The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-04

date surroundings of the monument itself
are very beautiful. To the rear and south
are located the stately buildings of the new
Columbia University. Adjoining them will
stand, as soon as time and labor permit,
the great cathedral of ST. John the Di-
vine, which is 10 cost SO. 600, 600. Constantly
flowing by the front of the monument is a
stream of humanity ON pleasure bent, for
here, along the edge o. the bluff, Is the
Riverside drive, one of the most charm
ing of New York's delightful boulevards.
All around, too, is emerald sward. and
from this background the monument
stands out in bold relief. Ii is the object
of interest par excellence in that section
of New York and its location has given
TO old Bloomingdale a fame which moth
ing else could have inspired. Here Grant
rests and rests alone, save for one COM
panion, and of that companion few are
aware. Scarcely one out of a thousand
visitors notes the contrast between great
ness II simplicity that is shown by the
presence, scarce a hundred yards from the
monument, OF the marble urn which marks
the resting place of the little child of a
British officer, who fell from the cliff and
was afterwards buried at its summit, more
than one hundred years ago
The monument, in its design, is the work
of the architect. John IL. Duncan. More
than anything else, it is a temple, some
thing after the style of the Pantheon, DOM
mating with its strong and simple lines the
scenery of its picturesque neighborhood.
1t is both compact and symmetrical. Its
base is square, in the Doric style. The eX-
terror is granite, the interior white marble.
Ar tho entrance ara two massive bronze
doors, sixteen feet four and u half inches
high, Of a united width of nine feet, and
one and one-haIf feet in thickness. While
the doors are called bronze. they are in
reality built of ash. covered with a thick
coating of bronze put on in sheets about an
eighth of an inch thick, and SO skillfully
pieced together that no Jennings are visible
TO the naked eye. The total weight of the
bronze used is $500 pounds, while the COM
bined weight of the doors is three tons.
The portals are severely plain. both in
design n decoration. In each there are
three deep panels, one large and two
smaller. The only ornamentation consists
of bronze ~rosettes Of different sizes. There
are twenty-six of these in each of the
larger panels and twelve in each of the
smaller. Rosettes of larger size embellish
the sides of the doors and are placed be-
tween the panels. In order to prevent relic
hunters from chipping. off any Of these ro-
settles they are bolted into the solid ash.
INTERIOR OF THE MONUMENT.
On entering the porch at the southern
exposure, one sees through the doors the
opening Of the crypt, thirty feet wide, in
the center of the chamber. Looking at the
vault there are observed the sarcophagus
intended for the remains of General Grant
and the space where eventually the sar-
cophagus for Mrs. Grant will be placed.
Overhead the interior takes the shape OF a
rotunda. At present there is a system of
approaches TO the monument, with wide
steps to the east and west, a winding
path to ClGremont, and a broad ascent
from the south. AS soon as possible will
be constructed a broad esplanade leading
from the Riverside drive. which fronts the
monument, down the declivity TO the edge
of the Hudson river, and bridging the
tracks of the New York Central, which lie
at the rivers edge. At the end of the
esplanade will be an ornamental boat land
ing. This work will buttress the bank of
the river upon which the tomb imposes a
considerable weight.
The great ~rcophag in which the re-
mains Of General Grant are to be placed
arrived in New York a few days ago from
Chicago. The s~arcophagus itself is on
structed of the product of the quarries at
Montello, Wis. The pedestal is OF the dark
blush stone known as railway granite, and
comes from the quarries at Quincy, Mass,
the same quarrieS from which the stone
was taken that was used in constructing
Bunker Hill monument. The color of the
sarcophagus is a dark. rich red, slightly
variegated by the spots that are usually
found in granite. It's hardness is three
times that of ordinary granite and there
fore its resistance TO a crushing pressure
is much greater.
All the exposed places of the sarcophagus
are highly polished, so much so indeed that
their surfaces will reflect as if they were
mirrors. The pedestal measures ten feet
ten inches each way. The lower course
thereof is in pieces. with a simple scotia
molding. 1t is one foot eight inches thick.
Above this is a five-inch course. also made
in pieces. Under this rest two large blocks,
ten feet long and five feet wide. The pill
low blocks which support the sarcophagus
and its cover rest upon these. The total
hight of the ~sarcophagus above the floor
of the crypt is seven and one-half feet.
Inc pld1tS Oh the dIcnllecl. as Slditu. H.
clude two s~arcophagi. exactly alike. the
second of which is intended as the last rest
ing place of Mrs. Grant. when her life
comes TO an end. The block of stone from
which the ~sarcophagus destined for Mrs.
Grant will be made is already quarr.ed and
will be wrought into shape after a time.
The stone is so very hard and has TO he
worked upon with such care that it i only
by laboring night and day that the sar-
cophagus for General Grants body has
been completed in season.
Few persons out of New York city realize
the elaborateness of the ceremonial Of
April -. on that day win be seen the cul-
mination of a series OF efforts whose ram
i'm the Union. The Grant monument is
erected with morey obtained from citizens
everywhere. 1t is not purely a New York
affair. New York's principal share OF the
glory being the location here OF the tomb.
The event is as national as the celebration
of the Fourth of July. 1t will be a superb
demonstration of the fact that the fire Of
patriotism kindled on that famous day
more than a century ago still burns
brightly in the heart OF every American.
DIR. Calling and the Reporters.
Washington Post.
"A young New York reporter once wrote
me up as smooth-faced, bald-headed. and
ninety years of age" said DR.. Calling. the
noted gurmaker. at the Arlington. Ny