The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-21
In MEMORY OF GRANT
AN UNUSUAL NUMBER OF GATHER
INGs TO MARK HIS BIRTHDAY.
Monuments to the Mighty Soldier
abOuts Of the Generals Family.
~Philadelphia Press.


There will be more celebrations OF April
q. the birthday of General Grant. this year.
than ever before. but in all the LAM there
will be no more interesting memorial serv-
ices on that date than those to be held at
Galena, ILL.,, his home at the breaking out
of the civil war. 1t Is not that the pro-
gramme will be more elaborate or impos-
ing than elsewhere-indeed simplicity is al
ways a notable feature of the exercises at
Galena on the Zth-nor will the interest be
stimulated by any special novelty.
In point OF fact 1t Is the people who at
tend the exercises. rather than the exercises
themselves, that always contribute most in
terest to the Galena Grant memorial sery-
ices. For among those who every year lis
ten to the orator of the day on the great
soldiers birthday there are many who
knew him intimately when he was one Of
the most unassumIng of Galena's citizens,
and when their kindly regard for him was
chiefly based upon the facts that he was a
good neighbor and a fast friend. Year by
year the number OF those who knew him
best before the war is being diminished by
death, but there are yet many who were
much younger than he, who used often to
see him on the streets and in the business
places of the town, and to all these. and
to thousands who never knew him, his
memory is something to be venerated in
Gaiena as of local significance. as well as
from his greatness as a soldier and a pa
triot.
The Galena exercises are held in Grant
park. a t~ree-shaded, grass-carpeted square
In the middle of the pleasant little city's
business quarter. In the center of this
square stands a sculptured memorial OF the
l-.- - AL-x 49, - 80.
to the set address may behold his counter
felt presentment before them. This memoir
ial was erected largely through the liberality
Herald. who was a Galena boy and whose
action in the matter was prompted by loyal
ty to Galena, as well as generation for the
Generals memory.
The address will this year be delivered by
Gen: John c. Black. whose hurts received
in the civil war were so severe as to warrant
his being awarded the highest pension pos,
through both arms and both legs and
through the lungs and his wounds still
man msn0 and r'm though 81 While ses Struggle was on.
he was not often thrown into close personal
contact with the hero he Is this year to
eulogize. he yields to none In loving regard
for his memory. l.
THE FIRST STATUE.
1t was in Leavenworth, Kan. that the
first statue was erected in memory of Grant.
LIN ACAl ~ NC oCb W. was at 81 ohA
then came the one at Galena and then the
magnificent statue by Rebisso at Chicago.
which is one of the finest. most lifelike
pieces of sculpture in the country, besides
being one of the largest equestrian statues
in the world. New York has no Grant stat
lie, nor is one in sight. In Brooklyn. how
ever, an equestrian statue of the hero, mod
eled by Partridge, is to be unveiled on the
18th, and in this city another. also showing
the General on horseback is shortly to be
set UP. AS Is well known this statue will
the joint work of Daniel c. French, who
modelled the figure of Grant, and f.. C..
Potter, who modelled the figure Of the horse.
The bronze is now being cast, but 1t viii
not be finished before June /. and 1t is i'm
probable that the pedestal will be ready be-
fore some time In July or perhaps in
August.
Both these statues are considered adj
mirable in conception and almost perfect
In detail by Colonel Frederick Grant. Gem
the surrender of Lee, and others who have
seen them. More than that, both statues
are very well regarded as pure works of
art and may, therefore, be considered true
~dornmen of the cities within whose bor-
ders they are located.
Toxic. Japan. also boasts Of what passes
as a picture of General Grant, in this re-
shame. Grant statues are, however, pro-
jected for erection In Boston, Washington
and bridgeport. Conn, and there is no
in the United States and many Of the
smaller ones will erect Grant memorials
before many years have passed by.
But, although New York has no Grant
statue, the dignified and costly structure
now in the course of erection over his
tomb overlooking the Hudson. in the up
per part of the city, will by all odds be
General Horace Porter, who has charge of
the work, says it will be practically COM
reason to suppose it's formal dedication,
some time ago set for April q Of next year,
will be delayed beyond that date. Its total
| the amount Collected hnt the connD yIett y
work will represent what could not nave
| been done for less than $4,000 by private
contract. This because all who have. had
charge Of the construction in the large
sense have given their services without
compensation and because much OF the ma
terial has been furnished at practically the
From time to time certain persons have
taken occasion to c~riticise the work of the
committee in charge Of the. structure for al.
of the facts show this criticism to be un-
just and unwarranted. 1t Is true that much
b bnt between WWs G0i the date Of ra the Works ks a aoraa
beginning under General Porter's super.
vision and it's completion, next January
national memorial of anything like such
great cost has ever been erected in so brief
a period. The Bunker Hill monument was
thirty years building. 1t took forty years tc
complete the Washington monument and
from twelve to fourteen years is required
to complete such memorials in European
countries.
THE GRANT FAMILY.
Each member Of the Grant family, and
especially Col. Frederick d. Grant, who, AZ
the eldest son. may properly be regarded
as its head. feels deeply the significance oil
the great reverence for the Generals mem.
DRY shown by the people in the erection o.
statues and the holding of memorial service,
every year on his birthday. In a ~conversa
ton with the writer recently Colonel Gran
spoke at some length uoon this point.
His presence at Grant memorial service.
Is, Of course, In great demand. and the In
only be numbered by the hundreds. Fror
Manhattan island alone he received fifteen
but he was obliged to decline all these. sine,
he accepted one from Philadelphia month.
ago and will be present at the services here
He will also attend the unwilling ceremonie.
chief honors OF the occasion with Gen. Hor
ace Porter. who was present at the Appomat
tox surrender and will be che chief speake
In Brooklyn.
Death has not broken into the Grankr famil,
circle since the Generals CARRIER was closed
Massachusetts avenue. The troubles an
storms through which she passed In he
earlier life have been succeed ed by year
filled with tranquility which, II Is TO b
hoped. may never again be disturbed.~ Wit
her Is her daughter Nellie-Mrs. Sartoris-
and her daughter. Rosemary. who is attend
ing school at Georgetown Between Athis En-
L Olfch-hnrn randdorIOhfc md th- -i6owe A