The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-30
tBy the Associated Press.)

Washington. May 3O-The Lincoln
Memorial, the gift of liberation to the
memory of Abraham Lincoln. is-one
OF the worlds most beautiful struc-
lures and the greatest shrine of the
man who saved the Union. impress
sive in its simplicity, the memorial
probably is the masterpiece of all pub
lie buildings and memorials in the
United States. 1t stands in Potomac
park facing the Washington monu-
ment. and its construction was begun
on Lincoln's birthday anniversary in
1914. The total cost has been APP
proMmately SO, oeA, 0Oo-
Was Designed by Bacon.
This monument to Lincoln is a large
rectangular building of white marble,
designed by Henry Bacon, a New York
architect 1t has a beautiful setting
on a direct east and west line with
the Washington monument. and the
nations capitol and rises IA feet
above the level of the park 1t is COM
posed of four principal features
statue of the man. a memorial of his
Gettysburg address, memorial OF his
second inaugural address and a sym
boil of the Union of the States
The most important object in the
memorial is the statue of Lincoln in
marble, by Daniel Chester French.
New York sculptor, placed in the CEN
trail hall where, by virtue of its i'm
posing position in the place of honor,
it predominates all else. The statue is
colossal in size and yet distinctively
personal. 1t represents Lincoln, seated,
in a thoughtful mood, and is the first
thing that meets the eye s one passes
thru the immense cOlOnnaded en-
trance. Smaller halls, one at either
side of the central hall, contain monu-
mental tablets in which deeply incised
letters reproduce word for word, Lin =
coins Gettysburg address on. the left
wall and the address made by him at
his second inauguration on the right
wall Above these are two large mural
paintings by Jules Guerin, a New Y ORR
and the other typifying Reunion
Their production occupied three years
time.
Is an Historic Setting
Surrounding the exterior of the
walls inclosing these memorials is a
ma gnificent Colonnade forming a SYM
Dol of the Union, each column rep
resenting one of the thirty-six states
existing at the time of Lincoln's death
On the outer walls above the colon
made and supported at intervals by
eagles are forty-eight festoons. one for
each state existing at the present time.
At one end of the great axis. planned
over a century ago, is the capitol of
the nation, which is the monument OF
the government, and a mile westward
from the capitol is the 555-foot granite
shaft which is the monument to
George Washington. Now, on this
same great axis half a mile west of
the Washington monument stands the
Lincoln Memorial. This completes
an unparalleled composition, a triology
which imparts to each Of its monu-
ments a value in addition to that
which each standing alone possesses.
More than a dozen years ago Poto-
mac Park. one of the most important
units of Washington great park sys-
tenn, and which lies along the Poto-
mac river, was first suggested as the
site for a memorial to Lincoln The
late John Hay, one of Lincoln's secre-
taries and hiOgraphers, and later sec
rotary of state of the United States,
favored its selection. In expressing his
approval, he wrote:
"As I understand it, the place of
honor Is on the main axis of the plan.
Lincoln, of all Americans next to
Washington. deserved this place of
honor. He was of the immortals You
must not approach too close to the i'm
mortals- His monument should stand
alone, remote from the common habi-
tations OF man, apart from the bust
ness and turmoil of the city-isolated,
distinguished and serene. OF all the
sites this one, near the Potomac, is
most suited to the purpose"
Grounds Are Raised
By means of terraces the grounds
around the site are raised until the
floor of the memorial itself is IS feet
higher than the grade of Potomac
Park circular terrace, 1000 feet
in diameter, first rises above the park.
On its outer edge stand four con-
centric rows of trees. leaving a plateau
in the center z55 feet in diameter