The Calumet news., 1911-02-28
Colossal National Memorial to be
Unveiled Before Buckingham
Palace In Honor of
Victoria.
EXPECT MANY ROYAL GUESTS
1000 Tons of Marble, Masonry and
Granite in Great Monument Which
Will Be Very Durabe-Im-
pressive Ceremonies.

London, Feb. 2s.-The middle of May
has been selected as the time for un-
yelling the National Memorial to
Queen Victoria. which it. has. taken
more than five. years to build In the
great circular space in front of Buck
ingham Palace created and beautified
| by the art Of Sir Aston Webb. No
more appropriate time for the unveil-
ing of the memorial could have been
selected. The impressive exercises in
honor OF the memory of Victoria the
Good" will form a fitting prelude to
the brilliant ceremonies of the corona
tion of her grandson that will follow a
month later
Many of the royalties of Europe are
TO attend the unveiling. The colonial
premiers and other statesmen who are
to attend the imperial conference be-
ginning at the end of May will also
have a part in the exercises.
Greatest of All Monuments.
The Queen Victoria memorial has
been spoken of as the "Dreadnought"
of great monuments. From start to
finish the builders have kept the idea
of the durability of the monument in
mind. Every brick in the deep founda-
tions and every block of marble in the
massive superstructure was carefully
examined and pronounced perfect be-
fore II was put in place. The great
monument as 1t stands completed rep
resents more than 1000 tons of marble,
masonry and granite.
Colossal Is the only word giving an
adequate conception of the size and
imposing appearance of the monument.
the memorial as a whole consists of a
vast artistic framework that includes
so many works of art that their con-
ception and execution alone might
have filed half busy mans working
lifetime. There are numerous statues
and low reliefs in both marble and
bronze, to say nothing Of the great
flights of steps, the magnificent foun-
tain basis, the retaining wall, the piers
and bases
Description of Memorial.
The central figure, OF course, Is the
statue of the Queen, who is presented
with characteristic dignity. The statue
is of marble and is 1914 feet high.
Forming the background for the
Queens statue is a great marble base
surmounted by a bronze figure of
Victory" twelve feet In height.
Courage" and "Constancy" stand as
attendant and contributary figures. At
the opposite end, looking toward the
palace which in London was the
Queens official home. is the imposing
group of Motherhood" To the right
and left stand the marble groups rep
resenting Justice" and Truth"
From the great circular platform OF
granite, which is approached by steps
of stately breadth and comfortable
shallowness. the spectator may see be-
low the vast water basins fed by foun-
tains on the northern and southern
sides. on pedestals fianking the steps,
front and back are great groups in
bronze OF Peace" Progress" "Man-
ufactures" and Agriculture" over the
fountain arches are colossal figures
representing Bravery" and 'Tntelli-
gence," symbolizing the army and the
navy and science and the arts. The
retaining wall is enriched with many
bronze panels symbolizing England's
maritime supremacy.