Telephone 3586 John
Cable Address Always New York

Alexander, Watriss v Polk

Attorneys and Counsellors at Law
Mutual Life Building
32 Nassau Street

Frederic N. Watriss
Frank L. Polk

New York

March 5, 1912.

Talcott H. Russell, Esq.,
#42 Church Street,
New Haven, Conn.

Dear Mr. Russell:

I enclose photographs of the rough design for the memorial for those who died in the Civil War, with the bar reliefs in, also copy of letter from Mr. Bacon. Will you look them over and let me have your views. With the bar reliefs it would cost, complete, in the neighborhood of $21,000. Mr. Stokes, Mr. Evart and I are rather disposed to have it done with the bar reliefs as it is more impressive, but Mr. Evarts and I thought we had better get the opinion of some of the committee.

I am leaving for the South today to be gone two weeks.

With kind regards,

Enc.

P.

Telephone 3586 John
Cable Address Alva, New York

New York

May 23, 1912.

My dear Mr. Russell:

I thought that the question as to the wording
of the inscription had been settled by you and the other members of
the Committee some time ago. I entirely agree with you that there
should be an inscription on both sides.

Mr. Bacon has been so busy with his Lincoln Memorial that
I have not taken the matter up with him, but I expect to see him in
a few days and to have something to report to you by Commencement
time. The doubt in my mind at present is as to whether the pro-
posed figures on each side of the tablet will be too large for
the positions in which they are to be placed. That matter I am
to take up with Mr. Bacon and Mr. Evarts.

P.-L.

Telephone 3586 John
Cable Address Alwape, New York

Alexander, Watriss & Polk

New York

June 6, 1912.

My dear Mr. Russell:

I have just received notice of the meeting on Saturday. I am sorry to say it is out of the question for me to be present as I am moving to the country that day and that is an engagement that I cannot change, nor, unfortunately, avoid.

I have no strong feeling in regard to the inscription and probably "War between the States" is innocuous and would perhaps be the safest.

I have a letter from Mr. Bacon saying that $22,000. would be an ample figure for the tablet, sculpture, new floor, archway and commissions. The new floor would be necessary as the present floor is in rather bad condition and certainly would not be satisfactory when the two sides and ceiling were completed. I am sending you, under another cover, drawings and photographs of the design which might be of interest to the Committee. Of course you will understand that the figures seem out of proportion and crude in the pictures as it is only a rough working plan.

I have had some discussion with Mr. Bacon as to how the names should be put on. He feels that it would be more artistic to

Talcott H. Russell, Esq., ---2

6/6/12.

run them along in a line like a continuous inscription. My feeling
is that this would not be satisfactory as it would be difficult to
find any particular class or name, and the groups would not stand
out distinctively. I would be very much obliged if you would bring
this question up and get the views of the Committee.

Mr. Stokes before he sailed, and Mr. Evarts and I
are all agreed that we should accept the plan with the bas reliefs
and report at the Alumni meeting that the plan of Mr. Bacon had
been accepted and that the Committee would start at once to secure
the necessary amount of $22,000. In the meantime Mr. Bacon would be
authorized to go ahead as there is no doubt in our minds that the
necessary amount can be raised.

With kind regards,

P.-L.

Alexander, Watriss & Polk

New York

June 11, 1912.

Dear Mr. Russell:

I quite understand your feeling in regard to
the character of the figures and the names underneath. They really
were just a study and were not intended to be anything more than a
suggestion. The details as to what the figures will represent
and the general appearance of the figures will have to be gone into
very carefully with Mr. Herron and Mr. Bacon and the members of
the Sub-committee. I agree with you the figures should be so moulded
as to suggest what they mean at sight and not need a placard.

In regard to the inscription, it seems to me that
the simpler it is, the better; for that reason the inscription
marked "1" appeals to me. I would even suggest cutting out "Each
for his cause."

I hope I can arrange to be present on the 17th.

With kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

P.-L.

Telephone 3586 John
Cable Address Alwapa, New York

Alexander, Watriss v Polk

New York

June 21, 1912.

My dear Mr. Russell:

I am extremely sorry that I could not be present at the meeting on Monday, but a very important matter suddenly cropped up that day, which made it impossible for me to leave my office.

I am sorry you did not prevail in your motion to refer the inscription to your College Faculty, but probably the Committee on Memorials will guard us against any serious mistake. It is a matter of real regret to me that you are not on the sub-committee. However, we will not think of doing anything without your approval, and I would be only too glad if you would come down and meet Mr. Bacon and Mr. Herron some time. I may go to Baltimore next week, and therefore suggest that you wait until some time after the first of July.

With kind regards,

P.-L.

Alexander, Watriss & Polk

New York

July 2, 1912.

Dear Mr. Russell:

I did not get your telegram in time to reply. I
am sorry, but as it so happened it would have been impossible for
me to have made an appointment with you for today. I hope we can
arrange it next week some time, or the following week. Let me
know two or three days ahead as I imagine Mr. Bacon is a hard man
to locate.

