Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-23
BIRTHDAY OF GRANT
Growing Interest in tho Observance Of
This Anniversary
Statues to Be Dedicated This Month
Movements in Other Cities.

There will be more celebrations of April
%, the birthday of Gen Grant, this year
than ever before, but in all the land there
will be more interesting memorial SER
vices 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 program
will be more elaborate imposing than
eisewhere-indeed, simplicity is always a
notable feature of the exercises at Galena
on the 2Ith-nor will the interest be slim
ulated by any special novelty.
In point of fact, it is the people who at
tend the exercises rather than the exer-
cises themselves that always contribute
most interest to the Gaiena Grant memorial
services. For among those who every year
listen to the orator of the day on the great
soldiers birthday there are many who knew
MIN intimately when he was one of the
most unassuIning of Galena's citizens and
Wnen 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
MIN best before the war is being dimin-
lShed by death, but there are yet many
who were much younger than ne who used
often to see him on the streets and in the
business places Of the own.
The Galena exercies are held in Grant
Fark, tree-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
nero OF Appomattox, so that those who
listen to the set address may behold his
counterfeit presentment before them. This
memorial was erected largely through the
hbsraIity of Fl. H. Kohlsaat of the Chicago
Ijines-H erald, who was a Galend boy and
whose actlon IN the matter was prompted
by loyalty to Galena as We'll as yenera-
ton for tie ereraPs memory.
The address will this year be delivered
by General John c. Black
Y no stl.o
nfst statue was erected in memory of
9fant The next to be set up was at st.
l-ous, then came the one at GaIena and
then the magnificent statue by Rebisso at
ChlCago, which is one of the finest most
lfeLke pieces of sculpture in the country
besides being one Of the largest equestrian
statues in the world. New York has no
Grant statue, nor is one in sight. In
Brooklyn, however. en equestrian statue
OF the nero, modelled by Partridge is TO be
unveiled on the 18th. and in Philadelphia
another, also showing the general on horse
back, IS shortly to be set I'D This statue
viii be erected in Paramount Park. 1t viii
De the Joint work of Daniel c. French,
VINO modelled the figure of Grant and Ed
ward C. Potter, who modelled the figure OF
tfe horse. The bronze is now being cast
bd. it will not be finished before June l.
and it is improbable that the PEDESTAL will
be ready before some 1ime in July or per
hapS in August.
Toxic, Japan. also boasts of what asses
as a statue OF General Grant in this re-
Sari putting many American city to
shame. Giant statues are, however pro-
Jscted for erection in Boston, Washington
ana bridgeport Conn, and there is no
d1Ibt that most of the considerable cities
IN the United States and many of the
smaller ores will erect Grant memorials
before many years have passed by
BUT, although New York has no Grant
statue, the dgnifed AMI costly structure
now in the course of erection over his tomb
osVr III the Hudson in the upper part
OF the city will by all Odds be the mosr
magnificent Grant memorial Gen, Hora ce
Porter, who has charge of the work, saws
airy l. 1891, and that there is no reason to
suppose its formal dedication, some time
ago set for April - of next year, will be
1e!ayed beyond that date. Its total cost
Will De under rather than over sGOoOOO