The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-08

The galaxy Of Revolutionary
heroes enshrined in Lafayette
Square welcomed a newcomer TO
their serried ranks last night. They
held high jinks below those bare,
snow-laden branches, those naked,
wind-swept oaks, when the tunult
and the shouting died away and
they were left to the solitude of
the evening.
The newcomer was Frederick
Wilhelm August Won Steuben, ennis
sary of Frederick the Great to
America the friend of Washing
ton, and, the drill1naster of his
armies; the type of Prussian soldier
whom all German-Americans love
to honor, as they exclaim: We,
too, had our share in the achieve
ment of American freedom
PAY TRIBUTE TO HERO.
/ They unveiled a statue at the northwest
corner of the square yesterday afternoon.
splendid effigy OF Won Steuben. They
heard President Taft and the Ambassa-
dor from their fatherland. Count Bern
storfT. pay tribute to the memory of their
hero. and 50 y the daughter OF the White
House" pull the core which revealed their
bronze and granite gift TO the world.
1t was proud and exalted day for
German-Americans. Thousands of them
gathered from afar TO witness the unveii-
ing, and they marched proudly despite
the chill of the day, and were reviewed
I by the President in what was universally
/ conceded 10 be the largest and most am
bilious parade that Washington has seer
since the Taft Inauguration.
! incidentally, the German genius for
song erept into the impressive ceremonies,
and sturdy minnesingers raised their
voices in martial chants. Nearly 1880
choristers were. enlisted in the mighty
volume of song. and charged the cleaE
cold air with the exhiIaradng wine Of
music.
Hands Across the Sea.
I II was not unexpected, indeed. that the
| German Ambassador should seize his op-
portunity TO sow the seeds of the hands
across the sea" movement. 1t was in
keeping with the spirit of the day when
fe said:
Il regard this monument as a symbol
OF the unbroken friendship between Ger
many and the United States since the
birth of the people of the United States
| a. a nation Frederick the Great was
one of the hrst TO recognize the inde-
pendence of the colonies by concluding
| a treaty of commerce with the United
States. This monument will all the more
be a token of the old friendship between
the two great nations. as the United
States Congress, besides munihcently
providing for the erection of this statue.
has decided 10 present a copy of IL 10
the German Emperor. Here and in Ger
many. whoever regards one Of the two
monuments will be reminded OF the
ancient ties of friendship uniting him
with his cousins beyond the ocean
Note of Friendship.
President Taft also. with his accuS-
toned felicity struck the same note Of
international friendship.
"Snce Won Steubens day millions Of
his countrymen have come to be Ameri-
cans, and it adds great interest to our
celebration and emphasizes the propriety
of Congress in erecting this statue to
know that the German race since the
Revolution has made so large part Of
our population and played so prominent
! a part in the great growth and develop
ment OF our country. II is particularly
| appropriate that there is present the
German Ambassador. the personal repre-
| sentative of the illustTiOus successor OF
Frederick the Great.
The Germans who have become Amer
lean citizens and their descendants may
we'll take pride in this occasion and in
| this work of art modelled by the hand OF
& an American of German descent, which
Il commentaries the valued contribution
made by German soldier to the cause
| OF American freedom at the time OF its
birth"
These were the significant words which
greeted the majestic bronze in which the
figure of the stern. unbending PTussian
who knew how TO whip the raw COnti
nentAls into shape as his royal master
| had taught him. has been immortalized
by his prosperity. Won Steuben had waites
more than century for this beiate6
tribute to his mission. which was not
spectacular or SNOWY, but vital TO sue.
cess. as President Taft emphasized.
Beautiful Scene Presented.
No more picturesque scene has been
vouchsafed the Capital than when La
fayette Square. in its mantle of snow,
and with its charms subdued by win.
try bleakness. received the fresh bronze
into It's spacious bosom. Thousands had
seats in the improvised stands. and thou.
Continued ON Page 4. Column L.
Na.. Resiaent. ~ XanahIn-ao.