Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-09-30

ceipt of this copy he sent the fouoWing
letter to President Mckinley. letter
which now seems filed with strange
and unconscious prescience:
"rDear Mr. President: President
Wheeler sent me the inclosed at my
request. You have the words in more
permanent shape They seem to me
remarkably well chosen. and stately
and dignified enough to serve-long
hence, please God-as your epitaph.
"Yours faithfully,
JOHN HAY
at would be hard to imagine an
epitaph which a good citizen would ne
more anxious to deserve or one wh1ch
would more happily describe the quall-
ties of that great and good cltlzen
whose life we here commemorate. He
possessed to very extraordinary de-
gree the gift of uniting discordant
forces and securing from them a mar
monious action which told for good
government. From purposes not mere
ly diverse but bitterly conflicting. ne
was able to secure healthful action for
the good of the state. In both polse
and Judgment he rose level to the sew
eral emergencies he had to meet as
leader of the nation. and like all men
with the root of true greatness In them
he grew to steadily larger stature un-
der the stress of heavy responsibilities.
He was good citizen and brave
soldier chief executive whose wis
dom entitled him to the trust which he
received thruout the nation. He was
not only leader of men but preem-
inently q helper of men: for one OF MS
most marked traits was the intensely
human quality of his wide and deep
sympathy Finally, he not m.rrly
preached. he was. that most valuaole
of all citizens in a democracy like ours,
a man who in the highest served rs an
unconscious example to his peopie af
the virtues that build and conserve
elike our public life. and the fosrda-
of the home"
An Imposing Work Of Art.
The mausoleum stands on an emin-
ence to which has been given the name
Of Monument Hill, about two miles due
west of the Mckinley home in the city
of Canton; it is not an ornate affair,
but it's simplicity is relieved by suffi-
cient artistic establishment to make 1t
an object Of beauty, as well as one of
massive proportions and breadth of de-
sign.
Four states have contributed share
Of the material which has been used
in the building of the monument. The
granite used in the approaches and the
mausoleum proper are from the quar-
ries of Milford Mass. Tennessee has
furnished the grey marble for the in
terror of the tomb, while the sarco- I
phagi which now holds the bronze
caskets in which lie the bodies of
President and Mrs. Mckinley are of
dark green granite from Windsor. VT.
The base upon which the sarcophagi
rest is black granite from Berlin Wis.
From the first step of the approach
to the monument, to the actual top of
the structure is 1853 feet inches. the
mausolellm itself being 9S feet s in
ches above the summit of the mound.
The top of the dome has an oculus Is
feet in diameter. thru which comos-
ma softened light which adds greatly
to the beauty Of the interior.
The mausoleum is rs feet inches
in diameter In the center of the floor
beneath the dome stand the sarcophagi
containing the bodies of the president,
and Mrs. Mckinley, and in inches on
the north side of the domes are the
caskets containing those of the two
daughters, Ida and Mary, who died
in infancy.
High Doric columns are placed
around the interior in such manner
as to appear half buried in the sides of
the building. The floor is of mosaic,
marble having been brought from
many states for the purpose.
Half way down from the top of the
1875 granite steps that lead up to the
main entrance on the south side of the
mausoleum stands an heroic bronze
figure of President Mckinley, repre-
senting him in the attitude usually
assumed when speaking-his left hand
holding roll of manuscript, and the
right hand in the trousers pocket. Be-
hind the figure is bronze chair en-
circled with a wreath, and draped |
with the flag of the United States. The t
bronze figure which is nine feet high
stands on pedestal 1S feet from the
base to the feet of the figure.
Upon the face of the pedestal of the
statue these words are inscribed:
William Mckinley, president of the
United States; statesman singularly
gifted to unite the discordant forces of
government and mold the diverse pur-
poses of men toward progressive and
salutary action: a magistrate whose
poise of Judgment was tested and vim
dicated in a succession of national
good citizen. brave SOL
dier. wise executive helper and leader
of men, exemplar to his people of the
virtues that build and conserve the |
state, society. and the home."
Twenty six acres Of ground were |
purcha sed by the monument commits
sion and the utmost art of the land
scape gardner has been lavished upon
the grounds. Natural streams flow
past the base of the mound and trees
and flower beds have been arranged |
with an eye to the greatest artistic
beauty From the entrance to the I
on the south to the foot of |
the mound is $50 feet and along this
distance double driveway. a lagoon |
which is constantly filled with fresh
water. Long rows of trees flank the
lagoon and the driveWays.
The mausoleum and grounds have
been built and arranged at cost of
$500 000 and it is the intention of the |
to raise an endowment |
fund Of s150,000 which preclude with
the charging of a fee for admission
At next meeting of the mausolenn
custodtans win be chosen.