The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-01
HAVE AVENUE Of
SOUTHERN i ! {. ]. + AM \ [
New Suggestion by Native Of
Richmond Visiting Scenes Of n
His Childhood.
NATIoNAL 7 e: THIS q STREET I T:
Long and Splendid isl. Array Of
Southern NalorsxAll il s..sl
Bronze. $50 .3ss,3i, II. s,s;
\. I

a native OF Richmond. who has Travelled
in many parts OF the world, and now
lives In another State, has recently paid
Richmond a Visit. He has been all oyer
the city and has looked upon the many
improvements. He Is especially delighted
with what he has seen in s1ke West End
and ahe3 has. written for The Times Dis
patch a new suggestion. one that &; !! Z.
4 certainly worthy Of f3consldera ton. HIS
letter Is as follows $as
Editor of Tile Times Dispa tch:
4 sslr.-Nhy not an avenue Of Southern
Fame" for. this beautiful and growing
city OF the Southland?
& For fear OF being misunderstood. let tic
writer say at4the start that he Is n non
resident, with no ''axe to grind; has
not one cents worth Of property within
the district hut having had the pleasant
experience OF sight seeing Mt leisure.
among the great cities and art treasures
OF the word-he wishes to throw out q
few hints about tho Identifying OF his
native city. Who Will take up the, PAL
and start 1t rolling?
Now that the city Council has decided.
most wisely. to widen Monument Ave-
nue. ali the way to the Boulevard, WAY
not convert 1t into "a Monument Avenue
OF Southern Fame?" The historical I'M
portance- geographical position Of this
city-as the Gateway OF the Sout;l,l
so to speak, makes It an ideal position
for Just such monument to Southern
valor.
You have grand nucleus to start with
the noble Lee, already finished; Jeb
stewart. and the Jefferson Davis monu-
mcrits nearing completion: "Our Fitz"
and dear "old Fighting Joe (Wheelcr),
should BIO there. And why not grand
heroic group "To the Women of the
South" God bless then!I hope they
viii never be an,olished.) Then why not
Mathew Maury--the Pathfinder OF
the s.',ainNforeign countrles-the best
known American barring Washington ana
Lincoln.
Honor Leading Southern Men.
Model this "Avenue of Fame, Oocal
variations could be worked out In deta!D,
nfter,the great drive built by Macmillan,
between the City of Mexico and Chapulte-
Pee Castle i. e. place the heroic size
#monuments--.lree are now in position
at the intersections OF the cross streets;
then at Intervals, say of TO yards, erect
upon the grass plots life size bronze fig
llres and busts upon suitable granite
pedestals), OF the men Of our glorious
South; men who have@made their mark
upon "the. sands OF time from 1860 10
1906. These eflgies could now be made
from actual portraits, photographs &C.,
fact that would add much to their in
trInsic historical interests In years to
come. Fi5 e j95 4lh
B Each Of the Southern States should be
asked to contribute from ono to five
life size figures, in bronzerof those whom
they may thus wsh4to honor, Zach State
to make It's own selection from Its native
SONS on daughters. renowned In peace Or
war. Appeals could be made to private
otizons-many OF them now live OH Easy
] Street"-to contribute busts, on suitable
pedestals, of some .member Of their own
family name. These might be subject To
approval OF committee. to prevent
''monstrosities and misflts' from Creep
Ing in, Statues and busts should tbe of
bronze, as marble, unprotected, soon be-
comes defaced in this climate, and these
monuments are to be for all time.
Those who lave had the pleasure Of en-
joyng tho "Nlexican drive" or THE
Pincio Hill" In Rome. with the marble
my meaning. These statues and pnsts
need not be very expensive and there
must be many Southern men now living
possessed with the laudible desire, to let
their family name go down beyond tho
three score years ind ten, 5l
Virginia could easily rurnsh the entlFe
number required but this would spoil
the iden Let 1t be ''.An Avenue Of South
4ern Fame" each State, having an equal
opportunity to contribute. The city could
then he induced to place. q few handsome
vases for flowers. &C., along the grass
THAT a small life-size group can be
made Gan artistic gem. "a thing Of
beauty" and "a Joy forever ! need only
refer, to the "De Saussure monument at
ChumouniS, Switzerland, Without calling
names, there are men in this city, with
artistic tastes who would give, as ~
1 labor OF love-" much time and talent TO-
carry out the above idea.