The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-18

congress TO appropriate the money to put
stairway inside the monument
The celebration tomorrow promises to be the
most notable one of the kind in the history OF
the Green Mountain state, and it Ia estimated
that from co 900 10 1900 people will be present
Among the military bodies present viii be the
New York Seventh regiment, accompanied by
Cappas band of 100 pieces Besides the west
Point cadets there will be as escorts to the
president the Amoskeag veterans, Putnam pha-
lanx, First Corps cadets OF Boston, New Hamp-
shire troops and all of the state militia, and
Battery B, Fourth artillery United States army.
Among the distinguished visitors besides the
governors and ex-governors OF the New England
states will be President Harrison. With him
viii be Mrs. Harrison, Secretary Halford, At
torney-General Miller and wife, Secretary Foster
and Miss Foster, Secretary Rusk and wife, and
possibly Secretary Tracy.
The programme OF exercises will be as fol
lows:
Introductory remarks by the president OF the
day. Judge Wheelock G. Veazey, United States
interstate commissioner; prayer, Rev. Charles
Parkhurst, editor lions HerGLd, Boston; address
of Welcome, Governor Carroll S. Page, OF Yer
mont; address and formal transfer OF the monu-
ment to the state of Vermont by Ex-Governor B.
+. Prescott, of New Hampshire, president OF the
association; acceptance on behalf OF the state
by Governor Page; music; centennial oration,
Hon. Edward J. Phelps, of Burlington, VT, ex-
minister to England; remarks by President Har'
rison.
At the conclusion of the exercises at the mon
ument the banquet viii take place on the Soil
diers' Home grounds. The post-prandlaI eker-
cises will follow, with responses 10 toasts py
President Harrison, members oil the CABINET,
the governors of the different states ana other
distinguished guests. The president WIZ hoio
reception at the Soldiers Home alter the e1er-
cises at the banquet Lent
I'll vii mo dagariDtl0n
ment and its site is from Edwin A. Starts "Ben-
nington and Its Battle" contributed TO the cur
rent member of the New England Magazine
A mighty shaft of gray-blue dolomite, rising
straight upward toward the northern sky 800
feet, upbearing on its apex rod with gilt
star,-fhe cut stone has the rough rock face,
which, with the curious ehromatc quality of
this dolomite produces changing effects, vary
ing from black under the thunder-cloud to a
warm, soft gray in the summer sun, while every
little face and angle gives its own tone to the
picture, making gracious play OF light and
shadow. The landscape from the hill whereon
it stands is of soft yet rugged strength, sim
plcity and grand repose, and the battle monu-
ment seems part of it all, as though it had
stood there through ages, Indifferent a sphinx
to the pcttiness OF man.
The architectural feature which gives THU
monument distinction, in addition to its grea
height, is the adaptation OF the vertical curve
giving to its outline grace wanting in the
cold, geometrcal obelisks into which modern
builders have corrupted the ancient models
From base to apex this vertical curve is continu-
GUS, though in the first 200 feet il amounts to
less than three inches. At that height band
OF hammered stone, pierced with long, narrow
windows, marks the observatory hall and breaks
the moaotony OF the exterior aspect of the
structure. Above this is u second wider band
OF hammered stone, and from this point the
curve becomes more pronounced until 1t sweeps
to the apex
Heavy sunk paneled bronze doors guard the
entrance and above them will be a Intel, which
is to be carved in bas-relief, though the design
is not yet decided upon. Within the echoing
interior one may ascend by an iron stairway to
the lofty observation hall twenty-five feet square
and sixteen feet in height, where a magnificent
panorama is spread before the eye. The monu-
ment stands on State Arms hill, the center of
the old town of Bennington, near the site of the
old military storehouse which lured Baum to
his doom. Every foot Of this ground is consc-
Grated by patriotic memories. Four miles to the
westward lies the battlefield of Bennington.
Around Is swings grand anphitheater of
hills and the Green mountains roll away to the
northward in mighty pillows. Mount Anthony
rises to the height OF 1900 feet, only few miles
away. Below lies the valley of the Waloom sac
small, picturesque stream, along which lie
many factories, that make the modern village of
Bennington, green bowered in the valley, a
prosperous hive of industry. Fill in all this
with bits of picturesque scenery, with an at
mosphere surcharged with historic associations
and you have the surroundings of the Benning-
ton battle monument