The Washington herald., 1909-05-08
Statue in Bronze Unveiled
in Washington.
BRILLIANT GATHERING THERE
Leading Citizens and Public Men
Speak Praise of American Poet In
GrHndchiIdren-AttO General
Wiekersham Accepts Statue.

and hreside. and man Of peace, was yes
terday enthroned amid warriors and
statesmen in Washington.
In the sculptured presence Of him who
rendered distinguished services 10 our na-
tionaI literature ana knitted together the
broker life Of the Old World and the
New, leading citizens and jurists dedicated
statue 10 the author OF -'Hiawatha" and
.EvangeIine.
Following paeans OF exaItatlon ad-
dressed 10 the character OF the man
whose memory was about TO be immor-
tslized In bronze, Miss Erica Thorp.
youngest granddaughter Of the poet, un-
veiled the monument amid dramatic sur
roundings. Just as she released the rope
unfolding the American flags a downpour
% rain sprinkled the memorial, and sud
denly terminated the exercises al the
hastened bat suitable moment
Accepts the Statue.
Standing bareheaded in the shower that
drove the hundreds Of spectators TO shell
ter. Attorney General Wickersham, on be
half Of the President Of the United States.
accepted the statue.
A typical demonstration OF that patriot
ism which Longfellow so powerfully stir-
Ulated by his lines to the ship OF State. -
more than leo persons assembled in the
reservation al the intersection OF Connec-
ticut avenue and II street Al go O'Clock
and remained TO pay homage 10 his mem
ory-
With martial strains. the Marine Band
stirred the spirit OF the gathering and
lent an sir Of triumph 10 the occasion.
which represented the elimination of
eight years OF effort on the part OF three
Presidents and a host Of WashIngton's s
leading men. Seated in the reserved sec
tons within the reservation were Sena-
tors, clergymen. and public servants.
mingled with a throng Of citizens. all
Inspired with the momentous proceedings.
Members of the Family.
Grouped behind the speakers rostrum
n the stand were the members Of the
family made notable by the poet 8Ir
and Mrs. J. G. Thorp and Mt. and Mrs.
Richard Dana and their daughters and
sons waited with expectancy the unveiI-
ing OF the monument 10 their forefather.
Mrs ThOrp and Mrs. Dana are both
daughters OF Henry WaOsworIn Long
fellow. Miss Erica Thorp, Miss Alice
ThoTp. Miss Amy Thorp. Miss Della
Dana, and Miss Edith LongfellOw are
granddaughter OF the poet Miss Mary
Longfellow, OF Portland, Ne. q niece.
Mrs. H. c. Dehran, OF New York. q
granddaughter. ana Rlcnard Dana. ir-.
and Henry WadswOrth LOngfellOU Dana.
grandsons, we're also seated in the pa
vflion
Ambassador James Bryce conveyed the
tribute Of Great Britain 70 the family.
and others whose presence added touch
% brillianee to the scene were Melville
". Fuller, Chief Justice Of the United
States Supreme Court, who presided:
Right Rev. Alexander AIaCkay-Smith. CO.
adJutOT bishop OF Pennsylvania. Right
Rev Alfred Harding, Episcopal Bishop
OF Washington; Senator Benjamin r
Tillman. OF South Carolina: Associate
Justice NcKenna Gen. John c. Black.
William Couper. sculptor Of the statue:
former Secretary Of the Navy John D.
Long, Miss Mabel BOardman. Judge Wen
del Philips Stafford, and Rev Dr. Ro-
land Cotton Smith.
President Not Present.
Owing TO pressing affairs Of state. Presl-
dent Taft was prevented from attending
the ceremonies.
Revealing new phases Of the life OF
LongfeIlow as q man, citizen. and as a
poet. Maj. Gen A ". Greely. L. s A:
Prof Bliss Perry. editor OF the Atlantic
Monthly. and Hamilton ". Mabie. Il.
D. earned the applause Of the audience.
Without the reservation were hundreds
OF spectators massed into crowds that
blocked traffic and who listened with in
terest 10 the programme OF music and
speeches.
When the ceremonies were begun. short
y after 2:5o O'Clock. the sun was beating
down upon the scene, adding greatly 10
the discomfort OF the guests
EuIOgy TO LOngfeIIOw.
After the Marine Band. under the direc-
ton of Lieut.. Santelmann. has opened
the programme with America Rev. DR..
Charles Wood. ID. d. pronounced the IL
vocation This opening prayer contained
eulogy to the author. describing his
life as one long. unbroken psalm Of praise.
Giving the history of the statue. Bishop
Mackay Smith interested his hearers with
a recital OF the difficulties encountered
by the memorial association that con-
celved the idea OF reveTiGg LOngfeIlOw's $
memory IN the eight years Of its exist
ence
1t has always been a grave reproach
20 Us that while England has been quick
10 recognize his eminence by placing his
bust IN Westminster Abbey. our own peO-
pie have not until to-day done anything
10 testify 10 the affection and pride with
which millions regard L0ngfellow. There
Is no poet so near the American people "
Distributed about the inclosure we're
fac-simile copies Of the letter dated Feb
Tuary q by William Mckinley heartily
indOrsing the noble purpose 10 erect a
statue 10 L0ngfellow in the National
Capital"
A unique treat was given at this iunc-
tuTe By the Marine Band. when Arthur
Whitcomb, cornet soloist. played Long
fellows selection, Surprise" Following
this number Gen. Greely was introduced.
and IN an eloquent address he spoke OF
'LOngfellOw-Jhe Man
Prefacing his remarks with a bit Of
humor. Prof. Perry, the next speaker
won applause when he said '-Longfeliow
was too great a lion 10 enjoy Ton-hunt-
ing
LoEgfeIIow as a Poet.
Hamilton W Mabie followed with a
sneech. termed by his auditors a gen. Of
literary style, and depicted Longfellow
ss a poet who had the gift and grace
which puts the thought OF the wise in the
language Of the simple
AR Mabie had hardly finished when
the rain began TO fall. and hurriedly
Brainard Il. Warner. treasurer of the
association and moving spirit in the
project. presented the statue TO the na-
ton
Always the Same.
Th~,.