The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-27
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC J. HAsKRS. Director.
Washington. ID. G.
LINCOI1N MEMORIAL DEDICATIoN

3Oth OF May this year Will De markeo
by a ceremony Of interest to the whole
nation, and one unique in the history
of the United States. When the Lin
coin Memorial here is dedicated on
that date the president of the United
States, two former presidents. and the
sons of still two other former presi-
dents. will be present. President
Harding, William Howard Taft and
Woodrow Wilson, will take part In the
ceremonies. There will also be pres
ent Robert Lincoln, SON of the great
Lincoln, and Assistant Secretary of the
Navy Theodore Roosevelt, SON of the
illustrious man of the same name who
occupied the White House for almost
two terms.
Beyond all question, the Lincoln
Memorial is the most beautiful work
in marble ever undertaken on this
side, of the world. 1t will take rank
with the Library of Congress, the
washington Monument the White
House and the Capitol as a point of
interest for visitors to Washington IN
the future.
Immediately upon entering the
main portal the heroic statue of Lin
coin is seen. The figure is seated but
because of its enormous proportions
it is twenty-five feet high 1t is the'
work of Daniel Chester French, noted
American sculptor Had Mr.. French
elected to portray Lincoln standing'
the figure would have lowered thirty
eight feet in the air
The marble for the statue was
brought from Georgia, and in the
rough weighed no less than 427 tons.
Twenty-eight great blocks of this fine
grade of stone were used, and in the
completed statue weigh 175 tons. The
sections of the statue were cut in the
marble yards of the six Piccirilil
brothers in New York City. A score OF
marble cutters were kept busy Tor
eighteen months completing the work
which was then transported to WASH
inGton in sections
The model made by Mr.. French
was only five feet high. From this
perfected piece of sculpture, the mar
Bile cutting art made possible the
enormously enlarge marble replica.
Some Remarkable Paintings.
The great seated figure IS, of course,
the main point of interest in the Me-
mortal. Next to it rank the paintings
by Jules Guerin, of st. Louis, one OF
foremost painters. MT
Guerin for some years past mas mace
his home in New York, and the paint
ings for the memorial were done in
his studio there.
In keeping with the heroic proper
tions of the Lincoln statue, it is in
teresting TO note that the canvas alone
for each of the paintings, which are
so feet long and p feet high, weighed
500 pounds when work on them was
commenced. They are hung 80 feet
1DONG Ln6 IlOOT VI LAAS
The finishing of these paintings re-
quired twice as long as the business
Of cutting the marble blocks into a
finished statue For three long years
Guerin worked in his New York studio
before the result was satisfactory to |
him. The titles of the two pictures
are Emancipation and Reunion"
Four human figures appear in the |
which from mechanical |
are made to endure for |
centuries without Cracking or having |
The paint crumble. Mr.. Guerin mixed |
mis- pigments with kerosene and white
wax in order to guard against de-
-erioration.
orative features of the Memorial The !
first is the famous Gettysburg Iad-
1ress of Lincoln, the other his second |
inaugural address. Both of these are
marble that is used in the statue and /
is base.
Henry Bacon was the architect of |
he Lincoln Memorial. He, too, altho |
| native of Illinois. now makes his
home in New York, The first work
IN the memorial and the general de-
ign of the whole was left to his
capable hands
The memorial cost all tod SO. 0OO,-
700. OF this amount the architect re-
.eived $125,00O, the sculptor $4,000,
Ind the artist s45, 1000. The remainder
II the sum was spent in actual con-
truction of the edifice, the approaches
o it, and the reflscting pool to the
'ast of the building.
The memorial is located on the axis
" the capitol and the Washington !:
monument, in accordance with the
Early plans for making and keeping
he capital a place Of beauty. A
tones throw to the west of the build
ng is the Potomac river.
The business of erecting this new
st shrine of beauty in Washington
las beer going forward constantly
ince February II, 1914, when Mr..
memorial commission, turned the first
padeful of earth on the site. The
cry foundation of the memorial is of |
interest from a scientific point of view.
instead of the ordinary excavation, !
p steel cylinders were driven down
hru the earth until each one reached
nd rested firmly on bedrock.
Care Taken With Foundation.
These cylinders were driven down
y blocks of concrete weighing thirty
nto the ground The cylinders then
we're filled with concrete A year was
coupled with this part of the work.
his time was sufficient to complete
ot only the underground part or the
but forty-five feet of IT
Thich rises above the surrounding
round level. For this Colorado Yale
Marble obtained 5000 feet above sea
svel was used. BY filling in with
arth, the group was brought up to /.
he top of the foundation level, placing
he structure at the top of a gently I
Looping artificial hill.
The roof of the Memorial is an in
departure in such construc-
ion. 1t is of marble cut in slabs five
eet long, three feet wide. and only
of an inch thick. Thru
his the sunlight easily enters, softened
nd diffused This was an expert
1ent, but proved TO be a highly sue
essful one.
The SO marble pillars surrounding
he building on the outside are sym
OILS OF the states of the Union at the
me of L.incoln's death. Above this
at regular intervals. are J
8 memorial festoons. representing the s
.afeS of the Union today The roll {