The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-27
sAvANNAHs SILENT sENT1NELs
The Monumental and Other Adorn-
ments OF the Forest City.

The Monumental and Other Adorn-
ments OF the Forest City.
Editor Morning NEWS: Among the
many imposing features which combine to
make Savannah one of the most interesting
and beautiful cities of America are statues,
fountains, tropical plants, and va 'iegated
flowers that adorn and embsilish her
spacious streets and squares, where sylvan
beauty, rural felicity, and business activity
are promiscuOusly and harmoniously com
mingled. Her streets are shaded by a great
profuslon and variety Of trees. The most
prominent are the sycamore, Oleander.
magnolia, and the glorious live oak, the
king and lord of the forest, festooued with
hoary moss, mistletoe aud treilis vine,
worthy the Inlnstrel's lay, the poets pen, or
the alteration of q Druid.
One of the traits most characteristic of a
refined and exalted civilization is the tribute
of honor and respect paid by the living to
the memory Of their llustri0us dead.
Those God-like heroes whose noble deeds
shed luster on the age in which they lived,
men who shlrke1 not their duty, but bravely
met the issues of the hour and stemmed the
tide OF corruption, tyrrany, venality and
greed; who Venerated their Creator and
advocated the cause of freedom and suffer
ing humanity. The lesson of their lives
will inspire thousands yet unborn to follow
in their footsteps and emulate their virtues.
To the vulgar, cold and sordid the finest
creations of the painters poets, or sculptor's
genius are unappreciated and disregarded,
but to the reflective mind, where taste, wis
dom and ideality sit enthroned, they are of
the utmost significance.
Starting out to view the city from the
exchange, where our sapient fathers sit in
legislative council, we steer our course to
the southwark, up Bull street, Savannah's
principal boulevard, and the first attraction
that greets US is fine granite pedestal sup
porting graceful shaft towering skyward,
In the form of an irregular obelisk, erected
by the patriotic people of Savannah in
honor of a brave New England yankee,
Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Green, who COM
manded with skill and valor the southern
contingent of the revolutionary army in
the days that tried mems souls. lie was
the friend and confidant of Washington, a
blacksmith by trade, and a patriot and
leader of men by nature. A bas-relief
bronze 10 front of the pedestal gives full
figure of the hero in co tinental array.
When his country called him forth he
forsook the forge of Vulcan to follow the
fortunes OF Bellona. Rhode Island, the
place of his nativity, may well be proud of
her gallant son.
The next monument is two blocks further
south on the same street, and is dedicated
to William Washington Gordon by the
Central Railroad and Banking Company of
Georgia. He was the fl st president of that
corporation; man of high integrity, en-
ergy, and enterprise. and pioneer Of state
and national improvement. The base and
PEDESTAL of this monument is of gray Geor-
gia granite, supporting four beautiful ionic
columns of red-polished Scotch granite, with
frieze entablature and cornice, surmounted
by group of cherubs supporting a globe
enclrcled with an iron belt, symbolic of a
railroad round the world.
In the next square opposite the theater is
beautiful fountain, flowing with pure,
crystal, laughing water, with water fowls,
dolphins, cupids, etc., gift to the city by
the Catholic Bishop Persico, whose memory
is still dear to many Of our people.
Proceeding to the next square, we find in
close proximity to the magnificent new
Hotel De Soto the Jasper statue, erected by
the Jasper Monument Association.
1t is a fine life-ike bronze figure of heroic
size, and represents the gallant soldier in
the act of rescuing the colors of his regi-
ment from the hands of the enemy. It is
the work of Alexander Doyle of New York.
On three sides of the pedestal, which is
square, are bronze plates representing in
bold relief incidents in the life of the hero,
whilst in front is the following inscription: