Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-11
LOCATION IS CHOSEN
Edward VII Memorial to Be in
Carlton House Gardens.
NEAR TWO LANDMARKS
Will Stand Between the York
Column and the Guards, or
Crimea, Monument.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.


LONDON, December 81, 1912.
The final choice of site for the King
Edward VII memorial in London has
fallen on Carlton House gardens and
upon the spot where now stands the
bronze equestrian statue of Lord Napier
Of Magdala- An interesting secondary
result of this choice will be the appear
ance Of the Napier statue on the vacant
pedestal at the northwest corner of Traf-
algar Square, where a figure has long
been needed to balance that of George
Nv, at the corner by st. Martins Church.
The King Edward memorial will stand
on the site of the portico Of old Carlton
House. 1t will be between and in line
with two Of the most familiar monument
al landmarks of London. the York col
umn and the Guards. or Crimea, monu-
ment. London can perhaps offer no finer
site for a kings memorial, though its
erection certainly will accentuate the
anomaly by which the Duke of York. that
humdrum commander-in-chiefa and good
humored voluptuary. is exalted to the
skies. However, the York column. or
cylinder, plays its part in giving impor-
lance to what may be called the national
region of London, and nobody would now
wish it down.
Contained Old Rookery.
It is interesting to recall circumstances
under which the open space destined for
the memorial of Edward VII came to
exist. When Carlton House was pulled
down a large town-planning problem pre-
sented itself. Apart from the palace, the
beautiful gardens covered a considerable
area. Few Londoners know that these
gardens on which the two ranges of
Carlton House terrace were built contain
ed an old and thriving rookery. The rocks
saw the palace diSmantled in 1896, and
next year they cawed their Ichabods and
departed. One of Homes Table Book
poets imagined the birds in council, and
reported their proceedings. Their chair
man, or tree-topman-for he was perched
on IAN elm trees topmost bough''-ad-
dressed the sable congregation in vein
of mournful philosophyS
There was at first no idea of forming
the grand stair entrance to the Mall and
ST James Park. which now gives to this
ideal monumental space it's popular use
and interest. Indeed. the opening was
originally closed by balustrade, in front
of which it was proposed to erect a
founta.n-temple, composed of the eight
Ionic columns of the Carlton House porti-
co, to which eight more were to be added.
But some one had the happy idea
of an entrance to the park. and this was
promptly mooted in parliament. Diff
Guilty arose with the leaseholders of the
new terrace, who had expected to be in
exclusive possession of the finest resi-
dental site in London, but William w
took the side of the public, and one of
his first acts after his accession was to
sanction the construction of the present
York steps.
Soldiers All Contributed.
Shortly afterward the spot was chosen
for the truly amazing memorial to the
Duke of York. for s26.OOO was in readi-
ness This sum was by no means volun-
tarily subscribed, for every Tommy At
kins was required to demonstrate his
veneration for his departed chief by for
feiting a days pay. Nor We're Londoners
enamored of this colossal tribute to a
man Of so little enduring distinctions
There We're abundant witticisms on the
subject. 1t was said that the duke was
to be elevated to a height where he would
be out of reach of his creditors, and a
wit in the New Monthly Magazine in
voked the statue in lines which included
the epigram:
Railing surrounds above thy lofty brow,
And passersby do likewise rail below.
Apropos of the railing round the plat
form on the summit, this was developed
into complete cage after 1850. when d
Frenchman committed suicide by throw
ing himself from the top. The statue it
self. by Westmacott.-is fourteen feet high
and represents the duke in the robes Of
the Order of the Garter.
Completed in 1860.
The Crimea memorial, which contrib
utes much to the general spectacular eff
feet Of the precinct, was completed in