The Washington herald., 1912-04-29
Mrs. William II. Taft Con
tributes First Dollar to the
Gigantic Fund--AppedI
s Sent to All Sections
ofthe United States.

I tribute. Many of them have already
done so.
In the meantime. while the money is
being gathered, the committee Of one
hundred faces the problem OF getting
| Congress TO contribute q site for the
memorial There will be no dIficulty
| In actually securing the contribution.
The trouble lies in selecting the most
suitable site.
There is a general consensus Of opinion
I that the memorial will be most imposing
on the Mail. just what part of the Mall,
however. Is a subject for argument.
There are any number OF locations, all
seemingly Of almost equal advantage.
Whatever the final spot chosen, how
ever, IT Is certain that Congress will
give II to the memorial gladly-and that
II will be a spot chosen because on II
the memorial will seem most impressive.
The idea has recently been advanced
that the memorial might be erected near
the group Of new departmental buildings
which the government plans to erect on
the Mall II this is done there need be
no fear that the government buildings
VIII detract from the memorial. Though
the former VIII cost Millions. 1t viii
probably be them rather than the latter
that viii suffer from the comparison.
Location, however, Is a question which
must be worked out later. II will, of
course depend in q degree on the
amount Of money that is donated.
Scores of Plans.
Scores upon scores Of plans connected
with the memorial were considered and
rejected before the final idea was pait
in working order. Some there were who
wanted to fill the memorial with statues.
Some even thought that a group Of stat
ues would best express the appreciation
Of heroism which is the memorials
reason for existence.
But the statuary plans were wisely
rejected. Only a few days ago a famous
French sculptor-one whose name is
known all over the worid-frankly told
the members of Congressional commit
tee that our, alton pays too much atten-
ton to statues, to the bitter detriment
of characteristic, pure. and classic archi-
lecture. And the other really great ones
In the worldrof art are inclined to agree
with this Frenchman, who, being him.
self sculptor, certainly must have been
unbiased
Real ideals" said this famous French
man to our Congress, ''can best be ex-
pressed by architecture. It is the archi-
lecture Of land by which we Judge its
culture. its ambitions, and its realization
And putting this statement to the proof
1t is remembered that ancient Greece Is
remembered more for her temples than
her statues. The most wonderful the
most impressive, probably the most beau
tifuh and certainly the most awe-inspIr-
ing relic of ancient Rome is the Coli
scum. So 1t Is with the Pyramids Of
Egypt. So It Is and has been with all
nations, Of all times.
And so. realizing this, the women Of
the Titanic memorial decided that there
should be simple building Of the sim
plicity that really counts, and really
speaks. There was no showiness about
the men who sacrificed their lives on the
Titanic. They made their sacrifice sim
ply, manfully. The women who honor
them, and who in so many cases loved
them, win erect their memorial simply
and with true womanliness.
Deep and Solid.
There is nothing ''showy' about even
the tiniest detail connected with the
memorial 1t Is deep and solid-a simple
womanly recognition Of a chivalry and
heroism which, before the Titanic dis
aster, pessimists declared to be dead.
Wherever possible appeals will he
made TO women in person to contribute
Where personal appeal cannot be made, |
the following letter is being sent:
Copy of Appeal.
Dear Madam: The loss Of the
S. S. Titanic has moved the world
as few catastrophes ever have be-
fore. There is scarcely a commu-
nifty in our country which does not
mourn the loss of some one, of some
relative or friend. The feeling Of