Evening star., 1924-09-14
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Half a century ago the Washing
ton Monument stood in an unfinished
A Plan to Complete run',,,0n e. III, Il, funa. = 70
the Monument. comnlete it Va
rious projects for the finishing of this
work were devised, but none came
to the point of success until
Congress finally voted to take over
the memorial and execute the origi-
nal design, with some notifications.
In The, Star of September 10. 1874, is
the following about the latest pro-
posal for raising funds:
1T is satisfactory to know that
there is good prospect of the COM
pletion of the Washington Monument
so many years the standing dis
grace of the country-and that at no
distant day. The efforts recently made
by the society upon the plan adopted
by them of securing the necessary
funds through contingent subscrlp-
tions have achieved decidedly promis-
ing results. Now that the society
have decided upon a distinct mode of
appeal to the patriotism of the Amer
lean people, and having all the ele-
ments of success, any suggestion pro-
posing any other form of procedure
cannot but be productive of confu
sion and harm. 1t has been suggested
in some quarters to have a particular
day set apart for everybody TO con-
tribute toward the Monument, on the
assumption that everybody will rush
up, like voters at an election. and de-
posit their offerings. 1t might well
be supposed by many well meaning
people the great American heart
would respond and that the neces-
sary half million would be contrib
uted in a single day. For the in
formation, however, of all these, it
might be stated that such a plan has
been several times tried, and has al
ways failed The last trial resulted
in contributions aggregating less than
800. -
''Others again. as If inspired with a
genius for blocking the wheels when
once set going. rush into print with
criticisms decrying the design of the
Monument and demanding that some
other designs be adopted. Singuarly
enough, such unfavorable criticisms
come from New England and yet
there stands the Bunker Hill obelisk,
precisely In form such as the Wash
inRton Monument will be when COM
pleted, and We opine that anything &
like ridicule of that Boston notion
would be met with an avalanche of
indignant rerhonstrance. 1t should be
stated that the Objectionable pantheon
represented In the engfavings of our
Monument is no part Of the original
design. but was sketched in by the
artist as q sort of fancy finish to the
base. 1t was never seriously intend
ed to add so hideous a feature to the
work On the contrary, the design
lis a plain obelisk 4S5 feet high, stand
ing upon a terraced base, and nothing
else.
ut seems to us that the right thing
to do now is to fall in and support
with unanimity the plan now on
hand and not confuse the matter with
schemes which will be productive of
no definite results. The society have
Bile, simple and safe. They now want
subscriptions from all the secret and
other societies; not large amounts,
but prompt subscriptions"
+ + 4
In Its issue Of September II, 1874,
The star calls attention to the fact
Post. Grsduate that for the lack
of q high school
Competitors. many members Of
the graduating classes Of the District
grammar schools return to school for
one or two. years longer for the
purpose Of review, and urging
that while such pupils were still
within the legal school age and did
not crowd out the regularly advanc-
ing classes they should be given that
opportunity.