THE GARFIELD MONUMENT.

      This beautiful memorial is located in Lake View Cemetery, in the suburbs of Cleveland, on a high ridge of ground two hundred and fifty feet above the waters of Lake Erie, and three miles therefrom, and furnishing from its terrace and portico, on a clear day, a magnificent panorama of the city of Cleveland, wide-spreading forests and fields, and the broad waters of Lake Erie. Few visions of natural beauty equal the view from its summit, the Memorial itself being visible for many miles in all directions.

      The form of the Memorial is large and imposing, rising boldly in the air to its summit, 180 feet from the roadway on the east. It is in the shape of a circular tower, fifty feet in diameter, elevated on broad, high terraces, which are reached by several flights of wide-spreading steps that form a dignified approach to the Memorial.

      At the base of the tower projects a square porch, decorated externally with a historical frieze, within easy view from the terrace, or the ground below. This frieze is divided into five panels, containing bas-reliefs which represent in a language understood by all, the career of Garfield. Spiral stairs, in turrets, on each side of the porch, give access to a balcony which commands an outlook that delights the beholder.

      The tower is crowned with a conical-shaped stone roof, enriched with bands of sunken tile pattern ornaments.

      The Historical Frieze on three sides of the porch has for subjects, the career of Garfield as a teacher, a soldier, a statesman, and as President of the United States, the last one, on the south side, representing his body as lying in state.

      In these five panels there are over 110 figures, all life-size, and executed in every variety of skill known to the art, both as to the measure of perfection,, being from the lowest to the highest of bas-reliefs, without, however, making any subject a complete figure, but standing free, each individual figure having a composition and treatment of its own. The life of Garfield, not unlike that of many distinguished Americans, was full of variety, illustrating many of the prominent characteristics of our national life, and these the sculptor, who modeled this frieze, has skilfully reproduced. [414]

      Over the entrance door, on the inside, are seated allegorical figures of "War," fully armed, and "Peace," holding the olive branch, typical of the labors of Garfield in the service of his country, both in camp and court.

      Underneath "War" and "Peace" is the inscription: "Erected by a grateful Country in memory of James Abram Garfield, 20th President of the United States of America, Scholar, Soldier, Statesman, Patriot. Born, 19th November, 1831; died, September 19th, 1881."

      The entire amount expended by the Trustees in and about the Garfield Memorial amounts to $225,000, of which the city of Cleveland contributed $75,000.

      The contributions came from every state and territory of the nation, and from many foreign countries.

      The Memorial Temple or shrine is circular in form, and in the center is a pedestal of Italian marble, on which stands a marble figure of Garfield of heroic size. This statue represents Garfield just risen from his chair in the Congress of the United States, and about to address the House of Representatives.

      The statue of Garfield, by Alexander Doyle, standing directly under the dome, and surrounded by all this wealth of Mosaic and allegory, is made the soul of the Memorial. The whole design of architect and artist leads up to it, and is concentrated in this central figure. The Memorial grows out of this kernel, as it were, which is enshrined in its heart, and the lofty tower, rising from its broad and massive foundation, gives dignity and character to the mortuary shrine within, which glows with the soul and life which are typified, in this marble figure.

      In the crypt underneath, is placed the mortuary chapel where lie the mortal remains of Garfield in a bronze casket, whilst near by are those of his mother who, dying at the good old age of 85, loved and respected by the American people, among her last wishes, expressed to the writer, wanted to have her last resting place near the son she loved so well, where let them both rest undisturbed in the blessed hope of reunion and immortal life beyond the tomb.

[COC 414-415]