Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-07

;.os.ng monument. especially in the form
OF an arch has been overlooked all these
years by the government or its commit
tees in locating its monuments, seems
sibilties of the artistic development of
the nations capital.
But even with all these imposing ad-
vantages-the elevation and the mag
northward-the 10th street site is still
lacking in those fundamental features re-
CURED by that first and most essential de-
mand-that. again. of the, sentiment of
on the handsome avenue LOOKING to the
north would make 1t conspicuous. but
would give it no me aiming or suggestive
ness any more than placing it at the
head Of any Of our larce thoroughfares
1t is here where the sentiment or the pur-
pose of the monument comes in at last
as the decisive factor.
Park Commission Site.
The site chosen by the park commission
and for which Mr.. Bacons structure Is
designed Is on. the bank Of the river d.
viding the north from the south, in the
axis of vision between the Capitol and
the ancient home of the Lees in Virg ma,
with the shaft of the Washington Monu-
ment as the central point, AMI the me-
mortal temple itself in it's pure white
BILE from all suburban points-w ether
Arlington. Georgetown. the Cathedral
close at st. Adams and the nearer high
lands of the city. 1t looks. as it sho Id.
across the dividing river to the sister
states of the south, and stands. or should
ultimately stand, at the en- rance of a
great memorial bridge, which will be the
real footpath of fraternal intercourse be-
tween the once severed sections Of the
country. The site for the Bacon design
has also this great advantage over that of
10th street, that here Is abundant
SPACE available in what is now q waste
ornamental and useful. There Is space
abundant not only for a wide. unb-oken
sky, but for large and impos ng land
scape effects. in the way of shaded ave-
place OF freedom and ,repose for the trav-
eler and the student-where. in a word,
one has mental and physical elbow room
W thout nvad ng neighbours from door
yard or having to stare into att win
dows or over chimney tops to look around
ones self.
This largeness and freedom from dis
turbing traffic or sights is an element in
the Bacon location which cannot be over
estimated in plac ng this great memorial,
which certainly is going to attract to 1t
the reverent pilgrim and patriot Of this
and of other nations, ana W ii not have
to thrust itself upon them in the noisy
thoroughfare or railroad p.aza in order to
gain attention.
The park commissions site speaks OF
the largeness, the relpse and majesty Of
the character of Lincoln. and of that
yearning of his great heart for the re-
union Of the country. the rebinding of the
broken ties. No other site or design does
this in the same way or in equal m asure,
in my opinion. and | am therefore COM
PEELED still to adhere to my preference
for this site and for the eninently worthy
and beautiful des gn of Mr.. Bacon. 1t
provides for the placing of the statue In
the interior of the temple. thus under
roof, and the form of statue suggested is
far more pleasing than that of Mr.. Pope's
plan, although this is of course minor
detail and subject to change.
FRANZ SEWALL.