Part 4 (1/2)

”The day was fine. The rain had laid the dust and infused a delicious freshness in the air. The procession was extensive and beautiful. It embraced many military companies of our own and our sister cities--various a.s.sociations, with their characteristic emblems; the President and Cabinet and various officers of the Executive Departments; many of the Members of Congress; citizens and strangers who had poured into the city. When the lengthened procession had reached the site of the Monument they were joined by a whole cortege of ladies and gentlemen; and we are free to say we never beheld so magnificent a spectacle. From 15,000 to 20,000 persons are estimated to have been present, stretched over a large area of ground from the southern hill, gradually sloping down to the plain below.”

”In a hollow spread with boards and surrounded with seats the crowd gathered. Around two sides of this s.p.a.ce were high and solidly-constructed seats, hired out to spectators, covered with awnings, and affording a favorable position for seeing and hearing.

A temporary arch was erected, covered with colored cotton and suitably embellished. But its most attractive ornament was a living American eagle, with its dark plumage, piercing eye, and snowy head and tail, who seemed to look with anxious gaze on the unwonted spectacle below. This is the same eagle which in Alexandria surmounted the arch of welcome there erected to Lafayette; and to complete its honors and its public character, it has since been entrusted to M. Vattemare, to be presented to the National Museum in Paris. He is now forty years old.”

”The fireworks (at night) exhibited on the same theatre, and prepared by the pyrotechnists of the navy yard, were admirable beyond description. They were witnessed by an immense mult.i.tude.

The President's reception at night in the East Room was very numerously attended. Thus pa.s.sed one of the most splendid and agreeable days Was.h.i.+ngton has ever witnessed.”

Objections having been from time to time urged against the plan of the Monument, the Society, early in 1848, appointed a committee to consider them. In April of that year, pursuant to a report of a committee of its members, the Society fixed upon a height of 500 feet for the shaft, leaving in abeyance the surrounding pantheon and base. And this modification continued to be the plan of the Monument until it was again altered at a later period.

The corner-stone laid, the Society began active operations to raise the shaft, which were most vigorously prosecuted. The purchase of materials and the general construction of the Monument, embracing the employment of labor, skilled and common, were committed by the Society to three of their number, denominated a Building Committee.

The members of this committee devoted much of their time patriotically to the duties a.s.signed them, held weekly meetings during several years, and served without any sort of compensation whatever.

With a view of having the States of the Union properly represented in the Monument, the Society extended an invitation for each State to furnish for insertion in the interior walls a block of marble or other durable stone, a production of its soil, of the following dimensions: Four feet long, two feet high, and with a bed of from twelve to eighteen inches, the name of the State to be cut thereon in large letters, and, if desirable to the donor, the State's coat of arms also. Later, this invitation to contribute memorial blocks of stone was extended to embrace such a gift from a foreign government.

In response to these invitations were received from time to time the many rich and durable blocks which now adorn the interior walls of the shaft, in themselves smaller but not less impressive monuments to the memory of Was.h.i.+ngton.

In about six years from the laying of the corner-stone the Monument had reached the height of 156 feet, not quite one-third of its ultimate modified elevation. During this period the Society continued most actively at work in the raising of funds to carry the Monument forward.

An appeal to the people was adopted and issued by the Society in 1848, immediately after the laying of the corner-stone, in which the past history of the work was given, what was desired and in contemplation to do, and an urgent request for contributions was made, and an eloquent reference to Was.h.i.+ngton was embodied.

In June, 1849, a special appeal for contributions, to be made in all parts of the country on the ensuing 4th of July, was issued, and everywhere distributed.

Another special appeal was made in this year, which recited, among other things--

”The scholars and pupils, male and female, of all the inst.i.tutions of learning, and the public and private schools in this country, are requested to make such _monthly_ contributions as may be convenient towards the erection of the Monument till it shall be completed. It is estimated that there are about 3,000,000 of pupils of all ages in the United States, and the monthly contribution of even _one cent_ by each would alone, in a few years, complete the structure now in progress. The a.s.sistance of the princ.i.p.als and teachers in these schools, however, will be essential, and the Board would be thankful if they would lend their aid to carry out this plan by making such collections monthly, and transmitting the amount collected to the Treasurer or to the General Agent of the Society here,” &c.

February 5, 1850, the Society adopted the following resolution:

”_Resolved_, That in view of the liberal contributions made by two of the banks of the City of Was.h.i.+ngton, the General Agent be requested to address a circular letter to the several banking inst.i.tutions of the United States, bearing the signatures of the Board of Managers, soliciting from them contributions to the erection of the Monument.”

In accordance with this resolve a circular letter was issued March 1, 1850, appealing to all banks for contributions.

In May, 1850, circular letters were sent to all deputy marshals of the United States who were to be employed in taking the census then at hand, soliciting their aid in the collection of funds while engaged in the enumeration of the people, and offering a commission of 15 per cent. on the amount collected to each collector, following in this plan the one pursued in 1840. A further general appeal was also printed and distributed everywhere.

Early in 1851 the following resolution was adopted by the Society:

”_Resolved_, That a circular be addressed in the name of this Board to the respective Grand Lodges of the Masonic and Odd Fellows'

fraternities and Grand Divisions of the Sons of Temperance in the United States, requesting that arrangements be made to obtain such periodical contributions as they may deem proper, to be applied to the erection of the Was.h.i.+ngton National Monument, until the same shall be completed.”

Accordingly, an appeal was issued to the bodies mentioned in the resolution.

In January, 1852, pursuant to a resolution of the Society, the military organizations of the country were specially called upon for contributions.

In 1853, another urgent and general appeal was put forth for funds, to be given by the Masonic bodies of the country.

In 1854, there was another general address to the country, similar in character to former appeals, and a special appeal was sent to the officers of the Navy of the United States, invoking their co-operation and aid in raising money to carry on the work of building the Monument.