Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-10
A STATUESQUE DREAM.
A Conference That Located the Lafay-
cite Monument.

To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
had been driving about the city, looking at
the monuments erected to our great men, and
full of the subject Of the placing Of the Lafay-
cite memorial fell asleep and had dream.
found myself in Statuary Hall, at the Capitol,
alone at night. was conscious of whispered
conference, which at first thought was only
the wonderful echoes which guides point out to
strangers, but listening attentively l soon
found that these ghostly looking statues
were endowed with motion and speech I'm
agine my establishment at hearing them pro-
pose to take a midnight stroll through the city
to confer with various disgrunted statues who
felt themselves il-placed. but above all to look
at the proposed site of the monument which a
grateful people were to erect to the noble
Frenchman, the Marquis de Lafayette. and his
compatriots who did so much for us in securing
our independence.
Only one of their number declined to Join
the procession. This was Jefferson who said
that for years he had endured the scorching
heats of summer ana the storms OF winter in
front OF the White House, and he was quite too
comfortably housed at present to care for a
nocturnal stroll. So they marched out one by
one, going first to the east side of the Capitol
to invite Washington to join them. but he was
SO securely fastened in his little house that he
declined to break out, expressing fear at the
same time that if he stirred III the matter Of
the placing Of the monument of his dear old
comrades he himself would be moved again.
which, as he was stiff with age, would not be
| agreeable. He said his double" up at the
''circle" mounted and would doubtless
| enjoy the trip and would feel the deepest
| interest in the object of it,
Passing through the Capitol building the
party glided down the broad steps on its
! western side, saluting the chief Justice. who
| said, in answer to their invitation, that his
chair was very comfortable, aud lie feared if
| he left it some one else would get possession.
! At the entrance to the grounds they found the
monument 10 Peace, and gallantry proposed to
| the ladies to wipe their weeping eyes aud
| join the procession. They replied that they
! would do 50 gladly. for they were very weary
| OF the dusty highway IN which they stood.
| and begged that they might be taken to Airing
| ton, where they would be appropriately placed
| among the thousands of grim-vlsaged war
| victims and proclaimng by their presence that
| peace hath her victories no less renowned
| than war" All approved Of this migration
and the column moved on, but not TIL Gen.
| Garfield had been invited to join them, which
| he declined to do as he said his voice would
not be listened to by the committee of three.
! who had closed their to all the rcmon-
strances OF the community. and a midnight
! march would not be agreeable to him, he
must end 1t by return 10 bis disaGrecabe sur
roundings.
Going up the avenue halt was made al
! Frauklin's statue, but as he was well pleased
with his location, they left him in peace with
his four P.'s, muttering to himself some OF
| Poor Richards sayings.
Arrived at Lafayette Square and seeing the
| foundation Tor the new monument all ex-
| claimed against the site. Numberess com
ments were INDUCED in In regard to its insult
ableness in every way. Not few expressed
| the opinion that 1t was unjust, almost insulting
to Old Hickory. the victor Of New Orleans. to
| be eclipsed in this way by foreigner, aud per.
haps be moved off from the spot he had SO Ions
occupied, when to the astonIshment Of
all present the old hero himself
took the word, exclaiming, ''Ladie,
| and gentlemen: i am astonished al your re-
marks. You forget that but for Lafay cite ant
his companions there could have been no vic
tory at New Orleans. They paved the way fol-
| it, and We owe it to ourselves that this tardy
acknowledgment OF our gratitude should have
| the best location possible. 1t will detract moth
| ing from the honor conferred on me by my
countrymen that the monument they have
| raised to me should have new location. Fol
myself l should delight in n change. Standing
where l do above the heads of those who OBJ.
serve me my horse receives more attention
than I-indoed well remember a young lad
remark when he first saw me: There's goot
| deal of horse and good deal of boots and yer,
little Andrew Jackson In the rear of the
| White House. whereI could be seen from places
above me, perhaps l could eclipse both hors.
and boots. Let me join you tonight in conduct
ing these ladies to Arlington. and to give then
q grander escort will gather all our mounted
great mon whom their country delights t,
honor" So saying he leaped his horse to the
ground. The steed, delighted with his freedom
pranced and plunged frantically, but hi
accomplished rider soon controlled his ferI
spirit and roining him in promised to return
speedily. Leaving the group he dashed ava.
and soon came back with the gallant Macpher
son; Thomas with his elephantine steed Scot
on his splendid horse, which. though with al
his feet on the ground, looked as if the ''spees
OF thought were in his limos, and last, but no
least, the Father of his Country, badly mounted
but most eager to see that the monument to hi
old comrades should be appropriately placed
Applaudipg Gen. Jackson's graceful surrender
OF his place, all agreed that it was the mos
fitting one for the expected monument-ths
center Of Lafayette Place.
Ayelping eur, who always barks at the milk
man as il he were a burglar, reused me from
my slumber, and 30 ended my dream. Z.
Benjamin F. Grouse has been appointed clerl