With kind regards,

P.-L.

Telephone 3586 John
Cable Address Alvapec, New York

Alexander, Watriss & Polk

New York

July 5, 1912.

Dear Mr. Russell:

I have just had Mr. Bacon on the wire and he tells me that he will probably not be back in Town until late Tuesday afternoon. Under the circumstances, could you make it convenient to come down any day after that, except Saturday? However, if that is your only free day I would be very glad to see you and we might be able to talk with Mr. Bacon's assistant, if you desire.

With kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

P.-1.

Telephone 3586 John
Cable Address Alwapec, New York

Alexander, Watriss & Polk
Attorneys and Counsellors at Law
Mutual Life Building

32 Nassau Street

New York July 19, 1912.

My dear Mr. Russell:

I have heard some criticism of the form of
inscription adopted by the Committee. Of course I do not pose
as an English scholar and my own opinion is worth nothing, but
some one whose opinion is worth while pointed out that it seemed
rather "wordy". I know that General Gordon resented the idea of
consulting a committee of English Professors, but at the same time
would there be any impropriety in getting the opinion of some
Professor- say Professor Beers- his opinion on a matter of English
and of taste would go practically unchallenged.

Yours sincerely,

P.-L.

New York

September 28, 1911

My dear Mr. Russell:

I hope to be able to attend the meeting of the
Memorial Committee on Saturday, but, unfortunately, I am not sure
now whether I shall be able to get there. I am living on Long Island
and there is a chance that I will have to be there on that day.
However, I hope for the best, as I should be very sorry to miss
being present.

I hope the Committee will come to some final decision
that day. I am still very strongly of the opinion that the beautiful
design prepared by Mr. French would not be appropriate. Governor
Baldwin to my opinion stated the objection to this character of a
memorial, and I feel that the names should be placed where the
College men would see them daily.

With kind regards,

P.

Alexander, Watriss & Polk

New York

October 3, 1911.

My dear Mr. Russell:

I was extremely sorry I could not be present at the meeting of the Memorial Committee on the 20th, but it was, unfortunately, quite out of the question for me to get away from home that day.

I received your letter enclosing the minutes and entirely approve of the actions of the Committee, with the possible exception of the appointment of Polk as a member of the Sub-Committee.

I will get in touch with Mr. Stokes, and with your assistance I feel quite sure we should be able to report progress before very long.

With kind regards,

Yours very sincerely,

P.

New York October 13, 1911.

Dear Mr. Russell:

I received your letter and read it with a great
deal of interest.

I think all these questions as to whether the title
should be included, and the wording, should be put to vote of a full
Committee, and my idea would be that after we have the plan drawn
out we could send a small design showing the general effect of the
inscription and the names with, and without the titles, to all the
members of the Committee, and get their individual opinion. Mr.
Bacon is busily engaged at present with a competition for a
Lincoln memorial, and our understanding is that he cannot take this
matter up until after the middle of November.

I return Mr. Strong's very interesting and forcible
letter.

With many thanks for your suggestions,

P.

Telephone 3586 John
Cable Address:Allwape, New York

Alexander, Watriss & Polk

New York December 21, 1911.

Dear Mr. Russell:

Just before Mr. Stokes sailed we had a meeting of the Sub-committee on the Civil War Memorial, and the following resolutions were adopted by us.

1. To request Mr. Allan W. Evarts to serve on the Sub-committee in the place of Mr. Stokes during the latter's absence in Europe, with full power to vote and act as his substitute.

I have communicated with Mr. Evarts and he has agreed to act with me.

2. That if Mr. Bacon favors the smaller of the two designs proposed by him, costing about $11,000., to accept it and order drawings made accordingly.

3. That if, however, Mr. Bacon favors the design with the sculptured figures, costing about $21,000., to authorize him to complete preliminary drawings of both designs and to refer the selection to the General Committee.

4. To request the General Committee to appoint a Finance Committee with power to act.

New York

January 4, 1912.

Dear Mr. Russell:

I have an imperative engagement in New York for
Monday the 8th, so it will be impossible for me to attend the meeting
you have called of the Memorial Committee. Mr. Evarts just called
me up to say that it will be impossible for him to come; as Stokes
is abroad, and I feel quite sure Judge Howland cannot attend, I
take the liberty of suggesting that as the only question really to
come before the Committee is the appointment of a Committee on Ways
and Means, that the views of the various members be ascertained by
mail. As far as the sub-committee is concerned, we have nothing to
report, as Mr. Bacon has asked permission to prepare a drawing to
show the design with bar reliefs. It will be some time before this
is ready and until we have that before us Mr. Evarts and I really
have no right to an opinion. I am sorry we cannot come up.

I made the suggestion about ascertaining the wishes
of the Committee by mail, as I thought that would probably be easier
for you than attempting to get so widely scattered a committee to-
gether.

With kind regards,