Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-31
MEMORIAL TO LINCOLN
Views of Citizens on the Ques'
B. ton of Site.
PLAZA PERISTYLE PLAN
It Is Both Criticised and Approved
in Letters.
ACCESSIBLE OR REMOTE!
A Question of National Sentiment.
Architect Burnham's Cable
gram in Evidence.
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
Reprcsentative Mccall, recently in the
House. in quoting cableSram from Mr..
Burnham. dated London. January -. in
which the building of a peristyle Eek
tending around the plaza and UP Della
ware avenue is offered the right
solution gave the impression, whether
Intentionally or not, that this was Mr.
Burnham's choice of the form to be Civ
en- the nations memorial to Lincoln, and
that the Potomac site, designated for this
purpose in the park commissions plan,
was accordingly abandoned by Mr.. Burn
ham. Mr.. Burnham's message, however
is really quite another thing. He dis
1inguishes carefully between the differ
ent ways of memorializing Lincoln. the
Choice il which depends upon sentiment
Of which Congress will best Judge and
on the other hand which is quite a dis
tinct matter and apart from sentiment"
The monumental. architectural treatment
OF the entrance-way TO the Capitol de-
manded by every consideration OF arts
tic unity and sober propriety,' and for
This Mr.. Burnham names the peristylc as
the right solution
Not only Is Mr.. BurniIam careful in con-
filming his solution solely to the architec-
turaI problem and keeping it apart from
the sentiment of the memorial; but the
design itself forbids any such definite
personal Significance. Such a peristyle
suggests at first thought the great colon
made inclosing the piazza of ST. Peters
at Rome, although the extension along
Delaware avenue to the Capitol would
vastly exceed these dimensions. and how
to give TO such an extended structure
any character or sentiment OF a per-
sonal heroic memorial 1t is difficult to
see. We could hardly reconcile ourselves
o~fa cd iv,Sc tn Snrr
of billboard letters, running along a
space of a quarter or half mile, to the
effect that This colonnade is memorial
TO Lincoln, and yet without some such
indication how Is the stranger to ever
know that it is indeed, and first of ALL
such memorial?
II Is much to be feared that the average
American visitor, with his accustomed in
between the letters of this inscription
the idea that here was big and desir-
able public improvement to be carried
through at vast public expense. and
Congress thought it happy eXpedient to
bring public sentiment to its aid by at
taching as kind of rider to it's bill the
august titled of l"Lincoln memorial
Whether true or not, the suspicion would
inevitably be reused by any such de-
vice as this. proposed under title so
sacred to the nation. and yet in itself
so out Of harmony with the august pur-
pose OF the memorial itself.
Should Not Be Too Public.
This purpose is not 1 would respectfully
submit, to advertise our immortal Lincoln
a show piece before the arriving
stranger. nor to display in the crowded
and hurrying thoroughfare of railway
station the kind of regard in which his
memory Is held by the American peo-
pie. Such design would be like mans
erecting a monument to his deceased
II 70 inc at NJ hIC n In 0f
business SO as to insure attention, not
only to her virtues. but to his devotion
as well. AS Mr.. Burnham well says, the
choice Of the Lincoln memorfal s. a mar
ter Of the nations sentiment. j hold 1T
tlrAt the American sentiment is aware.
for one thing. of a certain vulgarity that
attaches to the publicity Of those things
that are by their nature interior and
sacred We have not yet removed hither
the tomb Of Washington from the sacred
and peaceful remoteness Of Mount Yer
non 10 thrust II upon the gaze of every
passerby. We rather feel that there are
some things more honored and priced by
being sought out and gone to, even with
a little sa criDce Of time and effort, than
by having them blazoned before the vision
at all times and in all moods, whether
one cares or not.
Such seems to me just the difference
in sentiment which is involved between
choosing the railway station plaza as
site for the Lincoln memorial and that
quiet, peaceful and dignifed site chosen
Tor ii at the end of the Capitol vista
looking toward Arlington-the other ex-
IRENE from that of the Grant memorial
while. towering midway between stands
the Washington Monument. There is
Historic unity, artistic symmetry and
the broad and restful satisfaction which
The nations heart desires in thinking
Of its great martyr President. If Con-
cress desires to enlarge the Capitol
grounds and embellish the citys gate
way by a peristyle or other extensive
architectural adornment. by al means
le; this be dcne. but on architectural and
economic esthetic grounds purely and
frankly and not by dragging in as sub
seryients SO sacred a thing the ma
TONS sentiment toward Abraham Lincoln.
The objection here urged does not apply
at AL TO the Columbus fountain, even
regarding this as In a sense personal
monument. Placed I'm the center of the
plaza before the entrance to the.Station
j, is an architectural accessory or adorn-
Ilent 10 the station itself and its whole
design is drawn accordingly. The per-
sonsl feature is added to the figure of
Columbus as giving the keynote 10 the
locality. like the name OF the city or the
District written upon its gate. But all
is subordinate TO the one grand motive
the architectural harmony of the station
and its surroundings. But the nations
monument to Lincoln cannot be treated
as a minor feature subordinate to any
single architectural unit. it must com
rnand its place only in the largest general
scheme. and in its just relation 10 its
compeers. and this the park commissions
site will enable il to do as no ether that
las been suggested.
Best Treatment of Plaza.
In conclusion l would beg to offer a sug-
gestien for the adornment Of the plaza
and Capitol approach. which. in my opin-
ion. is far more simple and practicable
Than the proposed park and peristyle and
would meet the surrounding conditions
and future development of the vicinity. in
way that is perfectly feasible and capa-
bile OF immediate adoption. 1t is that
Congress should acquire the title to or the
control OF all the building sites fronting
on the plaza and on Delaware avenue
and. through duly appointed art COM
mission. determine upon harmonious
and dignif1ed style of building with prop
e. uniformity as TO sky line. story ranges
openings. tcoiOnnades or other features. to
which all erections. whether immediate or
future, on the said property shall be re
lulred 10 conform. This would insure
ultimately very beautiful group and
facade OF buildings. not necessarily with
1ut variety in detail, but serving as an
inclosurs 10 The great entrance court of
the Capitol and hiding from view the less
Harmonious and pleasing structures. OF the
reighbor!ng lots. This. L conceive would
IS more ornamental than an extended
cIassic in itself. would be only thrown out
Ill l,..,., nd