Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-23
THE SPINNER MEMORIAL.
What Shape shall II Takef
a NOBLE STATUE THE MOST FITTING MEMORIAL or
THE GRAND OLD NAN.

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
When the question "what form shall the
memorial take?' came up for discussion at the
last meeting Of the Gen. Spinner Memorial As
ISOLATION, the plan Of founding either g home
for stranded women or . women's hospital
found favor in the eyes Of several members.
who set forth its excellence in a most eloquent
and feeling manner, but the mass Of grateful.
warm-hearted women present stood out for a
statue in bronze Of their benefactor. which they
wish to see placed at the north front Of the
Treasury and close to the rooms in which Gen.
Spinner lived and labCred for so many years.
There are now in the city quite a number Of
homes open TO women. enough TO offer an
asylum TO any one who has no other hope left
In life. and as the regulations necessary for the
government of such an institution rob il Of its
warmth and brightness, of the atmosphere
which makes the home. the name Of the kindly.
generous friend, who wanted every woman 70
make and own a home, would most decidedly
be out of place above the doors of an institu-
ton like that proposed.
The hospital accommodations are also annie
IN this city and an additional one would only be
benehcial inasmuch rs salaricd positions would
be found for the persons employed therein.
But when one considers the large amount of
money required TO not only call either institu-
ton INTO existence. but to keep it going after
ward leaving out of the question entirely the
worry and care consequent upon such an under
taking), then the scheme loses all possible
charm. Ii is suggested that in order TO raise
the large sums necessary TO build and support
either institution. each woman employee should
pledge herself TO pay a certain sum monthly.
Now, who of us has not had an object lesson or
two on that very subject? You allow yourself
to be persuaded into giving a monthly or yearly
sum and when the time for paving il comes
there is hole in your accounts which only
that particular dollar will fill; why, even a
quarter VIII assume gigantic proportions under
such circumstances, and for this reason we
should not only refrain from committing our
selves TO any promise TO pay, but should also
distinctly avoid mortgaging the future of
Others by depending upon the contributions of
clerks to come.
Besides if there is any one whose feelings are
entirely swayed in the hospital direction, she
or he can find a proper outlet by sending con-
tributions to
THE FRANKIE SCHUMACHER HOSPITAL.
at Jacksonville Fla. This hospital was erected
to the memory of Frankie Schumacher, Gen.
Spinner's grandson, and contains a ward in
which the general was very much interested
and which bears his name.
But to return to the memorial. When il be-
came apparent that the prevailing sentiment
was IN favor OF erecting statue, a murmur
arose that our city was overcrowed with ''paro-
dies" &c. &c. Now, who has not stood in
silent admiration before the statue in Lincoln
Park! 1t calls forth all there is in you Of noble
ness and earnest endeavor and makes you long
to do something to show that you are worthy
of the time you live in. And il is not the ar
tistic merit of the work nor beauty Of form or
feature which does il. but simply the grand idea
embodied in the metai. And this is what the
Spinner statue shall be-the embodiment of
THE OTHER GRAND IDEA.
that woman has the right, as she has the
ability, to occupy positions of honor and trust,
side by side with her brother man. This Wa.
the idea TO which Gen. Spinner gave express
sion when he appointed the first women clerks.
making them the wedge which burst the bar
rier across the way of womens advancement.
And he never ceased to labor at the task he
had set himself. One winter he went before
the House and worked early and late till a
measure was passed which apparently equal
| lied the pay in the departments, leaving nc
distinction in regard to sex. i had been urged
| to watch the progress of the measure and stir
| up Its friends to act in concert with Gen.
Spinner. In doing so had beautiful chance
| to find out the difference between him and
| other public men and see what a game OF
shuttlecock is often played by our American
solons. As 1 said before the measure had beer
passed and it looked on the surface as though
all was plain sailing; but, being opposed on
principle to n waste Of powder, SO to say,
went straight TO the chairman of the WAYS anC
|
field. sitting beside me in the little lobb,
leading into the House, heard me through ar,C
| then, upon my question, lis it worth while Il
spend time and effort on this natter" CAV,
this answer: You ask me a friend and as
friend I'll answer You. No; it is not worth YOU
while 1t was perfectly understood that no ap
preparation was there nor would be made fol
the purpose Of equalizing the salaries of mel
and women clerks. The members who voted
for the measu e thought il sounded well anC
cost nothing; it was looked upon q goot
joke"
Their good joke" was bitter disappoint
ment to thousands of poor women and TO Gen
Spinner as well, yet he never ceased TO urg,
the justice of the measure and felt convinced
that the time would come when his brightes
1 hopes would be realized. When il does com,
let it find for the grateful admiration of al
women in this beautiful land statue of oul
hero SO grand and beautiful to be worthy o.
the man, the work he accomplished and tn,
grateful hearts which erected it.
| MRS. W. A. LEONARD.