In Trafalgar Square
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George Washington in Trafalgar Square deep significance of erecting HnUE the handsome more who I bronic statue of George Washington risked that .incomparable loss, he in front of that they had declared of a unanimous people. Rarely, 1 the classic port.o. of the Nat onal sent heir ioni not to protect America if ever had Gallerv on but to rescue humanity. there been a nobler life, raicly it Trafalgar Square, Would I ever had'there in London, in evi-dent- to God just ly that the that spot been a more comely or more is inking into the BnglUh mind. t,1na,;,"1 ri and forever gracious death Washington s'V1 ?!hl ain Washington found himself in .res with Nelson and Gordon and Xapier coming mtmiatinal Square Trafalgar and other alongside the fiery Xapier, noble-minde- British worthies what has so often been JJf1 the d called the Marquis Havclock. the ; "finest site" in Europe. Curzon whose appreciation of heroic Gordon and the The whirligig of time does wffl be America, it glorious Xelson looked down indeed bring its revenges. remembered, was very distinctly shown in upon the wonder- An equestrian statue of ho.ee of an hi ful gathering. If the spirits long George III a American bride in his second, h of the departed occupies spot just beyond the south- hrst as could revivify and reimbue the west corner of the same marriage, was at his best in a speech hitting the bronze or the square from whose northeast marble effigies, if j the nnl higher corner now looks gra" Am stillness of the night serenely the effigy of the rsaide:tWCen they could hold converse, what a symposium republican George whom the royal George there deemed an "I suppose that the would be! Three gave their lives for their coun- arch-reb- el features of Washington against his authority and who might as try, one added a have depicted in that historic statue-feat- ures province to a great empire, the been hanged had he failed and been caught. so calm a Nor did so dignified so noble-- are other added great empire to the world. Of the event of the dedication better known than the each it of this beautiful bronze tonn and features of any could be said that the mainspring of his lack added significance in man in the world life and the fact that on the very same with the possible Napoleon! action was duty; of all of them it could exception of the first be said day (June 30), General Smuts, to whom the Kmpire probably more speeches have that their lives enriched the records of the been made about mankind. world were looking for happy initiation of Washington than about any human being reconciliation, who They welcomed the rish was unveiling a memorial to South ever lived, with the possible exception of Bobby introduction of that soldiers in I urns. No statue to the square as a symbol and a liga. Afrkan Richmond Cemetery fight-reb- el one would have hated "It another this more than is a mark," said Lord Cuzon, came into his own in overflowing measure, in Washington himself." of the fact that the two branches English-speakin- g and marvelously enough his Proceeding Lord Curzon of the great own lifetime! asked why it was race are now and henceforth The work is a replica of Houdon's w 'ey as englishmen gladly and indissolubly one. famous statue, It is now more than a hundred years since everted more than 100 years ago in proudly welcomed the statue of we front of the state Washington. last fought, and that conflict was one of which capitol at Richmond, and shows Washington in The answer was be- none his cause he was a of us are proud, and of which some of us raTi uniform, hi- - left arm resting great Englishman-o-ne are very on the top of a of the greatest Englishmen much ashamed. We can never fight column over which has been thrown a military who again. I should like cloak. ever lived; because, though he to add that we can never The straight-ahea- d square look of the riuarrel again. We ought never to quarrel eyes, the poise of the head and the dig- again. But not merely can your nation and nity of the erect figure all convey strongly mine engage never to fight and never to tin sense of grace, strength and sincerity quarrel: we can do a great deal to prevent associate with the character of the other nations trom fighting. That, I submit, Father of His Country The inscription is the main function and duty that lies upon en its pedestal reads : us in the future. It is a great and powerful weapon that is in the hands of to the People these two Presented of Great