Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-21
Jefferson Memorial
Dedication April Is,
His200th Anniversary
u. S. Leaders to Join
In Services at New
TiduI Busin Monument


many Americans distinguished in
both public and private life to attend
dedication OF the white marble me-
mortal to Thomas jefferson, April
Homel3, the 200 anniversary of his
birth
The occasion will be dignified
with simplicity in keeping with the
spirit of the author of the Declara-
ton OF Independence and third
President of the United States.
Details of the program will not be
disclosed in advance, though it has
been announced that one of the
service bands will present concert
Of patriotic music The ceremonies
will be broadcast over national net
works.
Located on the banks of the pic
turesque Tidal Basin. the circular
colonnaded Pantheon-type memorial
Is thanked by Oriental Towering
trees which are expected to be in
bloom for the occasion, according
to estimates yesterday by scientists
Of the National Capital Parks.
Congress Is Invited.
Invited to the ceremonies are all
members OF Congress. the Supreme
Court of the United States. the dip
lomatic corps, the cabinet. the
heads of independent Offices and
executive establishments, and living
descendants of jefferson. The list
also includes all generals and ad-
mirals of the armed services on
duty in Washington, and large
delegation of prominent persons
from Virginia, Jeffersons native
State.
Wartime significance attaches to
the dedication in several aspects.
according to officials from the
Jefferson Memorial Commission
and the National Park Service, who
are in charge of the ceremonies.
The statue of Jefferson. 10 feet
high, standing on pedestal 6 feet
high. will be In place but it will
not be the permanent sculpture in
bronze. The standing figure, by
Rudolph Evans, sculptor, will be
the original plaster cast, full size,
painted bronze color to represent
the permanent one From this full
size plaster model the piece mold"
already has been made, for the
purpose of casting the statue in
bronze after the war, when the
metal will not be needed for the
war effort. The plaster figure will
be moved to the memorial soon, it
was learned. and will be mounted
and painted to resemble the final
bronze figure.
Jefferson Inscriptions.
Significant, too, in these war days,
1t is pointed out, are the words of
Thomas Jefferson himself, in
scribed in the circular colonnaded
memorial. Among several inscrip-
tons. one which brings his political
and social philosophy most potently
to bear on the present war is said
to be this:
Il have sworn upon the altar of
God eternal hostility against every
form of tyranny over the mind
OF man"
, Other inscriptions from Jefferson's
writings are chiseled on the four
main piers of the rotunda, around
the frieze and on panels OF the
classic structure. They were Sc
lected to describe the principal
tenets of his philosophy. They in
clude famous and inspiring phrases
from the Declaration OF Independ-
ence, excerpts from his writings on
freedom, slavery, education and gov
eminent
In design. the memorial itself re-
fleets the interest of Jefferson the
architect. In preparation of the
plan for the memorial by the late
John Russell Pope, and his associates,
Eggers & Higgins, the architects
were clearly influenced by Jeffer-
sons own tie. as expressed in his
writings and demonstrated by his
own architectural works-such as
his own home Monticello and the
rotunda at the University of Vir-
ginla. He is known to have greatly
admired the circular domed Pam
theon in Rome Thus. it is pointed
put, "the circular colonnaded me-
mortal, an adaptation of the classic
style which jefferson himself is
credited with having introduced in
! This country, reflects even in its pat
tern a measure of the respect held
by the Nation for this great Ameri-
can"
Ornamental Pediment.
= Located on the south shore of the
Tidal Basin, the memorial is often
reflected in the still waters of this
large pool. which is officially known
by the more euphonious name of
lTWyning Lake.
Entrance to the memorial is on
The north. or Tidal Basin. side
AS the visitor passes from the plaza
up steps toward the memorial room
he may view at close range the
sculptural group in the pediment
over the portiCo. This group by
Sculptor A A Weinman of New
York City depicts jefferson stand
ing before the committee appointed
BY the Continental Congress to
write the Declaration OF Independ-
ence. The draft OF this famous doc
ument, which Jefferson was select
ed 10 write. was adopted almost as
written. The committee in the ped
ment includes John Adams. Benia-