Evening star., 1934-09-09

of the site was further and impressively
recommended by the consideration that the
Monument to be erected on it would be in full
view of Mount Vernon. where rest the ashes
of the chief; and by evidence that Washington
himself, whose unerring judgment had Sc
lected this city to be the Capital of the Nation,
had also selected this particular spot for a
monument to the American Revolution which
in the year 1795 it was proposed should be
erected or placed at the permanent seat of
Government of the United States This monu-
ment was to have been executed by Ceracchi,
a Roman sculptor. and paid for by contribu-
tions of individuals. The same site is marked
on Maj. L'Enfant's map of Washington City for
the equestrian statue of Gen. Washington,
ordered by Congress in 1888, which map was
examined approved and transmitted to Con-
gress by him when President of the United
States"
What the writer has often said about dis
tinguished people being soon forgotten after
they have started their journey to that place
from which traveller returns was forcibly
brought home to him when he received a let
ter from an unusually high source, which said:
Dear Mr.. Proctor: Can you tell me where
George Watterston Librarian of Congress, 1875
1927 is buried? He died In Washington in
1854"
Well, naturally, the first thing the writer did
was to secure the date of death of Mr. Waiter
Ston, which happened to be February T. 1854,
and with this information he sought the files
of The Daily Evening Star, for that was the
name of the paper at that time, and here he
found the following notices, neither of which
gives the place of interment.
February S, 1854:
"Obituary.-Mr George watterston a we'll
known citizen of Washington, who had held
several prominent situations, having been for
many years member of the City Councils and
librarian of the Congressional Library died on
Saturday last, at his residence on Capitol HILL
At the time of his death he was secretary to
the Washington National Monument Society,""
Again, on February 2, we find:
"Funeral-The funeral of Mr. Watterston
took place yesterday afternoon, under the
charge of Mr. j. F. Harvey, and was attended
by large concourse Of citizens. The mayor
e. Whittlesey; Gen. Henderson, p. H. Fendall,
Esq; Gen. Weightman R. Beale Thomas Blag-
den and Robert Brown acted as pan-bearers,
and five of the workmen belonging to the
Washington Monument, the deceased having
been secretary Of the association, walked on
each side of the hearse. The flag on the build
ing was likewise lowered half mast high as
token of respect. The funeral services were
performed by the Rev. Mr.. Sunderland and the
Rev. DR.. Gurley"
1T REALLY did begin to look as though the
gentlemen who had asked the question had
put one up to the writer he might not be able
to answer. But luck was with him, and upon
calling up the obliging superintendent of the
Congressional Cemetery he was informed that
Mr.. Watterston was buried in the Watterston-
Hamilton vault in that cemetery. And so we
now know the burial place of the founder of
the Washington Monument and the first libra
rian of Congress
The second librarian of this great institution
was John S. Meehan, a newspaper man, who
served from 1929 to 1851, when Mr.. Lincoln
gave the place to his personal friend John G.
Stephenson of Indiana, who resigned in 1864.