Britain great nations, and if our use of it is inspired and Ireland by the by the temperate judgment, the lofty nobility Comm ealth of Virginia. of soul, and the unselfish purpose of George June 30, 1921. Washington, we ought to be able to use that weapon The Virginia State Commission, which for the inestimable advantage of had mankind." come to London to present the gift At a tn the luncheon given to the Virginians at the British people, was headed by Dr. Carleton by ILnry Louis Smith, Lieutenant the government following the un- Governor veiling. Lord Lee, B. F. L. of Fareham, presided and Buchanan. Richard Brewer, Jr.. voiced some interesting of Virginia Dele- speculations as to what ipeaker the House of Washington thought gates, and W. Williams, would have had he John clerk of the been in London on that day se of Delegates and keeper of the without any 2 twl knowledge of the intervening course of state rolls. The cord which actually ll hi-tor- y. "How things dropped remarkable would the veiling folds of Old Glory have seemed to him !" he said. "Perhaps from by Brew- the statue was pulled Mr. the most remarkable thing of all would ers charming daughter. Judith, a typical have been that a daughter of Virginia Virginia girl. The formal unveiling took should be the first woman member of the e in the presence of an immense British Parliament. He would have mar- crowd of spectators filling Trafalgar veled that, in spite of his meticulous ad- Square and St. Martin's Lane. A score vice abut European entanglements, or so of G. A. K. and Confederate vet- American soldiers had crossed erans living in London occupied places the seas to join in battle side by side with of honor. Preceding this scene, a more the British; that Old (ilory and the Union elaborate ceremony took place within the Jack had gone into action together against National Gallery and was presided over the countrymen of Baron von Steuben." b Marquis Curzon, secretary for foreign As to the statue unveiled that day. Wash- affairs: the V irginia Commissioners oc- ington would have been far too modest cupying seats of honor on his left. The to think that the bread he cast upon the gathering was a notable one, including waters in those far-o- ff days was return- Butler Wright, counsellor of the Ameri- ing in the shape of admiration and ap- can Embassy, representing Ambassador preciation on the part of the British peo- Harvey, who had been called to Paris for ple of the things he stood for. It was a Supreme Council meeting; Viscount because he stood for what he did that we Bryce, Lady Astor, M. P.; E. W. Massey, honored him today, and it was because we the New Zealand premier; Lord Charne-- v had learned the lesson bestowed on us 1, Lord Lee, of Eareham ; Sir George in that period of our history that it was Perley, Canadian high commissioner; possible in the great conference of the Major Ian Hay Beith, General Marl- empire now assembled in London to find borough Churchill. Dr. J. W. Jowett. Dr. General Smuts sitting at the board, the Nicholas Murrav Butler, Admiral Nib-lac- k, great fighting leader of the people with Commander White, U. S. N.J Lord whom we were in conflict but a few I) borough and such journalistic big guns The bronze figure is a replica nf the Houdon statue in front of the State Capitol at Richmond, years ago. That was something we had people. It occupies a remarkably conspic- as J. L. Garvin, of the Observer; Lord and is the gift of the state of Virginia to the British learned from Washington, and for which uous site on the greensward in front of the left wing of the massive portico of the National we were peculiarly grateful to him." Burnham, of the Daily Telegraph and Gallery facing Trafalgar Square. The group of immediate participanta in the ceremony includea Lord Riddell, of a score of dailies and (readmit from left to right): the Marquis Curzon, Secretary for Foreign Affairs; Dr. Henry L. Anglican savoir faire, marked the Smith. President of Washington and Lee University, representing Governor Davis; Lieu- delicate regard for the special suscepti- weeklies of Virginia tenant Governor Buchanan, of Virginia. Spesker Richard L Brewer, Houae bilities of the Southern guests shown by Dr. Smith's presentation speech was of Delegates; his daughter. Miss Judith Brewer, who unveiled the statue; Sir George Perley, W. Williams. Clerk of the House of Delegates and Lord Lee in his tribute to other great a of nnvvrr nnd imnressiveness. After Canadian High Commissioner, and John two keeper of Rolls of Virginia.