The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-05-24
Capital City Has
WorthiIy Honored
The Nations Great


It Is the great number OF rederal
statues and structures which strike the
visitor as making Washington differ
ent from any other city. Many OF these
bronze statues are of the heroic figures
of the Civil war, Union generals and
admirals, many Of them equestrian
statues, on comparatively small gran
lite bases. Some of the older of these
have been criticized by artists as rather
commonplace Undoubtedly the artis-
tic taste of the people has advanced
during the last generation, resulting
about twelve years ago in the creation
by congress of a fine arts commission
charged with the duty of passing upon
al statues, structures and public
works of art and, their erection. This
has brought about marked improve
ment in both the selection of design
and subjects. and their appropriate
placement with reference TO the future
development of Washington, which it
is the hope of every one will eventual
ly become the most beautiful city in
the world The improvement is seen In
the removal last year from Dupont cir
Gle of standing bronze statue of Adj
miral Dupont, Of Civil war fame, and
the erection in its place of an exquisite
memorial fountain with bronze bas-
relief of the admiral. Early in April
a memorial was dedicated to General
Meade, commander of the Army of the
Potomac and the hero of Gettysburg,
the turning point in the Civil war. The
group Of which the great warrior In
full military uniform is the central fig
ure includes also figures representing
Military Courage, Energy. Fame, 10y
atty. Chivalry and Progress. The
Meade memorial is the gift of the state
Of Pennsylvania
General Grant Statue.
Another great memorial Is the heroic
statue. of Grant which was dedicated
with military and civic honors and
great procession of 10000 soldiers and
members Of organizations marching in
line. This memorial had been building
since 1902 at cost of more than $780,
900, and 1t ranks as one of the greatest
of war memorials Of the world. The
grim figure of the Onion commander
in-chief sits his horse in characteristic
attitude on lofty pedestal, 40 feet in
height, danked by lions, and further to
the right and left by two heroic groups
Of subordinate statuary the fighting
arms Of the great army, the cavalry
and the artillery. The height of the
bronze horse and the figure of Grant
is II feet, and its weight Is 10000
pounds. With one exception, 1t Is the
largest equestrian statue in the world,
yetago perfect are the proportions Of
thSsentire group that 1t appears entire
iy natural. One can study for hours
the grim grandeur of the Grant statue
and the spirit Of war as portrayed In
the piunging horses Of the cavalry
group and the tremendous action de-
pictsd in the artillery charge. and mar
vel ut the achievement.
ScuIptcTs Great Work.
The Grant memorial has been the
Network Of the sculptor, Henry Mer-
win ShEady. His father, DIR. George F.
Ehrady, had been the attending physi-
clan upon General Grant during his
last illness. and out Of this personal ac-
Quaintance young Shrady had listened
to vivid accounts Of the achievements
OF the great general. For some time
the form which his design should take
greatly perplexed Shrady, and well it
might, for here was to be erected a
great memorial by the congress of the
United States to cost quarter of
million dollars, and in the capital of
the United States, to commemorate the
victor of many battles in the conflict
for the preservation of the Union, and
who had won the battle that ended the
war. But, inspired by the thought,
Shrady conceived the idea Of monu-
mental marble platform nearly 300
feet in length, with Ulysses S. Grant
on horseback at height Of some forty
feet in the center. two great bronze
lions on either side guarding the flag,
and group of cavarymen in action
on the right and dashing artillery
group on the left. With this concep-
ton he went to work nearly twelve
years ago. Shrady died, after physi-
cal breakdown from the many years Of
effort In completing the great memo
rial. 1t was his lifework.