Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-17
Memorial to Be Erected to Americas
Popular Poet.
MEETING 70 FURTHER TIE PR0JECf
Distinguished Audience Addressed
by Senator Depew and Others.
MUSIC BY INDIAN BAND

fayette Square Opera House yesterday af-
ternoon at the invitation of the Longfellow
National Memorial Association was one
truly representative of the national
capital The occasion of the gather
ing was a complimentary entertainment
given by the association, the object of the
organization being the erection here of a
statue of Americas popular and beloved
poet. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The
President of the United States, members
of his cabinet, senator's and representa-
tives. well-known officers of the army and
navy and prominent private citizens at
tended, about every seat in the house being
occupied. The ladies were particularly
numerous. Miss Alice NJ. Longfellow, the
oldest daughter of the poet, was in the au-
dience.
The Carlisle Schools Indian Band fur
nished the music. to the entire satisfaction
OF the big audience, the playing of the In
dian boys being quite a revelation, while
addresses were made by the Secretary of
the Navy, Senator Chauncey Nj. Depew and
Rear Admiral Edward Stewart. But per-
maps the most attractive feature of the ex-
ercises was a recitation by Miss Ztkala Sa
lRed Bird, young Sioux Indian girl. At
tired In native costume, this full-blooded
Indian girl rendered the pathetic selection
The Famne'-in a manner as artistic as
II was surprising to those who were una
ware of the benef1cent effect education has
kala Sa, in a tasteful costume of red. rem
dered a violin solo, which was no less
pleasing.
DIR. Mnckay-Smith Presides.
The Rev. Alexander Mackay Smith, chair
man of the executive committee of the
Longfellow National Memorial Association.
to whose efforts is largely due its organi-
cation, presided, and seated with him upon
the stage were the following members of
the association: General A. w. Greedy, Mr.
s. HI. Kaufman. Rev. Teunis s. Hamlin
Major Pratt, superintendent of the Car
Isle School; Mr.. John Joy Edison, Mr.. B. H.
Warner, Mr.. Lewis j. Davis, ex-senator
John B: Henderson and Mr.. A. R. Spot
ford. Secretary Long. Senator Depew and
Rear Admiral Stewart also occupied seats
upon the stage, the Indian musicians, to the
number of fifty-four, and representing
the rear of the stage. The band. under the
direction of Mr.. Dennison Wheelock, a
young Oneida. rendered several selections
while the audience was being seated, and
heralded the entrance of President McKtp-
ley by playing Hail to the Chief The
President, who was accompanied by Secre-
tary Wilson of the Department of Agricul-
ture and Mr.. Cortclyou of the executive
Office was seated in a box, and was
one of the most interested persons in the
house, laughing heartily at many of Sena-
tor Depew's witty reflections.
After the band had rendered Rossini's
'Semiramide'' overture with fine effect Mr.
Nackay- Smith extended, upon behalf of
the association, welcome to those who
mad accepted the invitation to be present,
remarking that the occasion was one of
such Importance as to enlist the sympathy
of every educated American, while it com
mands the approval of all classes of cti-
zens, however humble-the erection at the
rational capital of d statue which shall at
once commemorate the achievements Of
American literature and render homage TO
him who by common consent was one of
its noblest representatives and perhaps its
most popular and best-beloved poet-Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow. The committee
feels, he added. that what is needed under
these circumstances is not to commend its
purpose, for that enlists the instant assent
of every citizen from the President Of the
nation, who has written of it with warm
approval, down to the smallest child bend
ing over its first primer of literature in
SCHOOL, out rather to spread the intelli-
gence of the PLAN
We make no argument" said Mr.. Mack
ay-Smith, for We need none. being con-
WINGED that In every American home there
are grateful hearts only too glad to regard
as privilege the pleasure of contributing
TO such gracious undertaking. Whether
II De the white man or the Indian, the col
ored man or the emfgrant. the statesman
or the soldier, the scholar or the manual
toiler in the fields-each will gratefully re-
member that he Is debtor to the poet who
has sung his triumphs or recorded his sor-
rows and whose lines have winged their
way into his Utmost heart to teach him en-
enlargement and aspiration. They will feel,
too, that they may we'll lie under some i'm
putation of ingratitude. not wholly I'M
founded, until they have each in the man
ner indicated by purpose laid their
wreath Of intertwined laurel and forget
me-nots upon the monument of him who
in every country OF the globe has helped
to render illustrious the American name"
DIR. Mackay-Smith then presented Miss
Zitkala Sa, who recited in a picturesque
indian costume THE Famine from Long
fellows poem of 'Hiawatha." The young
girl is highly educated. receiving her edu-
cation at Whites Institute, Wabash, Ind,
and at the Earham College in the same
state, taking the highest honors in oratory
at the last-named institution and winning
prize at an intercollegiate oratorical con-
test For year she taught at the Carlisle
school. The recitation was really magnif-
cent effort. and the young girl was most
enthusiastically applauded upon its close,
receiving a recall.
Senator Depew's Address.
Senator Depew followed next, delivering
characteristic address and being warmly
received. In opening the senator referred
to the unusual enthusiasm and earnestness
with which the anniversary of Washing