Evening star., 1900-05-19
Statue of Grant Unveiled at the
Capitol.
BRIEF CEREMONY In TEE ROrUNDA
Elaborate EuIogies Delivered in the
House.
M RABLE EV ENI'

and the acceptance by Congress of the
statue of Gen. Grant presented by the
Grand Army to the nation took place to-
day. The event was in the highest sense
a fitting tribute to the great military
leader whose name was again to be hon
ored by his admirers who had followed
him to victory and those who, not partici-
pating in his victories, yet joined in hon
or1ng his memory
The first ceremony of the day took place
shortly before noon and was participated
in and witnessed by very few of those
who took a prominent part in the events
of the day. There had been no public an
nouncement of the simple ceremony that
attended the unveiling of the statue in the
rotunda of the Capitol. The statue was
covered with an American flag when a
small company assembled before it. Mrs
Z. S. Grant had arrived at the Capitol and
She was accompanied to the rOtunda by
Speaker Henderson. Mrs. Sartors, Miss
Sartoris and Mr.. Algernon Sartoris were
with Mrs Grant, and were the only repro
sentatives of the generals family who
We're present. They We're given seats in
front of the statue. Among others of the
small company present We're: Senators
Frye Proctor and Hansbrough. Represen-
tative McCleary and members of the me-
mortal committee that represented the
Grand Army in the presentation of the
statue.
The UnyeilinS.
Without any preliminary ceremony Miss
Sartoris stepped to the front of the statue
and drew the flags from the white marble
showing the form Of the general. For a
moment there was silence and then the skill
Of the artist was acknowledged by a round
of applause. Mrs. Grant was plainly af-
fected. After admirng the marble form
Oh the man to whom her own life had been
devoted she arose and going nearer to it,
with the assistance of her cane stood a mo-
ment in admira ton.
''Oh, l think it is very good" she re-
marked.
Mrs. Sartoris and her children then stood
before the statue short time, evidently
greatly pleased with the work of the artist
The Statue.
The statue of the pre-eminent CHIEF of
the Union forces in the civil war represents
the contributions OF thousands of his COM
rades of the G. A. r., none of whom was
allowed to subscribe more than u cents
and is the result of q movement started
shortly after Gen. Grants death at Mt.
McGregor in July, 1851. 1t is the work of
Franklin Simmons. an American sculptor.
OF marble. Of heroic size, 1t stands I
granite pedestal emblazoned with a bronze
seal of the G.. A. r.. and representing the
eral, equipped for the field, his cloak falling
over his left arm, his hand resting on the
hilt of his sword. The figures of states
men, soldiers and pioneers in marble and
bronze adorn the old House of Representa-
tives chamber of the Capitol. now Statuary
Hail, but these gifts of the Individual
states. Grants statue was unveiled in the
rotunda as betitted the statue Of one whose
valiant service was for the whole nation.
There it will remain with the statues of
Jefferson. Hamilton and Lincoln, which also
are in the rotunda. an example and an in
spiration to future generations. The hero
of AppomattoX stands near the western en-
trance. fanked on either side by the famous
paintings of the Surrender of CORVALLIS
and the Surrender of Burgoyne.
The unveiins occupied but a few min
utes. after which Mrs. Grant was escorted
back to the Speakers room on the arm of
General Burdett, chairman of the memorial
committee.
In the House of Representatives..
The exercises in the House of Representa-
tives began a short time after noon. There
was present a large number of representa-
tives and the galleries were filled. Mrs.
Grant and family occupied seats on the
front row in the private gallery on the east
side of the hall.
Mrs. Grant, in deep mourning, with close
black bonnet and white ruche and long
black veil, was in the Speakers seat. She
was an interested listener. moving a small
black fan and often speaking to Mrs. Sar-
toris, who sat beside her, gowned in laven-
der and black silk, with waist of white
taffeta silk and trimmings of black lace and
narrow ribbon. The fan she carried
matched the waist-white run with black
and lavender ribbon. Beside her was her
beautiful daughter. Rose Mary, in ivory
taffeta silk and cream lace, and wearing
big white picture hat half covered with
white tulle and plumes, a great bunch of
pink roses nesting under the brim on one
side. Their only male attendant was the
son of Mrs. Sartoris, Captain Algernon Sar-
toris, who leaned eagerly forward during
the exercises, never losing word of the
eulogy of the grandfather to whose mem
ory he is devoted.
Among the prominent Grand Army men
in the gallery were Col John McElroy, past
commander of the Department of the Po-
tomac; Past Commander Marion T. Ander-
son, Past Commander Arthur Hendricks.
B. F. Chase. Commander Entriker of Thorn
as Post L. P. Williams. senior vice COM
Israel w. Stone, Junior vice COM
and Mrs. Stone, Miss Helen Mat
mander Slaybough and staff, Department
Of the Potomac; DIR. A. E. johnson, past
surgeon general G. A. r., and Past Com
mander Hopkins.
the members of the monument committee,
Past Commander-in-chief Robert b. Booth
Of Philadelphia, Past Commander-in-chief
R. Burdett of Washington, Past Comman-
5elden Connor of Maine Commander-in-
chief A. D. Shaw and Chaplain-in-c chief ].
F. Grimm.
They were provided with seats placed be-
fore the Speakers desk.
The ceremony was begun as Is any or
binary meeting of the House. Chaplain
Couden opened the session with prayer, re-
ferring to the deeds of the great men who
have adorned the history of America
Gift Of the G. A. r.
The reading of the journal was concluded,
when a letter from the Grand Army was
read, formally making the presentation of
the statue.
Sir: In accordance with the joint resolu-
ton to accept from the national encamp-
ment of the G. A. r. statue and pedestal
Of the late Gen. Ulysses S. Grant approved
August IA, 1880. the committee of the
Grand Army appointed to that end have
caused such statue to be executed, and the
same Is now placed in the rotunda Of the
Capitol.
1.-The statue is an original work modelled
by Mr.. Franklin Simmons, the American
artist having his studio In Rome A brief
recital of the origin and purpose of this
work seems proper. General
Grant, as were others of the leaders of the
Union armies including Generals Sherman