Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-03
Vision of Future Was Forecast of Beauty of Capital

land, then Commissioner of the Dis
trict Of Columbia; Dr.. James Dudley
Morgan, q grandson Of William Dudley
Digges, who befriended L'Enfant; Dr..
William Tindall. who for many years
served a. secretary to the Commission
ers, and Mr.. George Howard, a grand
son Of George Riggs, the then owner Of
Green HILL" under the supervision o.
the quartermaster generals department
Of the United States Army.
OF the refinement Of the body Of
Maj. L'Enfant. DR.. James Dudley Nor
gan. writing in the records Of the Co
lumbia Historical Society, has this to
say:
the spot where the Franco-American
lay and which had been planted at the
head OF the grave ct the time the body
was buried, June IL, 1925, had first to
be carefully cut down before the work
OF transferring the body to o her
metically sealed casket could be begun.
Following the sealing Of the
casket, it was wrapped in old Glory
and conveyed to the receiving vault at
Mount Oliyet Cemetery, where it lay
until the morning Of April %, when it
was taken, under military escort de-
tailed from the I'd Battalion, Corps of
Engineers, Capt. Michael J. McDonough
commanding, to the rotunda Of the
Capitol. where 1t lay In state from 9
until II o'clock.
ION that day. L'Enfant, who drew
the plans for our city. was honored by
the Nation he had served.
Thousands who never heard the
Frenchman's name, thousands who
have praised the broad avenues Of the
Capital City, yet knew not whose hand
designed them or In whose brain the
scheme Of the city was born, learned
that the name Of LEnfant had been
blazoned at the top Of the roll on which
are craven those illustrious names whose
memory will last as long as the beauti-
ful city with which they are linked
The long years Of obscurity and lack
OF appreciation which shrouded the
fame OF the Revolutionary hero and
gifted architect were rolled away in the
Capitol rotunda, Is the Ambassador
from France, the Vice President OF the
United States and the president OF the
District Commissioners paid each his
glowing tribute to him who may be
Tuthfully called the father Of the City
"a sN0oAAAAA8tOAAs tAAla NLlGU bUo LIOU-
sands had passed around the catafaloue
on which reposed the cesket, draped in
the American fiag-patriotic men and
women, school children who, perhaps
had never seen the name Of L'Enfant
on historys page-the great casket was
nfted by eight sturdy sergeants Of the
Engineer Corps and borne to the Gals
son OF an artillery gun, and a long de-
layed triumphal march which should
have been L'Enfant's nearly O centrrv
ago. was begun to Arlington.
LEnfants membership In the Gin
cinnati, for which society he desiRnet'
the badge and the certificate, was en-.
phasized by two incidents. As the Pres
ldent OF the United States entered I'll
rotunda, the blue and silver banner
the society was raised and lowered
After the addresses In the rotunda, Sen.
ator A o. Bacon Of Georgia inquired
OF Chairman Mcfarland whether AM
insignia or emblem of the society haG
been placed upon the casket. Mr.. Mac
farland replied that there had not been
Senator Bacon then took from the lane
Of his coat the badge Of the Cincinnati
which he was wearing and, handing i!
to Mr.. mcfarland. requested him to de-
post 1t in the grave with the remains
This commission Chairman Mcfarland
executed Just before the grave was
closed"
Those who have the time to visit Ar
lington while here attending the In
augural exercises. or at other timer
when visiting the city, will find his rest.
Ing place in q most fitting spot Just If
front OF the mansion house, overlookinr
washington. His grave is marked witt
bronze tablet upon which are depicte,
the outlines Of the. city he designated
and at least lived to see partly on Il
way toward the great capital 1t is toda