The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-11-19
ruFDFR,CksBURe, Va, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 49, 1903
SPLENDID MEMORIAL TO The
COME ORACY.
Description OF the Monument Which
VIII Keep Alive the Memory oi
President jefferson Davis

Description OF the Monument Which
viii Keep Alive the Memory oi
President jefferson Davis
The memorial to President J' iirrson
Davis 10 be erected in Richmond VIII
doubtless be the last great monument
erected by the Southern people To a Con
iederate hero. IL will also be the great
est Of all that have yet been raised. II
will cost tmore-likewise, it wilisy mboiize
far more than oil the rect.
Three timea a memorial OF the civil and
military head Of the Coniederacy has
been decided upon: twice have designs
been rejected. lt IL safe to say that the
third design. the most practicable, artle-
tic and beautiful Of them all, will he per
petuaied in imperishab'e stone. 'he
Davis Monument Association has ap
proyed il. the United Daughters OF the
Conlederacy have adopted 1t and the
treasurer uf the fund stands ready To
write the check which williree this tribute
of the South to her great leader from all
stain Of debt
10 Mr.. William G.. holland, oi Rich
mond. il due the credit Of the conception
Of the memorial. To Mr.. Edward '.
Valentine. the eminent sculptor Ot Rich
mond. and the ladies of the Davis Monu-
ment Association Mr. Noland IL indebted
for valuable suggestions, which he has
Incorporated Ia the design.
Mr.. Valentine has the important com.
mission oi modelling the heroic statue oI
Mr.. Davis anddhe allegorical figure Oi
the South which caps the shalt OF more
than half hundred feet in heie eht.
The memorial il semicircular colon
made. formed Of thirteen Doric columns,
typicel oithe eleven States whirh seceded
and the remaining two which sent dele
gates TO the Confederate Congress. The
diameter Of the semi circle II about hity-
two feet. while from the steps leading to
the floor of the colonnade TO the middle
column is approximately thirty ieet ihe
columns reeach about eighteen lect high
and above each II the shield OF the state
which il represents. Upon the space be.
tween this medallion and the capitals oi
the columns will bc written In criptiuns,
vet 10 ba selected. The mottoes OF each
State will. oicourse, be- inscribed upon Its
shield Each massive bnttress at the
head of the rOlonade will he surTnounted
by artistic groups Of war trophier
10 the center Of the space. hall enclosed
by the sisterhood OF granite columns,
typicAl II the copiiderated States, rlses u
majestic shaft fiity.six feet from its hase
and more than five feet in diameter. IL
IL twice helted by bronze plates. These
fall upon the lines where the huge bl cks
or granite are cemented, giving the shalt
the appearance Oi monUlith. Ear up
the great pillar, under the very shadow
Of the capitnl. il the motto OF the Ton
iederacy. "Deo Nini'ce,' il. translated,
God b iGg our vindicator.
The brouEs belts are relieved IN ircnt
by the diverse and reverse sides OF The
Great Seal oi the Coniederacy. Thespace
between will probably bear an inscrip.
tion. possibly THE Confederate states OF
America. lsGl-ls6j." This and many
Other details arc yet To be worked out
Ohly the general -cl enc can he said to
have been perfected.
Resting upon the capital OF the shalt
il a pedestal supporting the female hg-
urc. typical Of aI the South. IL is to he
about seven feet in hight and irom the
street will appear the liiesiza ola woman.
Foremost of all will stand heroic
bronze statue Of President Jefferson
Davis. designed 10y MIR Valentine, who
baa given the world the best statues ol
Thomas Jefferson and Il. +. lfe. All
who have seen Mr.. Valentines model ol
the Davis statue are struck with 1t. The
artist has placed Mr.. Davis upon apedes
tai nine or ten feet high. and the figure
itself. will be abont eight feet high. The
President IL repre-, ented at a period o.
NE when his phyrical and mental iorce'
were at their be-t Possibly he will bt
in the pose Of speaking, one hand ex
tended. the other resting upon an oper
book. lying on stand beside him.