The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1909-05-12
UNvE|L POET SHAFT
STATUE OF LONGFElLOW &C.
CEPTED FOR THE NATION
BY TAFT.
ADDRESSES BY EMINENT MEN
Monument Made Possible by Contribu-
tons from Rich and Poor-Poet
Honored by England Before Native
Land Took Up the Matter.

Washington, May s. - President
Taft and other high officials were pres
ent yesterday at the unwilling of a
monument to Henry Wadsworth Long
fellow, whom majority of the Amer
lean people hold to have been the
greatest poet the country has pro.
duced
The statue of Longfellow has a
place at the intersection of Connecti-
cut and Rhode Island avenues, one OF
the most prominent points in the resi-
dence section of the capital city.
When the flags yelling the memorial
were removed yesterday the figure of
the poet was disclosed seated in an
armchair. The pose is restful and dig
nified, and the face of the poet has
the strength that belonged to it in
life. The statue is of bronze, and not
of Parian marble as was stated err
roneously in the reports that went out
at the inception of the movement to
raise the funds for the memorial.
Justice Fuller Presides.
At the ceremonies yesterday Chief
JuSllCc MCINlllC w l. ullOl VI luC oll1l-
ed States supreme court presided. JUS
tice Fuller has been president of the
Longfellow National Memorial associ-
alton since its formation during the
administration of President Mckinley.
The invocation was by Rev. Charles
Wood, D. D., The Right Rev. Alexander
Mackey-Smith, coadjuter bishop of
Pennsylvania delivered an address
giving the history of the movement
to raise the money needed for the
memorial to the poet.
DR.. Smith told of the countrywide
interest and sympathy that had been
manifested in the plan to honor Long
fellow. The contributions came from
men, women and children, from the
rich and the poor, each according to
his means. The people provided the
statue for the poet and the peoples
representatives in congress, acting for
them, provided the pedestal.
Addresses by Eminent Men.
Maj. Gen. A. w. Greedy, United
States army, retired, who for some
time has been secretary of the asso-
cations executive committee, spoke
on "Longfellow the Man" Prof. Bliss
Perry of Harvard university, editor
of the Atlantic Monthly, spoke on
'Longfellow the Citizen" and Hamilton
w. Mabie, one of the editors of the
Outlook, followed Prof. Perry with an
address on ''Longfellow the Poet"
Brainard Fl. Warner, LII. D., one of
the most prominent and most public
spirited citizens of the city of Wash
ington, made the speech of presenta-
ton of the statue to the national CAPT.
tai. DR.. Warner has been one of the
foremost workers in the cause of do
ing honor to the New England poet.
AS soon as the statue was unveiled
President Taft said a few words of
acceptance in the name of the people
pronounced by Rev. U. G. B. Pierce,
pastor of the Unitarian Church of All
Souls, of which President Taft is a
member At intervals during the cere-
monies the Marine band played, the
first number being America" and the
last "The Star Spangled Banner
Gift of the People.
In the membership of the Longfel-
low Memorial association are to be
| found the names of men in all the
callings of life and of every shade of
political and religious faith. Attempts
were made years ago to secure from
| congress an appropriation for monu.
| ment to Longfellow, but the efforts
| failed for one reason or another.
Finally the Memorial association came
| into existence and the national legis-
lature lent it's aid to the project, the
people, however, bearing directly and
willingly the greater part of the ex.
pense.
1t was considered a grave reproach
to this country that Longfellow was
honored publicly in England's capital
before he was honored publicly in
Americas capital The New England
poets bust was given a place some
time ago in Westminster Abbey. Final
ly the people of America in the CHIEF
legislative city of their nation have
raised a monument ito testify the af
lection and pride with which millions
regard one who is beyond all others
the poet of the American home anG
frociIa0