The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-04-10
STATUE or HARRY WRIGHT
Application for Permission to Place
1t in Paramount Park.
Petition Signed by Leading Members
of the Press and Other Prominent
Men of the Quaker City.

Philadelphia, April 10.-At meeting
of the Paramount Park Commission the
following petition from the Harry Wright
Memorial Association was read and re-
ferred:
The undersigned, representing The Har-
nv Wright Memorial Association, respect
fully petition your commission for authority
to erect at some suitable place designated
by you in Paramount Park, preferably in
the children S playground, the bronze statue
now being cast OF the late Harry Wright,
Justly called the Father OF Baseball
This statue, as shown by the accom-
panying photograph, is a beautiful work
Of art, and would be a handsome addl-
ton to the series of monuments in our
grand public park. 1t is 6 1-2 feet in
height aud mounted on granite base or
pedestal 1-2 feet high, thus making a
total height Of A feet 1t is feet square
at the base.
The Harry Wright Memorial Association
lis merely temporary organization COM
posed principally of Philadelphia men OF
the newspaper profession, and was or
ganized for the purpose of erecting monu-
ment to the memory of the great pro-
moter of Americas national game. Inc
construction of the monument is rapidly
progressing, having some time since passed
from the hands of the sculptor. The funds
for the purpose came not from this city
alone, but fromNew York, Brooklyn, Boston,
Baltimore, Washington, Pittsburg, Cin2in
natl, Cleveland. Louisville, Indianapolis.
Chicago, st. Louis, Minneapolis, st. Pau
and other cities.
Though not a native of Philadelphia, Mr..
Wright spent a great part OF his HE In
this city, and died here two years ago.
His remains now rest in West Laurei
Hill Cemetery Mr.. Wright was TO base
ball in this country even more than DR..
w. G. Grace i s to cricket in England, IN
that his name will go down in history as
the father of our national game, while
DIR. Grace & only a modern exponent OF
Great Britain's long established national
pastime The English people are now
raising a fund, headed by a subscription
from the Prince of Wales, to memorabilia
DIR. Grace with a statue to be placed 10
HYDE Park, London. Surely America Should
do as much for the founder and leading
promoter of her national game in its lead
ing public park.
We would respectfully suggest the chill
dren,s playground in Paramount Par
as the most appropriate place for this
memorial. 1t would Toe an inspiration fol
the children OF future generations-this
picture in bronze of the man who devel
oped for them one of the cleanest ant
grandest games for outdoor sport, menta
recreation and physical development. Ii
looking up Mr. wnght's career they would
find a life worthy of emulation. Bones
tic in his tastes, temperate in his habits
gentle in nature, honest and fair in all hi
dealings, Mr. Wright was the embodiment
OF an ideal man.
The man memorialzed, the object repre-
sented and the statue itself as Work o.
art are commended to your consdera
ton. That your honorable body VIII
grant the request herein contained, ant
at an early date. so that the statue cal
be unveiled with appropriate ceremonies
! on or about June l, 1897, is the earnest
PRAYER OF your petitioners.
We subscribe ourselves, most respect
| fully.