Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-05-18
THE BAYARD MEMORIAL.

Editor Tho Gazette: With great
interest read OF the decision of the
executive committee Of the Bayard
Memorial Association to erect statue
to Mr.. Bayard
In a previous issue l had noticed
with special pleasure the suggestion
that the memorial take the form OF
library to be placed in the parisbhouse
of Old Swedes Church, and l was
hoping that this suggestion might
have weight with the committee. Is
it too late to consider the possibility
of such q memorial?
While it might not be practicable to
use the parishhouse for such purpose,
would it not be possible, by increasing
slightly the amount OF money. sug-
gested, to erect near Old Swedes Church
Bayard' Memorial Hall, one room IN
which should be devoted 10 a library
and reading room and the other to an
industrial museum? Tho worklngmen
and they are many in that neiehbor-
hood would welcome u chance to look
over the newspapers or scientific maya
zines, to sec bit of fine wood carving
or an illustration of the possibilities OF
art as applied to wrought iron. IL
would not take many years to collect a
few casts, pictures, beautiful textiles,
and interesting but inexpensive pro-
ducts of hand-craft from other coun-
tries.
A man who has toiled all day is often
without the incentive to dress up
and go to u University Extension lecture
ten blocks away, but he would drop in
for n good stereopticon entertainment
that illustrated current history or gave
glimpse of the markets of the world,
where are sent the products of Ameri.
can labor. And in such fashion would
the worker come in closer contact with
the universal life of which he is &c
vital part. Could not this possibility
become fact by increasing the amount
of the memorial fund and by devotine
half Of it to q Memorial Hall, the Other
halt to the care OF the building? Would
not Mr.. Bayard himself say: why dc
you put all those thousands of dollars
| into representation of me when yor
could devote them TO the good OF thu
people whose welfare was my interestY
Is it not more in accord with thu
ideals which Mr.. Bayard represented
that memorial of him should stanc
| for the uplifting of the many rather
| than for the prominent setting apar
| of the one? Would not such u memoria
be more in accord with Mr.. Bayard''
manner of life?
The statue Of an out-of doors man
wrapped in his military cloak or seatet
on spirited horse. has ccrtaiI
relation to the out-of-doors which il
harmonious. Not SO the representation
of thoughtful statesman.
The suggestion made that Mr.. BayarC
be represented as "slightly stopped
suggests at once the comment tina
surely will be made, Poor man, how
he did stoopo' criticism as frank Il
that made upon another statue in on
city, Poor man, how his coat doe
wrinkle in the back"
Can we not honor the erectness O
Mr.. Bayard's life and character b.
placing in our city simple but appro
pirate Bayard Memorial Hall, who's
influence shall make for the upbuildin
of citizenship and the betterment c
humanity? A memorial library woul
be tribute not only to Mr.. Bayard
literary tastes and his appreciation G
the value of written records-do W
not owe to him the Bradford Journal
but an acknowledgment as well 9
his belief in common possession
the forces Of education and recreation
NJ.
Wilmington, May 18th, 1899.