Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-16
Gratifying Progress ofthe Longfellow
Memorial Project.
3HASqE DESIGN FOR TIE MONUMENT
Review Of the Work Accomplished
in Its Behalf.
E NTE RTAIN MENT TO-DAY

Two years ago the Rev. Alexander
Mackay-Smith, who had long believed that
| a proper memorial to the great American
[ poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow should
be placed in the capital of the nation of
which he was such an illustrious citizen.
began active measures to assure the sue
cess Of such a project AS a result, the
Longfellow National Memorial Association
was organized. Its objects were clearly
stated in a circular prepared on behalf of
the executive committee Of the association
by DR.. MackaySmith, its chairman; Gen.
A. w. Greedy, U. s. A., its secretary, and
Mr.. Brainard H. Warner, its treasurer.
An Eloquent Appeal.
1t reads as follows:
This association has been formed for the
purpose of erecting statue of Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow in the capital of the
nation. 1t is hoped that such a project will
commend itself to the public worthy Of
commentator and support. Washington
already contains the statues of more than
score of eminent citizens, but among
them there is not one which marks distin-
gu1Shed services rendered to our national
literature. 1t has been thought by many
competent judges that statue of Long
fellow placed here would be fitting tribute
both to his fame and to the distinction
which he conferred upon American letters
1t is grave reproach to us that while
England has been quick to recognize his
em1nence by placing his bust in Westmin-
ster Abbey, our own people have as yet
done little to testify the affection and pride
with which millions regard one who is, be-
yond all others, the poet of the American
home and tireside.
I while there may be some who question
the claim of Longfellow to the title of our
greatest poet. there are, on the other hand.
few who would not place his as second only
to some more favored name. No one of
our poets has been translated into many
modern languages. and no one has ever so
beautifully illustrated the earlier phases of
our national life as the author of 'Ha-
watha,' of .Evangeline' and of The Court
ship of Miles Standish.' Many Of his
poems have become. in a measure, a part
OF our household speech: the best aspects
of our social and religious life have through
his works been made familiar to the world:
while American patriotism has been power
fully stimulated by the lines, with which
every child is familiar, addressed to The
Ship of State If, in addition to this, we
remember that so gracious and engaging
personality, so complete and beautiful
life have rarely, If ever, graced the litera-
ture of any nation, We may well conclude
that to place a lasting memorial to Long
fellow in the city which belongs to all our
people, and to which they send their rep
resentatives to make their laws is to fur
nish both a true inspiration to our highest
ideals Of citizenship and a testimony to the
achievements which We value most.
THE Longfellow Memorial Association.
therefore. appeals with confidence to the
generosity of the public to aid its purpose
by subscribing literally toward the erection
of this statue. The smallest contributions
will be welcomed. 1t is estimated that the
sum of $4,000 is needed to procure a statue
worthy of the poet and the site. AS al
most every American home, where the in
mates love good literature, contains copy
of Longfellow's poems, 1t is hoped that
the response to this appeal may be both
prompt and generous.
Notable Group of officials.
The officers of the association at present
are Chief Justice Fuller of the United
States Supreme Court, president; Senator
George F. Hoar of Massachusetts, vice pres
ident; Gen. Greedy, secretary; Mr.. Warner,
treasurer, and an executive committee con-
sisting of DIR. Mackay- Smith, Gen. Greedy
and Mr.. Warner and ex-senator John B.
Henderson, 8. H. Kaufman, John Joy Ed
son, Lewis ]. Davis and Clifford Pinchot
The honorary regent is President McKin-
ley, who is taking warm and active in
terest in the movement, and the regents
are ex-President Cleveland, ex-President
Harrison, Mr.. William Alvord Of San Fran
CISCO Cal, DR.. Swan M. Burnett, Prof.
Frank n Bigelow. Mr.. Andrew Carnegie
of New York city, Very Rev. T. J. Conaty.
Senator Chauncey M. Depew, Mr.. John Joy
Edison, President Charles w. Eliot of Cam
bridge, Mass, Chief Justice Fuller, Cen
Adolphus w. Greedy, Cardinal James Glib
i
Harris, commissioner of education; Secre-
tary John Hay, Speaker D. B. Henderson,
John b. Henderson, Mr.. Henry Hitchcock.
Senator George F. Hoar Bishop John F.
Hurst Mr. John A Kasson, Mr.. S. H.
Kaufman, Mr.. c. F. Libby of Portland
Maine, Mr.. Robert r. Lincoln Of Chicago,
H.. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, President
Seth Low of New York city, Rev. Alex.
MackaySmith, D. D., Mr. John W. Mackay
of New York city. Mr.. Thomas Nelson
Page, Mr.. ]. Addison Porter, Bishop Henry
c. Potter of New York city. Mr.. Thomas B.
Reed of Portland, Maine Mr. Hoke Smith
of Atlanta. Ga, Mr.. George R. Stetson,
Mr. Henry Watterson of Louisville, KY,
Mr. Herbert Welsh of Philadelphia Pa,
Justice White of the United States Supreme
Court, Rev. Benaiah L. Whitman, DID, and
Senator Edward O. Wolcott
A ladies' auxiliary is now being formed in
| this city to aid in the work, and one has
been already formed in Boston by Mrs An
drew j. George and has accomplished much
Beautiful Design Chosen.
The Society of New York Artists recently
had a competition of designs for the pro-
posed memorial and the judges selected that
offered by the architects of the new Wash
| ington Public Library as the best. 1t is
chaste and beautiful conception. A bust of
| the immortal poet is supported upon a COM
manding granite column, and figure of
Fame is shown placing laurel wreath upon
the side of the shaft
Treasurer Warner stated today that SUBJ
scriptions were being received in a most
gratifying way
TOday's Entertainment,
A compliments entertainment will be
given under the auspices Of the association
| at the Lafayette Square Opera House at
AIS o'clock this afternoon. The program
| will open with music by the Carlisle Indian
School Band of fifty-four members, special
ly selected from twenty-three different
tribes. under the leadership of Mr.. Dennison
Wheelock. The band will render during the
afternoon the overture from the opera
'Semiramids," by Rossin; one movement
from Dennison Wheelock's aboriginal
Suite which includes an adaptation from
! a native melody, and will close with Sousa's
Congress of all Nations In compliment to