New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-28
FROM THE TOP or THE ARCH.
VISTA THAT ADMIRAL DEWEY WILL BE
ASKED TO ENJOY-THE INSCRIP-
TIONS ON THE STRUCTURE.

TIONS on THE STRUCTURE
rs It true that Admiral Dewey is going TO be
invited I'D to the top OF the arch" a Tribune
reporter asked Mr.. Charles r. Lamb. the arch-
tect of the triumphal structure Some OF the
workmen have been saying they were going to
have Dewey up there"
We'll. 1 hope So" the answer. were
going to invite him. We've had his relatives
up there one by one. and think we ought 10
have him"
After visit to the top Of the entablature.
where ]. O. A. Wards heroic group OF the ma
rne quadrga stands and waves triumphal
welcome. It was most natural to echo MI
Lambs hope. There Is an old saying that he
who has never seen the Tagus has never seen
the Peninsula" and It may almost be para
phrased, that he who has not seer Madison
Square from the top Of the Dewey Arch has
never seen New York, or at least, New YORK IN
holiday garb.
Already the scaffolding has begun to be
stripped from the arch, the topmost course De-
ing clear. Inside It was anything but clear In
the dim light. between and O o'clock IN the
evening. rough boards, dust and plaster could
be felt rather than seen. and the feeling was
unpleasant. Workmen and artists were ascend
ing or descending the winding stair; those de-
calling Coming down." those ascending simply
running into one without words
We're going to get these stairs all planed on
for Dewey before he comes up" said one work.
man alphabetically.
OF course. a seafarng man like the Admiral
would laugh at the idea OF having a flight OF
steps, each fully five inches wide. planed and
prepared for him.
On top Of the arch last evening the first I'M
pulse was to look at the huge masses OF moulded
plaster but that was useless. better impress
sion OF the whole work could be had from the
pictures, or even from the small working models
Of parts still lying. more or less the worse FOR
wear about the platform. 1t all seemed huge
limbs. towering wings Of the marine Victory"
above and the splayed. webbed feet OF Neptunes
horses striking vigorously at the plaster waves
It was better worth while to look down. ana
the first thing to strike the eye was sea or
treetops. The ground Is only eighty-six feet be-
low, 1t Is true. trihe TO the height of the down.
town Office buildings but there was no parapet.
no balustrade and the impulse was to dive into
the sea Of treetops on the Governors stand on
the side Of the arch.
From below, among the trees. only the faint
hum and murmur told that humanity was pres
ent but on every other side It was crowds and
flags. All along Twenty-third-st the slow. long
procession OF cars with rev otner Venlces, the
wide border of throngs on foot slowly surging
this way and that. rather moved on by the
police than moving OF its free Will. shut out
the pavement. The same was true down Broad
way, up Broadway and to less degree. down
Fifth-ave. beyond Twenty third-st. Up Fifth
ave- for some distance the crowds were barred
out by stands. From that height the vista OF
poles with their streamers. looks stunted. 1t Is
there that the committees idea of using blue
and white-the Nays own cOlors-has been
most closely followed; on every other side. from
housetops from windows. In long lines Of bunt-
ing patches where the vendors of buttons and
badges pass among the crowds, the inveterate
National love of the three cOlors adds the red
OF the Stripes.
When Admiral Dewey passes down the avenue
between the lines Of masts and thrOngs OF men,
women and children this inscription in the centre
Of the middle OF the arch will greet him: