"For ourselves, we never liked Washington as the locale for the erection of this monument. Some spot on the Hudson River, where he labored, lived, and died, would better have comported with his own wishes and the public expectation; but it has been otherwise decided by the able committee, and we acquiesce, thankful that, unlike many good intentions, it has not utterly failed at last.

"We add, with regret, that a late hasty inspection of the grounds of the Smithsonian Institution, where the monument now stands exhibited them in a neglected state, to the shame of the Government as well as of the Regents."

I am afraid the writer who thus expressed himself, erred in including the Regents of the Smithsonian in his criticism, as I am decidedly of the opinion that this monument is not in the grounds now or then controlled by them.

In concluding this paper, let me suggest that the next time you happen to be passing through the Smithsonian grounds, you stop long enough to take a close-up view of this monument, erected to the memory of a man. whose brilliant mind well deserves what one writer has said of him:

"His name shall be perpetuated by fragrant flowers and delicious fruits; by gushing fountains and murmuring streams; by grateful shade and balmy breeze, and by many a rural scene, and many a tasteful home. He shall be remembered.

"His name will appear in all coming time, emblazoned upon the roll of fame, among such worthies of that class as Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, David Rittenhouse, Benjamin West, and Nathaniel Bowditch."

For the photographs accompanying this article, which are reproduced from prints, the writer is indebted to Dr. A. J. Olmsted, of the. United States National Museum.

By

"PRIVATE DALZELL”

(Read before the Society, March 20, 1923.)

From The Times, Cambridge, Ohio.

"Our Washington Correspondent.

"Began his collegiate course at Sharon College in 1854, and from that time to August, 1862, taught in the winters and attended college in the summers. Graduated at Duff's College, Pittsburg, 1856. A part of the years 1856 and 1857 was a student in the Ohio University, and for a short time in 1858 was at Oberlin College, Ohio. In April, 1861, entered Washington College, Pa., and there remained without interruption until August, 1862, when he enlisted as a private in 116th Ohio. After serving three years, returned home, and again taught school, and for a few months was Deputy Clerk of the Noble Court.

"In August, 1866, appointed to a Treasury clerkship by Judge Bingham. Immediately on his arrival in Washington, resumed his beloved studies so sadly broken in upon by the war. We see by a catalogue of the Columbian College' that he is now in the senior classes of both classical and law courses, and will take his degree and be admitted to the bar in June next. During all these years he has carried on his various studies in all these colleges by his own unaided efforts. He is indebted to no man for one cent for his instruction. Thus perseveringly for fourteen long years has he followed up the one idea of being a self-made scholar.

"During all this time he has been engaged at his leisure in writing for the press. The whole amount of

'Now George Washington University.

his writing upon various subjects, in prose and poetry (for he's a poet) would not be less than five or six volumes, 12 mo., which are now in course of preparation for publication.

"He has never realized anything from his writings yet-but is laboring with a noble purpose to succeed or die attempting in placing his name among the authors of the age. At present he is at work with other educated gentlemen upon a scheme to form a Grand Republic of Letters at the Capital, the plan of which he himself shall explain.

"Such is a brief history of our Washington correspondent."

James McCormick Dalzell, born in the borough of Allegheny, September 3, 1838, was the son of Robert and Anne (McCormick) Dalzell. The family moved to Morgan county, Ohio, 1847, because of the mother's ill health.

He married Hetty McGill Kelley of Zanesville, Ohio, 1867.

In the Civil War he was in engagements at Winchester, Gettysburg, Mt. Jackson, and Cedar Creek. He was mustered out at Wheeling, W. Va., June, 1865.

In Ohio, practiced law for thirty years. District Attorney for Noble county, 1869-71. In the Ohio Legislature 1876-80. Was the Republican Candidate for Congress, 16th District, 1878, 1880, and 1902; and, as sometimes happens, the better choice is not always made. Delegate in the Conventions which nominated Hayes and Garfield. At McKinley's request, 1898, served in the U. S. Hospital Corps for three years and to the end of the Spanish War. At eighty years of age, he was elected First Assistant Sergeant at Arms for the House of Representatives, Ohio; his term to expire January, 1921.

Mr. Dalzell has been identified with all the wars of

his time in a helpful capacity. Always patriotic as he has always been an ardent politician. His activities as stump speaker are as early as the Fremont campaign. His light he has constantly let shine in the press. He says "he is a Presbyterian elder, a Sigma Chi, a Loyal Moose, and an Odd Fellow, a Republican and an American who thinks the Declaration means Independence without king's consent or veto."

Of the letters of Mr. Dalzell to The Times, one is given. It shows conditions, states statistics and affords a standard by which the progress of the Nation's City for half a century can readily be measured. The comparison it affords has striking circumstances for the review of Mr. Dalzell is made soon after the termination of the Civil War.

The other letters of Mr. Dalzell treat of buildings and places of public interest as asylums, hospitals, colleges, government departments, and cemeteries.

"Washington, D. C. March 23, 1868.

"Dear Times: There are one hundred and twenty thousand people living in the District now. How do these people all manage to live? is the question to be answered in this letter.

"This city has no income from trade or manufactures. For some reason factories and wholesale stores cannot exist in Washington. Let some philosopher give the reason here are the facts. Some years ago a company attempted to establish a glass factory, and failed. Washington does a little manufacturing for herself, but nothing for the general market. We cannot make a bottle or a barrel here, though I am free to confess we can empty as many bottles and barrels as any other city. Merchants go to New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore to get supplies. They never come here except through curiosity. Drovers from the North take their stock to other cities, but never think of coming here. In short,

there are no wholesale markets or stores in the Capital. Trade and commerce have not turned their tide in this direction and probably never will. With a deep open channel of 250 miles to the sea, and with a good harbor at Alexandria one would expect that commerce would turn her golden streams to the Capital. As fine, heavy ships as ever sailed, in former days, cast anchor at Alexandria, six miles from Washington Monument. No large ships come there now. The trade has left. Oyster boats, fish boats, small brigs and schooners are all that come. The smoking furnace, the ringing of machinery, the busy din of trade, and the sails of commerce, are all strangers to Washington.

"The people are not a manufacturing or trading population. They live in other ways. (At the close of my letter I append a short list which will explain much of my remarks about the business of the people.)

"The place is full of small shops, attorneys' offices, boarding houses, saloons, and such small affairs. One never sees the big establishments which stand everywhere in other great cities. Everybody appears to live in a small way here. In Philadelphia, as you look around at the palatial residences, and princely mansions, you wonder where the poor do dwell. In Washington, as you gaze on this vast panorama of hovels and shanties and shops, you wonder where the rich do dwell. So it is. On Pennsylvania Avenue, even, there are shanties, leaning, and ready to fall, thatched with moss and hideous as a nightmare. Remember there are forty thousand negroes here, who, of course, are generally poor, and glad to shelter under any kind of a roof, however 'shackley' it may be. Remember there are three thousand abandoned professional prostitutes, who are ready to carry on their horrid trade in any kind of a brothel. Remember there are two thousand grog-shops, mostly kept in shattered shanties. Remember ten thousand poor men are employed in the different departments, most of whom are glad to get into any kind of a tenement. Remembering these and kindred facts, and especially that few capitalists invest here, you will see why this is a city of Magnificent Shanties. Few of the people are