Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-05

vt was day early In April. The Mon
ument. stretching far upward
through the moist morning air,
seemed almost to touch with its ia
pering summit the mist-lke clouds.
Drifting slowly. they broke into masses
of myriad forms between which patches
of deep rich blue gave hint Of the sky
beyond. Against this setting the east side
of the towering shaft cleaned gray white
in the morning sun.
The fresh spring green of the slopes.
from which the Monument reared its slen-
der but ponderous bulk, glistened where
the suns rays caught the dew. while the
long interlacing shadows from trees
showing the first tender foliage slowly
shortened the sun crept upward. a
soft breeze swept across the slopes.
stirring the shimmering spangles Of the
grass and moving lightly the slender
upper branches of the trees.
Already visitors were arriving at the
Monument looking like pgmies as they
walked about the base of the colossal
structure. Some had come on foot up the
curving driveways. while others had just
stepped from the two or three vehicles
that We're now waiting.
Upon the outskirts Of this scene sud-
denly appeared a swiftly moving auto of
luxurious pattern. its seagreen body fash
ing internationally In and out of the sun
light in passing through the open light
and shade between the rows of trees
that cross the Mall at 14th street. 1t
deity swung into the first curved drive
way just south of b street and came to
standstill a few feet beyond the inner row
OF trees. Seated in the auto We're three
men, one the chauffeur. Or the men, one
was man of more than average proper
lions. with a fine head well set on capa-
cious shoulders. His face, strong in it's
modelling, was yet sensitive with lines of
intellectually and the finer sensibilities.
and his countenance seemed to have IN II
a light that could come only from high
thinking. The man at his side was some
what smaller of build; his face, though
not show ing the power Of that of his com
panion, indicating, in spite of a mask OF
immobility, an active mentality.
AS the chauffeur brought the machine
to halt the first of the two men raised
his outstretched hand, palm upward and
said: We'll, how does it impress your
The other did not reply at once. but
folding his arms lay back at ease in the
deep cushioned seat and contemplated the
monument thoughtfully, though his face
gave no clue to the effect on his mind.
lndIly ne SdiO.
Its Just big pile of stone. I don't
see any beauty in II. for one thing. Just
a heavy mass Of rock, built away up into
the air with its straight lines continuing
long enough to produce wearisome mo-
notony The height of it isn't such a
wonderful matter, either, although it is !
have heard. the highest piece Of built
stone work in the world. But If modern
ocean greyhound were placed on end be-
side 1t the monument would be almost
dwarfed in comparison, in all its dirnen-
sions And as for mere mass of weight
of stone 1t isn't in 1t with the pyramids
OF Egypt.
And then again as to height. there's
the Singer building. in New York, 612
feet. while this monument, you say, Is
only $50 feet Besides, the Singer build
ing is beautiful as piece of architecture
and typifies the marvels of our wonderful
modern architecture, in which towering
steel skeletons support the weight Of
the stone walls with which they are sur
rounded And such structures have not
only their impressivenes as TO size and
beauty, but they are built for use. Of
course. 1 realize that the single function
OF the Monument is that of d memorial