The Washington herald., 1909-02-06

New York. Feb 5-Lincoln was the
topic OF discussion at the meeting OF the
National institute OF Art and Letters at
the University Club here tonight
A memorial TO the great emancipation a.
the National Capital was strongly urged.
and IN this connection Glenn Brown, sec
rotary OF the American institute OF Archi-
tects, made a lengthy address.
IN part he spoke as follows:
- memorial 70 Abraham Lincoln ap-
peals strongly to our imagination as we
see it expressing IN form and proportion
our appreciation for the simple. lovabls
man and wise. far-seeing statesman
Three bills are bsfore Congress for a
Lincoln memorial The Mccall BIN for
structure on the ground adjoining the
Union Station, the Lafesn bill for g
highway from Washington to Gettysburg.
and the Newiands bin for a memorial
in accordance with the PARK commissions
recommendation.
The Mccall bill offers no DEFINITE
design or site. The memorial is 10 be
somewhere. and OF some form. on an
irregular forty-acre tract. The author
OF the bill Informs US that several
prominent architects have made de-
signs. but no one OF them seems 70
meet with sufficient favor to have been
incorporated IN the bill Among the
schemes favOrably under consideration
Is a peristyle encircling the plaza OF
the Union Station In the center OF this
plaza is 70 be the Columbus Memorial
Thus the memorial 10 Lincoln becomes
J part OF the station, a vestibule guild
ing to the greater structure. and forms
a fitting background to the Columbus
Memorial. an admirable establishment
for the station, but wanting IN the IN
dividuality and distinction necessary to
commemorate Abraham Lincoln
ColOnnade Is Suggested.
"A suggested colonnade on Delaware
avenue is another effort 70 attain IN
approach 10 the station and cali It a
memorial to Lincoln.
Another form OF memorial TO Lincoln
IS presented in the Lafesn bin. which
calls for a highway DO feet wide from
Washington 10 Gettysburg. An imposing
idea when first presented. but which.
upon further thought. does not seem
worthy OF serious consideration Il is
wanting in simplicity, direcrness. and IN
dlviduaiity
1T would require a TIP OF fifty miles TO
view il and q hundred miles OF stately
structures commemorative others 20
make Z imposing. How hideous such a
highway might become only requires a
visit 10 one OF our popular cemeteries.
TO make such a highway effective would
easily cost IN the hundred millions. ard
the cost OF Its maintenance would be In
possible 20 calculate.
Ideal site and Form.
Senator Newlands introduced a bin FOR
the Lincoln Memorial in accordance with
the park commission plan January .
1868. This biz gives the ideal site and
form OF memorial
The site and form OF memorial pre-
scented BY the park commission appeals
to the artist. the business man. and 10
the sentiment OF the community.
The river. hills OF Virginia. and pro
posed planting Of the landscape. provid-
ing beautiful vistas. noble lagOons. and
approaches. as indicated IN the park com
missions plan. viii enhance and make
more imposing this important memorial
This plan appeals TO the practical bust
ness mind n three wayS-the ability OF
the men who presented Il, the cost OF
the proposed memorial, and the results
attained BY the completed structure
The site selected BY the park com
mission belongs 20 the United States. and
VIII cost nothing. All the money appro-
priated can thus be spent on the memo
rial and the treatment Of its surround
ings. It is not necessary on this site 10
spend S.55o, oo0. and possibly double that
sun, for ground on which TO place the
structure. The fact that the best site
costs nothing VIII appeal 10 the common
sense OF our people. The final results
obtained by the park commissions site
makes the memorial a legitimate har-
monious. and imposing part OF the city
development, producing the highest prac-
teal and artistic effects.
Appeals TO Sentiment.
The site Of the commission appeals
to the sentiment OF the community
Those who love and appreciate the
memory OF Lincoln desire a site for
his memorial which, without thought
VIII convey TO the mind Lincoln's pre-
eminent place in history. The park
commission plan provides such a site
The principal axes OF the city as left
us By Washington are not merely i'm
aginary lines. The east and west axis
is the meridian OF Washington The
Capitol has one important focal point.
the Washington Monument another
There Is only one site on this most i'm
portant axis vacant, and this point has
been selected by the Park Commission
es the only one Of sufficient importance
for a memorial TO Lincoln
Those who appreciate Lincoln should
demand nothing less than the site which
would be OF equal Importance with the
ones given TO the Capitol and washing
ton Monument
The character Of the design sug-
gested appeals strongly 70 sentiment
Its simple outlines. refined detail. noble
proportion. great dignity. all express
SO clearly the life. character, and work
OF Lincoln that It intuitively suggests
an appropriate memorial.
The NeElands BIN IN the Senate calls
for memorial on the site selected by