The Monitor., 1890-04-04

the cnliuFeu lDquisiti'cif foe''io-'o 'N
thought of the observer, and but few real
Iy fine featured children are to be found,
such at least as were common in our
schools of fifty years ago.
The letter OF j. b. Garter, Esq, of
Philadelphia, in response to late editorial
in tho MONITOR touching the rumored
desecraton Of Valley Forge by the con-
struction of brewery on the site, is at
least suggestive Of the possibilities in the
case.
It may be that Congress will be petit
toned to buy these grounds and construct
some suitable monument or monuments to
commemorate the place ard scene of such
heroic DECD AID suffering, just as Con-
eress is to be petiuioned to erect monu-
ment at Philadelphia to commemorate the
Declaration of Independence and the one
hundredth anniversary of constitutional
government in the United states.
Or it may be that the patriotic citizens
of Pennsy lvana will secure it for the pnr-
pose of pcIpetuating the memory "i those
who did So much 20 secure for posteiity
constitutional Ii ,crty and the blessings of
freedom.
Or, syndicate of gentlemen from any
" here may do the same thing.
Then again something else may come of
the project. Spectators may buy it for
What there is in it, and even brewery
may be located there, as has been intlmated.
OF course Mr. Carter, not unlike the rest
of us, would be willing to realize all he
could from the sale Of the property in
legitimate way, but that doesn't bar him
from a choice in the disposition Of it, or of
max ing sacrifices TO secure that c''olcc.
So it seems the possibilities in the case
are somewhat. The spot over which his
toriars grow eloquent and patriots love to
linger in imagination may be the shrine Of
a Bethel or brewery rs the veering god
of fortune may decide. 'As long, however,
as the United States Government pursues
the patriotic custom Of preserving intact
its historical grounds, Valley Forge should
receive attention and ample appropriations
at the hands of Congress, " says the Wash
ngton Post, and SO say we. There is now
pending in Congress a bill 90 appropriate
a few thousand dollars to preserve the
buildings ON the grounds and with an in
crease in the amount the whole of this
historic ground could be preserved. Owing
to its undesirability for agricultural pur-
poses the orig inal earthworks have been
but little disturbed, and reasonable appro-
priatons from Congress would make it
attractive and Of more general interest.
As truly says Losing, the historian
"Valley Forge How dear to the true
worshipper at the shrine of freedom is the
name of Valley Forge There in the
midst of frost and SHOWS, disease and des-
titution, Liberty erected her altar and in
all the worlds history we have no record
of purer devotion, holier sincerity, or more
pious self sacrifice than was there ex-
hibitod in the camp of Washington. The
courage that nerves the arm on the battle
field, and dazzles by it's brilliant but
evanescent flashes, pales before the steadier
and more intense flame of patient cndur-
ance, the sum of the sublime heroism dis
played at Valley Forge. And if there is a
spot on the face of our broad land whereon
Patriotism should delight to pile its high
est aud most veneratng monument, it
should be in the bosom of that little vale
on the bank of the Schuylkill."