The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-04-18
MONUMENT ON CAMPUS OF ST.
JOHNS COLLEGE AT ANNAPO.
LIS DEDICATED TODAY.
MONUMENT Of PINK GRANITE
The Tablet Was Erected by the Gen.
eral Society of the Sons of the
Revolution to the Memory of the
NameIess French Soldiers.

Annapolis, Nd. April 1S.-On the
campus of st. Johns college there
was unveiled here today a bronze
tablet erected by the general society
of the Sons of the Revolution to the
memory of the nameless French sol
diers and sailors who in 1871 laid
down their lives in the cause of Am
erican independence. President Taft
and Ambassador Jusserand both made
formal addresses. The midshipmen
of the National Naval Academy did
not turn out in honor of those who
prevented the capture and probable
sack of Annapolis, but representa-
tives of the Sons of the Revolution
from all parts of the country, the
Sons Of American Revolution, the So
ciety of the Cincinnati, the Maryland
Historical Society and the Daughters
OF the American Revolution were in
attendance.
To Professor Henri Marion of the
department of language at the Naval
Academy is due in large measure the
credit of awakening interest in the
forgotten allies whose unselfish de-
votion so largely contributed to our
freedom. Some years ago in lectur-
ing before the Alliance Francariso at
Baltimer he told how French
troops under Lafayette and Rocham-
beau encamped at Annapolis and by
their presence March, 17SD prevent
ed the capture and probable sacking
of that city. A number of French
soldiers and Sailors" he continued,
died from their wounds or from dis
ease, and were buried at that time on
the grounds at st. Johns College, An
napolis. Could not a monument be
erected on the graves Of these forgot
ten defenders of American inde-
pendence?"
In the audience was a member of
the Revolution. He sought out the
lecturer, got from him the needed
facts, and, when in 1906, a French
fleet came to assist at the final inter-
ment of the first American admiral,
John Paul Jones, whose body had
been brought to America the year
before from Paris. Col. Oswold Thigh
man, member of the society and
then secretary of state for Maryland,
called attention to the old military
burying ground, and, as a part of the
ceremonies Of the visit, the pediment
of the present monument was laid,
and the society pledged itself to
raise the necessary funds for its COM
pletion. Later a design was deter
mined upon and the commission to
execute it was assigned to J. Max
well Miller, a Baltimore sculptor.
The monument is simple shaft of
pink granite thirteen feet high, bear
ing on one face bronze entableture
in alto relieve, seven feet, seven
inches wide by three feet nine inches
high. The composition shows sorrow
ing memory, crowned with the olive
leaves of peace and leaning upon her
victorious shield, watching the de-
parture of a small group of marching
soldiers, and it is interesting to note
how much more subtle in suggestion
is this treatment than the more usual
one Of troops confronting the specta-
tor.
Above the heads of the marchers,
banners are flying in the wind and in
the background are seen the spars OF
vessels, while in the foreground are
two small gravestones inscribed "Ici
git un soldat de la France" and the
other "Ici git un marin de la France"
(Here lies a soldier, here lies a sailor
of France).
On the shield appears the English
inscription: "A tribute of gratitude to
the brave soldiers and sailors of
France buried here, who gave their
lives in the struggle for American
independence. The memory Of their
deeds will endure forever. 17s1-17S3."
Beneath the tablet is legend: Erect