WORLD
HOLIDAY.
The following is the text of paper read before
the Literary Society on the 18th instant BY
Miss Elizabeth Bryant Johnston:
The achievements Of Christopher Columbus
have no parallel. In vain we search record
and epic for deeds SO daring, for story 90
strange. His life is the most thrilling romance
OF history. Upon 1t rest the rosiest tints OF
glory, the darkest shadows of adversely, Co
lumbus was no accident-no genius defying
precedent. He was the evolution OF genera
tions OF questioning. Though a devout son of
the church, he broke the trammels OF bigotry
and raised high the banner of science, on the
folds of which was written Liberty" He mas
knowledge with faith; draped it with legends,
and bound these together with exalted cour-
age, sublime endurance and admirable tact.
Inc result no man can measure. The nations
nave been nearly four hundred years entering
upon the heritage he won for them.
ana to-day there are mountains unscaled, val
leys unexplored and rivers unnamed. 1T requires
centuries of perspective to realize the proper
tiouS VI the "SIrett Mariner. we laughed
when an American humorist asked: "Is he
dead?" But We know that as long sailors
encounter the naughty winds'of the Atlantic,
as long as pleasure-seekers are borne on the
ntful smile of her waves, SO long will that first
storm-tosSed, lon-hearted navigator live in the
memory OF man. Three cities claimed the honor
Oh ms olrth, three tongues commended for
ms name, three sepulchres entombed his body.
NO writer OF fiction would dare create such a
career. Truth is stranger than fiction. This
truism is illustrated in the fact that the worlds
expressions OF gratitude to Columbus have been
chiefly confined to words. Measuring the
memorials dedicated TO his name by the
blessings he bestowed they are indeed con-
temptible.
SUCH MONUMENTS
can nearly be counted on the figures of one
hand. recall only three or four worthy Of
mention. The handsomest is in the city of his
birth, Genoa, erected as recently as 1862. An
other In barcelona, also raised within the GEN.
tury,-in tardy fuifillment of the ferventiy ex-
pressed intention of Ferdinand and Isabella
upon his first return o the Spanish court in
l4e3, to raise immediately q monument In his
honor. On this side of the ocean the Columbus
monument in the city OF Mexico does credit to
our sister republic, and as work of art COM
pares IayOranly with any group in the new
world. Thus far the only memorial the United
States has erected is the Rogers bronze doors,
propriate works, but only one utterance where
many utterances due. Fate conspired to
cheat Columbus out OF the name of the world
he discovered. This nation, in tenderly adopt
ing "Columbia' AS its sobriquet of sentiment,
has done thus much toward poetic Justice
There is monument however. reared by an
American citizen, more enduring and more i'm
portant than any yet ordered by city or nation;
that scarcely need say is "Irvings Life OF
columbus. The period in our national exist
cnce has been reached when. in some worthy
testimonial, We should give assurance OF our
appreciation of Christopher Columbus. The
attention ot this people has been directed to
the Significance of such an act of filial piety.
Many suggestions have been offered. One /
recall was to make
ANEW WORLD HOLIDAY
OF the 18th of October, calling it the ''Day Of
Columbus" This would indeed be a perpetual
memorial linking together America North and
America South, and one that would aid, rather
than interfere with, an effort to raise "a struc-
ture to him in granite and bronze. During the
present session OF Congress resolution has
been introduced to provide a place for the cree
ton at our national capital of a memorial to
the discOverer OF America. We trust after four
hundred years we can bring, not a statue, but a
more elaborate and fitting Offering to the illus
trous man who opened the gates of the new
world and made straight the pathway OF lib
erty. Though the residents of the District of
Columbia arc first interested, and should make
the initiative movement: in such an enterprise
yet Congress need not hesitate to give liberal
support to 1t. The people of this country will
not besrudgc the money, and it is a grand OPP
portunity for art to give an expression of the
public mind, not alone as regards Columbus,
bat in the matter OF adjoining the seat OF gov
The following extract from an editorial in
THE EVENING STAR last November presents
this point clearly:
"Seven full years are none too long period for
the conception and creation of a structure
whatever form it may take, which shall he
alike worthy the nation that erects it aud the
event II Is intended to commemorate. And il
ought TO be understood, too, from the Begin
ming. that whatever is built shall be no insig-
nlhcant or cheap trumpery affair. The thought
OF expense is the last one that should be taken
into consideration The country is rich enough
appreciative enough, ii is to be hoped, and broad
and liberal enough in its views, to build when
1t peases, such u structure as has parallel of
its kind in the world And such an one il should
build for dedication in 1892. An event SO
striking in Itself and so pregnantin effects upon
the history OF the human race can only be
worthiiy perpetuated 10y as noble a monument
as the genius OF man can conceive and the
wealth OF a rich and generous nation call into
form."
Among the many suggestions, venture
to submit one for a monument as suitable for
this country to build to the man whose lame
as none other, spans the Atlantic, resting its
mighty piers on both hemisphereS.
ASUPERB ARCH.
The first monumental arch Of the new world,
would typify the wonderful achievements of
Christopher Columbus. Arches were by the
Romans, and even by earlier civilizations,
utilized to glorify conquerors, or memorabilia
deeds of flood. Let US give the arch q new q
nObier meaning; let us, by means of its grace
and strength, perpetuate the triumphs of
arch to Columbus be erected on one OF the
beautiful elevations north of this CITY, some.
Wnere between LIN ana 2Oth streets, with the
Washington monument and the Capitol, it
would make an architectural triangle that
must receive universal approval. For the
adornment of such pile, there is an embarrass-
ment Of riches. Within, on every side, should
be given the life OF Columbus in a series OF
bronze groups, his dreams, ambitions, struggles,
successes, disappOiutments. No page could SO
fully illustrate the hckleness OF fortune. Blend
ing with this history, the apOtheosis OF Woman
would be revealed in the sympathy and char
ity of that most gracious lady, Isabella of Cas-
tile. Without, Oh pier, facade and cofnice, let
the wonders of the new world be presented
Although the details, proportions, espianade,
approaches, ETC., are fairly mapped in my
mind, l will only give one or two thoughts.
AT the base north, east, south and west, let the
four magnificent rivers OF America, the Col
umbia, the ST. Lawrence, the Mississippi and
the Amazon, be symDOlzed by four gigantic
river gods, surrounded by the fora and fauna OF
their respective sections The large enclosed
space above might be utilized for
A "MARINER's HAIL."
where there should be placed such relics of
Columbus as we may have permission to re-
produce-such as maps, charts, records, the two
accepted portraits, one in Florence and the
other In Madrid also, historical paintings that
our artists may from time to time supply. In
u few years a museum replete with interest, es.
pecially to the seafaring, would be gathered.
Above the arch, uplifted by immense figures OF
Faith, Courage and Science, a gilded world
should be borne. All this means millions We
hHre millions and when our Golfers ara C,,ono6