Omaha daily bee., 1910-08-21
BASTARD WORK OF VANDALS
Washington Monument and Capitol
Shamefully Mutilated.
OTHER ART OBJECTS MARRIED
ReIic-seehers, with Knife and HAM
mer, Deface Beautiful stntuary,
Paintings and Memorial
Tablets.

Uncle sam has spent millions Of dollars
in buildings in which to carry on the busi-
ness Of the government, and millions more
In the purchase of works of art with which
30 ibeautify them. All over the capital city
are scattered statuary and memorials OF
heroic deeds, and the corridors of the scores
OF buildings are lined with paintings COM
memorating the deeds of valor by our illus
trious dead. who won for us the name OF
che greatest nation on the face of earth,
and all for what purpose? To supply ma
terial for the vandals who yearly destroy
almost as fast as congress can make appro-
priations to repair or supply new works cor
the vandal TO deface or destroy.
Every now and then the police are able
TO detect some act Of vandalism and TO
drag the brainless fool into court, where a
punishment awaits him which is so light
that he can we'll afford to pay the fine and
depart laughing at the police and the law.
Mecca of the VandaI.
The great Washington monument, which
cost millions OF money and years OF time
TO complete. is the great mecca OF the
vRndal-here where the whole world has
given tribute 20 perpetuate the memory of
the Greatest Of Americans" our Washing
ton. where the whole interior is lined with
stones OF untold value, each one contributed
by some body or society, and in many in
stances by the nations OF the earth-is
slowly being destroyed by vandalism.
On the east and west walls Of the interior
OF the monument are to be found hundreds
Of such memorial stones. Many are most
deliberately and delicately carved and at
gleat expense. They range in size from a
foot square to stones of immense size They
arr things of beauty. and not only perpetu-
ate the patriotism OF the donors, but are of
the greatest value as showing the state of
art and of the mechanics Of the day.
The outside Of the monument has suf-
fered as well the interior. As high as
the hand OF man or woman can reach the
stones have been clipped away till today
hundreds OF pounds have been removed.
Repair, in such a position, is not possible,
and the damage inflicted must remain for
all times as a perpetual reminder OF the
FOOLS visit to the capital city.
Norris Memorial MARRIED.
One OF the most important stones.
from historic view, is the one given
by the employees OF the r. Norris &
Sons locomotive works OF PHILADELPHIA,
and shows the locomotive of the year
1856. This stone has been well worked
upon. and large pieces OF It have been
removed by the visiting vandal till a
great part of the wheels are gone-gone
for all time--as repair is not possible.
Another important stone is the one
erected by the American Medical assoc
citation. The integrity OF the whole group
OF figures has been destroyed by the re-
moSal OF the noses and ears OF the sew
eral heads, and In one instance the whole
head has been removed. What tho oh
ject could have been no one can divine.
These few instances will show the
many losses Inflicted upon the people at
large IL is TO be feared that the dam
age is by no means at an end. Almost
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