Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-06

The seventy tons Of marble and bronze COM
prising the Lafayette monument have been
fully assembled on the granite base at the
southeast corner Of the Lafayette jackson
square and today the beautiful outlines Of the
memorial are to be seen without interference.
The final work Of hosting the bronzes into
place was completed on Saturday and in few
days the marble will be cleaned and the ground
cleared. The last work Of the operation of
setting up the monument will consist of the
placing of a curbing of granite about ten inches
high and 200 feet in circumference around the
square base. Within this circle there will be
built gentle mound Of earth and sod rising 10
within few inches Of the top Of the first ter
race Of stone.
no FORMAL DWELLING CEREMONY.
A consultation was had week ago between
Architect Clark, q member of the monument
commission. and Col Ernst, who has had
charge Of the work Of assembling and erecting
the monument, and it was decided that inas
much as Congress had made no provision for
dedicatory ceremonies by appropriating money
for the expenses Of such an occasion the pre-
sumption was that there was no intention of
having any unwilling. At any rate it viii be
necessary to wait until Congress reconvenes.
when an appropriation may possibly be Sc
cured.
NOT PRESENTED By THE FRENCH CONVENIENT.
A great many people have fallen into the
error Of thinking that this monument was pre-
sented to the United States by the French gov
eminent, and in view of that belief thew have
criticised the proposition to let it be accepted
without . ceremony as being discourteous 70
France. The fact is, the monument was
bought by this government. with money ap-
propriated by Congress. The sculptors Of the
world were invited to submit designs and bids
and the commission. consisting Of the Secretary
Congress on the library and the
architect of the Capitol finally, awarded
the contract to . firm Of French srtists.
Messrs. Falguere and Mercie. They have built
the monument and shipped il complete for
"a, 900. The sum Of s5.060 was reserved from
pay contingent expenses, such Is cable tolls
and money exchange rates. This sum was all
expended but $50 when the pedestal in the
center Of the south side Of the square was COM
pleted and in order to provide means to move
the base to the new site at the southeast cor
ner Congress appropriated e5.0oO moro. A
portion Of this fund remains unexpended.
TWO TABLETS WITHOUT rNscRIPrIoNs.
The two tablets on the north and south faces
of the marble shaft have e. vet been uncut with
any sort OF inscriptions to indicate the meaning
Of the monument The commission has re-
ceived good many suggestions as to the word
ing of these inscriptions, but has made no de-
cision. The retirement Of Mr.. Evarts from the
Senate leaves the commission with but two
members, only one Of whom 10 in town. Secre-
tary Proctor, the other member, however. win
return to the city in . week, and il may be ex-
pected that pair Of suitable inscriptions win
be adopted in . short time.
EIoHT HIoURks ON TIE MONUMENT.
The entire monument shove the brown
granite bsse weighs sixty-nins and ons-half
tons and contains eight figures, ave of which
are portraits. Lafayette occupies the main
high. The other portrait statues represent
four Of his competriots in the revolutionary
war: the Count dc erase and Admiral d Estaine
on the one side, and Count de Rochambeau
and Chevs1ier Duportal on the other. In
front, on the south, . female figure reaches MP
the shaft. clinging 10 the base, extending 70
lafayette with her right hand the sword Of
fame On the north side two child Agurss,
called Children Of Liberty" This asssnblnxe
Of stone and metal forms . most sasctivs
srouptne.