The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-07
SHOULD TAKE ACTION
TO HONOR MAURY
Should be Written to by Great
Virginian's Admirers.
(Contributed.l

In the designing of new buildings
for the New York University College
of Arts and Science, at University
Heights, New York, certain exigences
or art led to the construction or
stately colonnade surrourd ding high
terrace which overlooks Harlem River.
and the happy idea was conceived by
Chancellor Mac Cranken OF evolving
therefrom a hall of fame for great
Americans. The idea has been car
ried out by providing for the inscrip-
ton of carefully chosen names on
panels of stone, with a further provis-
ion of space for statues. busts. por-
traits, tablets, autographs and other
memorials of those whose names are
found worthy of the place. For the
selection Of names thus honored.
body of one hundred electors, rep
resenting all parts of the country was
appointed by the senate of the univer-
sity. These electors were apportioned
to four classes of citizens. in as nearly
equal numbers as possible. namely:
(a) University or college presidents.
(b) Professors of history and scien-
lists.
(c) Publicists, editors and authors
(d) Judges of the Supreme Court,
State or National.
1t was required of the electors that
they should consider the claims of
eminent citizens in many classes, not
less than fifteen, and that a majority
of these classes. should be represented
among the first fifty names to be
chosen. They were restricted in their
choice TO native born Americans.
The ground story. which is a granite
ediice named the museum of the
i hall of fame. It's final exclu-
81 h1 the ms M.
grafton of the great Ameri-
cans whose names are inscribed In the
colonnade above. by the preservation
! and exhibition of portraits and other
/ important mementoes of these cfti-
zens mecca indeed this will
/ be when othen tentative but ambi-
( tious plans materialize to make New
York a greater center OF attraction.
/ Mathew Fontain Maury's name has
I been held in nomination each quin-
/ quennial year, each time receiving a
creditable vote. The following Is an
excerpt from a letter to Chief Justice
/ is one of the electors for 1915. and
/ who has voted for him each year. and
will so continue while holding the
/ place as elector for North Carolina.
/ He says: "It Is essential that a let
! ter stating in condensed way Com
modore Maury's services and his
/ claims to this distinction should be
+ sent to each elector. Had this been
/ done before. he would probably have
! been elected. His merits entitle him
to this distinction. but in this busy
world of ours the claims OF any
man, whether dead or living. may well
| be overlooked unless succinctiy and
strongly presented at the. opportune
| moment
The opportune moment Is here. All
nominations must be sent in before
/ June 81. Letters of recommendation
| must be sent to the one hundred
electors, the cost OF which will be
| nominal. No man in the annals Of
Virginia has received greater recogni-
ton from foreign potentates. Six
teen learned societies In Europe and
America made him honorary member
of their bodies, many medals saFuck
in his honor.
Several ambitious plans are al
ready In line to do him honor here
in Richmond. He cannot have too
many. His name should grace the
New York Hall of Fame. for he is a
citizen Of the world and deserves its
recognition. There he will get it.
Flat justitia, ruat coelum.''