Norwich bulletin., 1922-05-31

WaSnlnBton, May JV.-Ih0 blflcOl'9 Memorial. the gift of the nation to the memory of Abraham Lincoln. Is one of the worlds most beautiful structures and the greatest shrine of the man who saved the Unlon. Impressive in it's sim piicity the memorial probably is the masterpiece of all public buildings ana memorials in the United States. IL stands in Potomac Park facing the Washington monument. and it's con struction was begun on Lincoln's birth- day anniversary in 1914. The total cost has been approximately {3,000,0o0.
 This monument to Lincoln Is large rectangular building of white marble designed by Henry Bacon, New ferA architect. It has beautiful setting on q direct east and west line with the Washington monument and the nations capitol and rises A feet above the lev el of the park. It is composed of four principal features--a statue of the mah' a memorial cI his Gettysburg address, a memorial of his second inaugural ao- dress and a symbol of the Union or the states.
 Yho most important object in the me morial Is the statue of Lincoln in mar bic, by Daniel Chester French New York sculptor, placed in the central hsli where. by virtue of its imposing position in the place of honor, 1t predominates all else. The statue Is colossal in size and vet distinctively personal. It rep resents Lincoln, seated, in thougntIul mood and Is the first thing that meets the eye as one passes through the im- snense colonnaded entrance. Smaller halls, one at either side of the central hall. contain monumental tablets Tn which deeply. iRcised letters reproduce word for word, Lincolns Gettysburg ad- dress 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 YoYrk artist one typifying Emancipation and the other typifying Reunion. 1lheir production occupied shree years time.
 Surrounding the exterior of the walls inclosing these memorials Is a magnif- cent colonnade forming a symbol of the Union, eadh column representing one of the 36 states existing at the time of Lincoln's death. On the outer walls above the colannade and supported at intervals by eagles are AS festoons, one Tor 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 inc capitol Is. tine 555-foot granite shaft which is the monument to George Wash 5nEton Now. on this same great axis half a mile west of the Washington monument stands the Lincoln Memor- iaA 1nls pompletes an unparalleled composition, a triology which imparts to each of it's monuments value in addition to that which each standing Rlore possesses.
 More than a dozen years ago Poto- mac Park, one of the most important Enit sof Washington's great park sys- ten. and which lies along the Potomac river, was first suggested as the site for & memorial to Lincoln. The late John Hay. one of Lincoln's> secretaries and biographers. and later secretary of state of the United States, favored its selec- lion. In expressing his approval, he wrote:
 "As l understand 1t. the place of hon cr Is on the main axis of the plan Lin. roln. Of all Americans next to Wash ington. deserved this place of honor. He was of the imnortals. You must not approach too close to the immortals His monument should stand alone, remote from the common habitations of man apart from the business and turmoil oi the city-isolated, distinguished and se- rene. Of all the sites this one. near the Potomac, Is most suited to the pur- pose"
 By means of terraces the ground, lround the site are raised untti the fioor af the memorial itself is 45 feet h!ghei han the grade of Potomac Park. A cir sular terrace, 1000 feet in diameter Arst rises above the park. On its cute kdge stand four concentrio rows Q lrees, leaving & plateau in the cente i55 feet in diameter. Tn the center 0 his plateau, surrounded by wide road ways and walks rises an eminence sup porting a rectangular stone terrace wal ls feet high. 25s feet long and 1se fee Fioe- On this rectangular terrace rise he white marble memorial. All tn foundations of the steps, terraces an memorial are built on concrete pilin which extends down to solid rock.
 Rising from this rectangular terrac lhree steps, each feet high, form platform measuring 2o4 feet in iengt md 154 feet in width. On this p1atforr rand the se columns syInbolizing tn -nion. which enclose the memorial ha walls and support the upper portion e he building bearing the festoons repro enting the existing 4s states This col made is 1ss feet long and 11S fee vide. the columns being A feet high an feet, 5 inches in diameter at thei ases.
 Within the eoIonnade stands the whit memorial hall. measuring 15e feet gngth and s4 feet in width Inside til uildlng the central hall where tn ratuc of Lincoln stands is SO feet wid, 10 feet long and SO feet high. while th lsus where the memorials of the speech are placed are ST feet long, 57 fes ride and 80 feet high; four Ionic co
 nns separating each of these hal rom the central hall, The coionnade ntrance to the memorial hall Is 45 fe, Fids and A feet high.
 To the eastward of the memorial. he foot of the serie sof steps leadin 70 nthe entrance and extending towar he Washington monument is a iagoe rehecting basin 2,00o feet long an so feet wide. In It's waters !a refec from one end the Lincoln Memori nd from the other end the Washinzte touument Is pictured It Is from tv three feet deep. its floors of dark m; Tial, making the water as reflective |
 mirror. Splendid elm trees line bot des of the rejecting basin.
 The grounds surrounding the meme q slope up gently to the winding wa 'hich encircles the entire structur are specimens of boxwood trees. neEt