Evening star., 1947-01-06

the hero actually dies, he may be-
have in such way as to make
memorial inappropriate: second
that memorial to living man un-
pleasantly implies that his life is
really over and only the grave awaits
him; third, that a mans true worth
cannot be measured until after his
death.
Not one of the three stands up SO
far as Mr.. Churchill is concerned
Certainly few will contend that
anything he might do from now on
would diminish the immeasurable
debt of gratitude which this coun-
try, along with all the other civil
lized nations of the world, owes chis
great man; that the years remain
ing to him could In any degree rem
der his words and deeds, already
craven on the minds Of millions,
any less thrilling; that a memorial
to him could ever become undesir-
able.
Monument i'm Life Precedented.
As for the idea that a monument
to the living carries an unkind i'm
plication of virtual death and is
therefore inappropriate, no one
who knows Mr.. Churchill will sug-
gest that he would take so silly
a view. Actually, this tradition-if
1t is such-about not monumentally
memorializing the living seems con-
fined to very few countries and ages.
In ancient days monuments and
statues were erected to many of the
Roman emperors while they still
reigned. In latter years self -erected
monuments to Mussolini and the
King abounded in Italy. To-day
there are SO many statues of Stain
in Russia. that no one knows the
exact number.
For that matter, plenty of private
and public citizens in this country
have had bronze busts made of
themselves or presented by admirers
And, after all, what is the real diff
ference between a marble or bronze
statue and an oil portrait?
Actually, q public memorial to a
great man while he lives and still
can appreciate it,, seems to be d
finer tribute than any that might be
erected after his death. It would
appear far more spontaneous and
genuine coming from the contem-
porary generation that knew and
lived with him than from following
generations wkich did not know
him as an individual, never had the
thrill of listening, to his voice or
knew the fascination Of his person.
ality.
A short time ago a gentleman
from Cape Cod, Mass, suggested to
the IA English Channel mayors
that they put up atop the Dover
Cliffs monument to Mr.. Churchill
on a 60-foot tower f1anked at the
base by four bronze bulldogs each IA
feet high.
American Suggestion Inappropriate.
The inscription suggested was
"never has so much been owed by
80 many to one man." The $l00, 900
needed, it was said, could be raised
in the United States. This seems
neither an adequate nor even a
proper proposal to come from this
side. 1t is not one of which Ameri-
cans can be very proud.
After the English, taking the
initiative, have moved, without
American aid, to establish grateful
memorial on their soil to the Ameri-
can war President, it seems piece
of effrontery for us, in effect, to
say to the English-"Go ahead now
put up a high monument to your
own great leader, costing about
100000, and we will pay for it,
There Is something unhandsome
in the suggestion and in the way
it is made. What has become of the
English Speaking Union in this
country? Why have not its mem
bers seized this opportunity to ce-
ment and strengthen relations be-
tween the English-speaking peoples
by erecting in the United States a
really great memorial to Winston
Churchill? What are they waiting
for? Can any one think of any
easier task than that of raising
money. through voluntary subscrip-
tions, for this purpose?
There are literally thousands of
persons who would esteem it a privi-
lege to subscribe to a monument
now while he lives, to the man who
In that blackest hour of history,
when England stood alone" and
the fate of civilization hung in the
balance, stirred their souls with
those imperishable words;
1--WE shall 60 on to the end. We
shall fight in France, on the seas
and oceans. We shall defend Our
island whatever the cost may be.
We shall fight on the beaches and
the landing grounds. in the fields,
on the streets and in the hills. We