The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-07-07


has produced the finest monumental
group in Great Britain, and a tribute
well worthy of the great queen to
whose memory 1t has been erected.
The entire work in connection with
the monument, architectural as well
as sculptural. has been designed and
executed solely by Mr.. Brock.
The central feature of the monu.
ment stands upon raised circular
plateau, 10i feet In diameter. On
either side are retaining walls OF mar.
BILE and fountains; the former are dec.
Grated with Tritons and Mermaids
carved In low relief. whilst the latter
discharge their water over cascades
into great marble basins.
Above the fountain arches are still
to be placed colossal reclining figures
In bronze: those on the south side
will be a woman holding a ship and a
man with a helmet, symbolizing our
naval and military power. and to-
gether typifying Courage" and those
on the north will be a man with
dynamo. Science" and a woman with
palette, Art" representing ''Intelli.
gence." At either end of the retaining
walls and thanking the steps are pedes-
tails. On these will be placed four
standing lions In bronze. each support.
ed by a figure: the two In front will
be a woman holding aloft an olive
branch of Peace" and a man with a
torch signifying "Progress:" whilst
those at the back will represent "Ag-
riculture" and Manufacture" the for.
mer a woman with a sheaf OF wheat
and a sickle. and the latter a smith.
with a leathern apron, resting on his
sledge-hammer.
In the lower portion OF the memorial
1t has been the aim OF the sculptor to
convey the idea of the patriotism, the
intelligence and the industry OF the
people, as being the great foundation
on which alone monarchy can securely
rest.
The central feature OF the monu
ment. which Is mainly OF marble and
rises to a height of SO feet. comprises
colossal statue OF Queen Victoria,
supported by representations of those
attributes and virtues for which she
was so renowned. The late queen. In
her roles of state and with the orb
and scepter In either hand. is seated
on a throne in front Of the lofty pedes-
tai. and she looks towards the heart
of the great city whose people she
knew and loved so well. On either
side of the pedestal are groups OF
heroic size. representing Truth" and
Justice" whilst at the back OF It Is
a third group, symbolic OF Mother
hood"
The marble used throughout the
memorial has been procured from Car.
rara. II is OF the finest quality. and
is moreover the most durable that can
be obtained. Upwards OF two thousand
tons have been Incorporated In the
work. whilst about eight hundred tons
of the finest Aberdeen granite have
been used In the structure Of the two
flights OF steps and the paving Of the
circular plateau. When all the bronze
| figures are In position there will be
more than seventy tons Of this metal.
The overseas dominions having con.
| tributed largely towards the erection
of the monument. different portions of
1t have been named after them. Thus
the fountain basin on the south side Is
ascribed to Australia. and that on the
north to Canada: the groups on the
piers in the front will be assigned to
South Africa. and those at the back
to New Zealand. The three surround.
ing gateways. designed by Sir Aston
Webb. R.A. are similarly named after
the three Aforementioned dominions,
and on the top Of the piers are groups
with symbolic representation OF theis
individual eharactsristicA