Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-05-19
liancy of the jubilee and close the day
in veritable blaze of glory.
Example of Perseverance.

Example of Perseverance,.
The dedication today of the statue to
the memory of the Father of his CQun-
try, under the auspices of the Society of
the Cincinnati, affords apart from its pa
triotic motives a striking and probably
unparalleled exemplifcation of American
perseverance and determination. Lack
ing six weeks, eighty-six years have
elapsed since the Pennsylvania branch of
that society by formal resolution pledged
itself to the erection of this tribute to the
first President of the United States. For
while the project was received with en-
thusiasm and considerable sum for
those days was subscribed. Then came
apathy and Encouragement. One after
another of the original committee died,
until not familiar face remained, but
as each one passed away his place was
filed
At spasmodic intervals renewed ap-
peals for funds were issued. A number
of patriotic citizens organized an anxili-
airy committee, and at the end of ffty-SiX
years this auxiliary had accumulated $780,
600. The fund of the Cincinnati, in the
meantime, had reached $137, 900. The two
sums were combined and the contract for
the monument was awarded to Prof. Ru-
dolph Siemering, the celebrated sculptor
Of Berlin. Today, therefore, marks the
the two score of Quakers that gathered
in Independence hall more than three
quarters of a century since.
The monument occupies an elevated
site at the Green street entrance to Fair
mount park. It is supported by an OBJ
long platform reached on four sides by
thirteen steps, symbolical of the thir-
teen original states. From the center
rises a pedestal bearing, as shown IN the
accompanying picture, an equestrian
statue in bronze of George Washington.
The Father of his Country is repre-
scented in the colonial uniform OF the
American army, a large military cloak
being thrown artistically around his
commanding figure. At the four corners
of the platform are fountains, served by
allegorical figures of American Indians,
representing four rivers-the Delaware,
Hudson, Potomac and mississippi. On
the sides each of these fountains is
guarded 1 e; by typical American ANNALS
At the front and back of the pedestal
are two allegOrical groups. That on the
front represents America, seated and
holding in one hand Il cornucopia, in the
other q trident, and having at her feet
chains just cast off, She is in the act of
receiving from her victorious sons the
trophies of their conquest. Below this
group is an eagle supporting the arms of
the United States.
The group in the back represents Amer
lea arousing her sons to a sense of their
slavery. Below are the arms Of Pennsyl-
vania. On the sides of the pedestal are
two bas-reliefs, one representing the
march of the American army and the 9TH
err q western-bound emigrant train. On
one side the pedestal bears the inscrip-
tions, Isle SemDer Tyrannis" and "Per
Aspera ad Astra;' on the other West
ward the Star of Empire Takes its
Way" Surrounding the upper portion of
the pedestal is the legend, Erected by
the State Society of the Cincinnati of
PENNSYLVANIA" The entire height of the
monument is about forty feet. Its cost
is about S25O.O0O.