Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-21
stone after stone to the ignominious level Of

stone after stone to the ignominious level Of
the rubbish pile.
The work of erecting structure to mark
the spot where Lincoln was laid to rest was
begun in 1869 and completed in 1871 under
the direction of the National Lincoln Monu-
ment Association. of which Richard }.
Oglesby of Illinois was president. Its pro-
jectors fondly hoped and believed that they
had buiided wisely. permanently and for all
time, yet before the monument had stood
thirty years it was seen that 1t must be
taken down and rebuilt. Fair and stable to
the outward view, it has met the inevitable
fate of house standing on an inadequate
foundation. The surface of the Shale rock
underneath does not lie on horizontal
plane but inclines to the east, with dip
Of one or two inches. Worse yet, the exca-
walton for the outer walls was not made to
bedrock and the walls, therefore, settled
unenualIy This resulted in great gaps in
the masonry crumbling walls and d1stor-
ton of arches that threatened the d1ssolu-
ton of the historic pile. 1t was therefore
decided to rebuild and the Illinois legisla-
ture has appropriated 100000 for that pur-
pose.
While the design of the old monument
may not conform to the present standard OF
artistic taste, it certainly was in accord
with the best Ideas of the time when 1t was
built: and, considering the source OF the
funds that made its construction possible
and that the great majority Of those who
contributed to it have passed away, those
who have the rebuilding in charge concluded
to make no change except to add sixteen
feet to the height of the original shaft,
which was always thought not quite high
enough.
Almost the first work in the dismantling
process was the removal of the bronze hg-
ure of Lincoln and the groups of statuary
representing the various branches or the
army and the navy as they existed IN civil
war days. Each group weighs from 9ooo TO
II 900 pounds, but after the machinery was
adjusted they were swung easily from their
positions, lowered to a low truck car and
pushed away to remote spot In the
grounds A stockade has been built about
them. behind which they look like impris-
oned giants. and where they will remain
until the rebuilt monument is completed
Lowering the Statue.
There was something weirdly impressive
in the moment when the statue Of the Pres
ident left the spot where it has stood so
long. The majestic figure seemed to thrill
with life as 1t swung off In the gray, frosty
light of last Christmas day and sank slowly
earthward. 1t seemed as if the great heart
might beat again, as II the long-closed lips
must open with some message of wisdom
needed in the councils of the nation today;
and surely there has been no more note
worthy instant in the history of the monu-
ment since its dedication when Gov. Ogles-
by said: Under the gracious favor of AL
mighty God dedicate this memorial to the
memory of the obscure boy, the honest man,
the great liberator and the martyr Presi-
dent, Abraham Lincoln.> Behold the image
of the mani"
Stone by stone the memorial structure
was taken down until the catacomb was
reached, and the caskets containing the
bodies of President Lincoln, his wife and
their children were lifted from the vault and
laid in the temporary tomb near by. which