Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-02-08

with roadside planting, busy with the
traffic and travel of the nation which he saved
Today the Lincoln memorial in Washington
stands supreme among memorials to Abraham
neutrality-suspicious. among memorials to any man or
woman in all the world. "a thing of beauty IS
Joy forever" and this is thing of beauty. 70 look
from the Washington monument down the long
Mall and see the simple, massive white mafDle
Greek temple, it's stately Doric columns rejected
in the waters of the quiet lagoon, is sight to stir
the appreciatfve to ecstasy. What trinity-the
Capitol Washington's monument, the Lincoln mon
ument-with Arlington near by!
Iincoln's memorial in Washington stands today
a completed and perfected national shrine for
peoples homage on February - 1t was officially
dedicated last year--on Memorial days This year
it will be rededicated on Lincolas birthday IN the
hearts of the American people.
In briefest words, here is now the Lincoln me-
mortal was created and what it is:
February l. 1911, congress authorized the expen-
diture of 100000 for a national memorial to
commemorate the life and character of Abraham
lincoln In 1913 plans were approved Work was
beaTn FEBRUARY IL 1914. The cornerstone was
laid February r. 1915. Henry Bacon of New York
DESIGNED simple and massive Greek temple of
white Colorado marble erected on a granite rect
angular base. The memorial consists OF a central
memorial hall, containing colossal seated statue
of Lincoln by Daniel Chester French, and two
smaller rooms containing memorials Of Lincon's
Second Inaugural Address and his Gettysburg Ad-
dress There is q colonnade of thirty-six Doric
columns. symbolic of the United States in 1865
Above these are forty-eight festoons in high re-
lief representing the fortyeight states.
The memorial has cost almost exactly 100000
to date The total height of the structure above
grade is 122 feet. Each column is A feet high
and 7 feet inches in diameter at the base. The
colonnade is 1888 feet long. The statue of Lincoln
is 81 feet high and weighs q tons; its height with
pedestal and base, is 80 feet The visitor enters
the memorial to gaze from a distance OF seventy
feet at this gigantic Lincoln, represented as the
great war President. Over his head is inscribed:
In This Temple,
AS in the Hearts of the People
For Whom He Saved the Union,
The Memory of Abraham Lincoln
is Enshrned Forever.
AS to the spirit of Lincoln's Birthday in Ameri-
ca in 1928, no truer words can be said than were
snoken by President Harding when he received in
behalf Of the American people, the Lincoln me-
mortal from the Lincoln memorial commission APP
pointed by congress in 1911 with William Howard
Taft for chairman. President Harding said, among
other things:
ut is a supreme satisfaction officially to accept
on behalf Of the government this superb monu-
ment to the savior Of the republic. No official
dutv could be more welcome, no official function
more pleasing. This memorial edi1ce is noble
tribute gratefully bestowed, and in its offering is
the reverent heart of Americas in its dedication is
the consciousness Of reverence and gratitude
beautifully expressed.
"somehow my emotions incline me to speak
simply as a reverent and grateful American,
rather than one in official responsibility. I am
thus inclined because the true measure Of Lin
coin is in his place today in the heart OF American
citizenship though half century has passed since
his colossal service and his martyrdom. In every
moment Of peril, in every hour of dscouragement
whenever the clouds gather, there is the image of
Lincoln to rivet our hopes and to renew our faith
Whenever there is glow of triumph over nation
al achievement there comes the reminder that
but for Lincoln's heroic and unalterabe faith in
the Union, these triumphs could not have been.
Here was the great purpose here the towering
hope, here the supreme faith. He treasured the
inheritance handed down by the founding fathers,