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

finger there IS a sense Of projection he
yond the finger itself. | will confess that
that pile of stone begins IN acquire al
effect on my imagination which a short
while back ! would not have supposed
possible
During these remarks the chauffeur had
glanced once or twice upward at the Mon
ument and was now half turned I'm his
seat as though more readily to listen 10
the discussion. The Washingtonian nod
ded quietly, and, responding to his visit
ing friend, said:
You are coming along famously 1
shall have little fear of your not quickly
catching my meaning when ] speak of It's
symbolism. and in that II the true funC-
ton of the Monument as a great memo
rial to the immortal Washington. Among
the most impressive OF all memorials IN
foreign lands which you and | can recall
there are none comparable to this in the
power of symbolism. Its absolute sim
plicity of structure, its lines. its proper
lions, its nicely of ma gnitude. its effect of
pondarousnesS without clumsiness and its
location within the boundaries of the cap
ital of the country founded by and named
after the father of his country, are the
material elements Of which the memorial
is comprised. 1t is simple, direct, stable.
pure and aspiring. That symbolism has
its source first in the character and i'm
mortal deeds of the great Washington.
and relatively thereto in the character
and patriotism of the people of America.
Conceive the design Chinaman would
give this Monument. He would string out
ringers on 1t and turn 1t into Chinese
pagoda. A Moslem would round off the
corners (Which here have their value). at
tach a series of two or three encrcling
galleries and perhaps apply a projecting
cap at the top. \ Russian would encun-
Der IT with great concal globes, with II
little one at the summit. and surround
the arrangement with ground structures
rooted In an accumulation of similar CON
ical globes. a German would erect mag
nifcent composition of monument and
statues. These examples of a different
treatment in themselves interesting and
impressive, | define by way of pres enting
this Monument in its strong contrast and
in its distinguishing individuality as diff
ferentiated from all other memorials. I
believe that you are now almost prepared
to agree with me as to the singular APP
propriatenesS of this particular shaft of
stone as an expression of the American
peoples conception of the character and
greatness of Washington
Il follow you" replied the other.
The speaker paused a moment to glance
up to the Monument, across the lower part
of which the shadow of a cloud was at
that moment passing. while the peak
emerged bril- liant in the sunlight. The
gaze of the quiet listener which had been
followed. Involuntary he leaned for
ward. and dropping his hands to his lap.
he clasped them tightly.
"Ah." he calculated, the frown relaxing.
go on he said. after a moment, as tie
settled back again in the cushions.
Il need scarcely go on his friend re-
sumed. You are discovering for your
self some hint Of that of which | was
about to speak. However, 1t needs Il
period of sojourn in Washington free
from the sense of haste natural to the
tourist stopping over for only "A few days
for cultivation of a sense and appreciation
of the moods of the Monument though,
as l have said, because of our constant as
ISOLATION and familiarity with the Monu-
ment we Washinstonians almost neglect
to look at IT
" Moods of the Monument repeated the
other. as though to himself. Very good:
go on"
Yes, the Monument has it's moods
many of them. Some racur frequently and
become familiar to observers. Others are
more rare We have seen two with n as
many minutes. moment ago the shaft
emerged from shadow into light. with a
great cloud as A background; now 1t Is
all in shadow and stands unreleved in
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