Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-05-16
ABOUT THE MONUMENT.
Philadelphia Has Been More Than
EiEhty-dve Years iH Raising
the Funds.

Philadelphia, May 15.-The magnificent
memorial dedicated to-day with such pomp
and pageantry has a history almost as full
OF interest and moving accidents" as that
Of the hero whose prowess it commemo-
rates.
on the Fourth of July. 1911. more than
eigEty-five years ago. the Society of Gin
cirnati. which still had among its mem
bers officers who had fought in the ReVo-
lution, met in independence han and idopt-
ed a resolution to erect a monument to the
memory of George Washington The So
ciety had not then acquired its peculiar
distinction as an organization OF patriots
of opulence and leisure. dedicated to the
worship of their ancestry. They were not
unlike the legions which have grown ous
of the civil war, and Washington was as
organizations of the present day.
The war of 1872, with its two years OF
excitement and the consequent hard times.
caused a suspension Of the movement. 1t
remained in abeyance for number or
years. Finally, in 1892, the one hundredtl
anniversary Of Washington's birthday pro-
duced another revival of patriotic memo
ries, and 4 committee of citizens started 4
new fund for the monument;
Meantime the original fund in the GUS
tody of the Cincinnati had remained un-
disturbed, and the citizens fund was also
substantially intact. Overtures were re-
peatedly made for a consolidation of the
two funds, but the sturdy conservatism of
the Cincinnatians defeated them until
about fifteen years ago, when the matter
was carried to the courts with successful
issue. During the interval of quiescence
both funds had waXed fatter-the citizens
TO $4,000 and the Cincinnati to Sl30.OeO. The
union formed treasury which continued
to accumulate up to the grand achieve
ment to-day of the purpose Of our fore
fathers.
The monument. which is the design of
Professor Rudolph Siemering, a celebrated
sculptor of Berlin. is about 40 feet high.
From an oblong platform, reached on four
sides by thirteen steps. symbolical of the
thirteen original states, rises a pedestal
bearing an equestrian statue in bronze of
General washington. The father of his
country is represented i'm the Colonial uni
form of the American army, large mill
tary cloak being thrown around his COM
mandng 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 Mis-
sisSippi. On the sides, each of these
fountains is guarded by typical American
animals, eight in all. At the front and
back Of the pedestal are two allegorical
groups, the former representing America
seated, holding in one hand a cornucopia !;
In the other a 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 sense of their
slavery. Below are the arms of Pennsyl-
vania. On the sides of the pedestal are
TWO Das-reiefS. one, representing the
march of the American army the other
side the pedestal bears the inscription:
Sic Semper Tyrannis." and "Per Aspera
ad Astra;" on the other: Westward the
star of Empire Takes Its Way" Sur
rounding the upper portion of the pedestal
is the legend Erected by the State So
ciety of the Cincinnati"