Evening star., 1922-05-30

most beautiful structures, the Lincoln
Memorial stands as a fitting, dignified
shrine erected by the people of the
United States to the memory of the
great emancipator."
The memorial stands in Potomac
Park, facing the Washington Monu-
ment, and equals in it's wonderful
simplicity the great white shaft
which is its neighbor. The memorial
has cost approximately $3,000,0O0. Its
construction was actively begun on
Lincoln's birthday anniversary in
1914.
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 81 re and yet distinctive
ly personal. 1t represents Ldncoln'
seated. in a thoughtful mood. and is
the first thing that meets the eye as
one passes through the Immense
colonnaded entrance. Smaller halls
one at either side of the central han,
contain monumental tablets in wflcn
deeply incised letters reproduce word
for word, Lincoln's Gettysburg ad-
dress on the left wall, and the ad-
dress made by him at his second In
auguration on the right wall. Above
these are two large mural paintings
by Jules Guerin, a New York artist
one typifying "Emanciparion" and
the other typifying Reunion" Their
production occupied three years time.
Colonnade Symbolizes Union.
Surrounding the exterior of the
walls inclosing these memorials is
magnificent colonnade forming SYM
Dol of the Union, each column repre-
senting one of the thirty-si states
existing at the time OF Lineolns
death. On the outer walls above the
colonnade 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. plan.
ned over a century ago, is the Capitoi
of the nation. which is the monument
of the government, and mile west
ward from the Capitol is the 655-foot
granite shaft. which is the monument
to George Washington. Now, on this
same great axis, half mile west OF
the Washington Monument, STANDS
the Lincoln Memorial. This completes
oey which imparts to each of its monu-
ments a value in addition to tnat
which each standing alone possesses
More than a dozen years ago Poto-
mac Park, one of the most important
units of Washington's great park
system, and which lies aIong tns
Potomac river. was first suggested as
the site for a memorial to Lincoln.
The late John Hay, one Of Lincolns
and biographers, ana later
Secretary of State of the United
States, favored it's selection. In ex-
pressing his approval. he wrote; !,
"As l understand 1t, the place OF
;e
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 immortals. His monument should
stand alone, remote from the COM
the business and turmoil of the city
isolated, distinguished and serene. OF
all the sites, this one, near the Poto-
mac, is most suited to the purpose.
BY means of terraces, the grounds
around the site are raised until the
floor of the memorial itself is forty
five feet higher than the grade or
Potomac Park. A circular terrace.
1000 feet in diameter, first rises
above the park. On it's outer edge
stand four concentric rows of trees,
leaving a plateau in the center 1855
feet in diameter. In the center or
this plateau. surrounded by wide
roadways and walks. rises an emf
nence supporting a rectangular stone
terrace wall IA feet high, ass feet
long and 1856 feet wide. On this rec
tangular terrace rises the white mar
BILE memorial. All the foundations
of the steps. terraces and memorial
are built on concrete piling. which
extends down to solid rock.
SO Columns on Platform.
Rising from this rectangular ter
race three. steps. each feet high.
form a platform measuring 2o4 feet
in length and 1874 feet in width. On
this platform stand the thirty-six
columns, symbolizing the Union,
which inclose the memorial hall walls
and support the upper portion. OF the
building bearing the festoons rep
long and 118 feet wide. the columns
being "A feet high and feet inches
in diameter at their bases.
Within the colonnade stands the
white memorial hall. measuring 1856
feet in length and 81 feet in width.
where the statue of Lincoln stands, is
so feet wide, 40 feet long and 6O
feet high, while the halls where the
memorial of the speeches are placed
are 81 feet long, 81 feet wide and go
feet high; four Ionic columns sepa-
central hall. The colonnaded en-
trance to the memorial hall is 45 feet
wide and A feet high.
To the eastward of the memorial,
at the foot of the series Of steps lead
ing from the entrance and extending
toward the Washington Monument, IS
q lagoon. or rejecting basin, 1900
feet long and 480 feet wide. IN its
waters Is reflected. from one end, the
Lincoln memorial. and from the other
end the washington Monuments pic
tured 1t is from two to three feet
deep. its floors Of dark material, max
ing the water as reflective as mir
.ror. Splendid elm trees line both
sides of the rejecting basin.
The grounds surrounding the me-
mortal slope up gently to rhe wind
ing walk which encircles the entire
structure. Rare specimens of box
wood trees, Nesting In the corners
of the temple, are each nearly 100
years old, and cost about $1,000
apiece. Each tree planted about
the memorial Is . selected specimen
Of great. age,
The movement for the construc-
tion OF the memorial was begun In
1909, and In 1910t the late Senator Shell
by NJ Cullom of Illinois. friend OF
Lincoln. introduced in the Senate the