THE ART OF INSCRIPTION.
[To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR.")
have read with much interest the letter from " Ignotus " on the art of inscription in your issue of April 16th. He quotes with deserved approval President Eliot's inscription for the French cemetery at Souain in memory of Henry Weston Farnsworth, of Dedham, Mass., and his associates of the Foreign Legion who fell there in the Champagne offensive of 1915. It occurs to me that some of your readers may care to read President Eliot's inscription on the monument to Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, of the 54th (Colored) Massachusetts In- fantry, who was killed while leading the assault on Fort
Wagner on July 18th, 1863. This noble memorial by St. Gaudens stands on the top of Beacon Hill directly opposite the State House in Boston, Mass. The inscription follows:— TO THE FIFTY-FOURTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
REGIMENT INFANTRY.
THE WHITE OFFICERS TAKING LIFE AND HONOR IN THEIR HANDS CAST IN THEIR LOT WITH MEN OF A DESPISED RACE UNPROVED IN WAR AND RISKED DEATH AS INCITERS OF SERVILE INSURRECTION IF TAKEN PRISONERS BESIDES ENCOUNTERING ALL THE COMMON PERILS OF CAMP MARCH AND BATTLE.
THE BLACK RANK AND FILE VOLUNTEERED WHEN DISASTER CLOUDED THE UNION CAUSE • SERVED WITHOUT PAY FOR EIGHTEEN MONTHS TILL GIVEN THAT OF WHITE TROOPS • FACED THREATENED ENSLAVEMENT IF CAPTURED • WERE BRAVE IN ACTION • PATIENT UNDER HEAVY AND DANGEROUS LABORS • AND CHEERFUL AMID HARDSHIPS AND PRIVATIONS.
TOGETHER THEY GAVE TO THE NATION AND THE WORLD UNDYING PROOF THAT AMERICANS OF AFRICAN DESCENT POSSESS THE PRIDE COURAGE AND DEVOTION OF THE PATRIOT SOLDIER • • ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THOUSAND SUCH AMERICANS ENLISTED UNDER THE UNION FLAG IN M•D•C•C•C•LXIII—M•D•C•C•C•L%V President Eliot's skill in this form of writing is nowhere better seen than in some of his presentations to honorary
degrees when he was President of Harvard University. I quote some presentations used at Harvard University on Commence- ment Day, 1907, in conferring the honorary degree of LL.D. on Paul Vinogradoff; Elihu Root, then Secretary of State, who had recently paid an official visit to the leading countries of South America; Lord Bryce, then Mr. James Bryce, just beginning
his notable service as British Ambassador to the United States; M. Jusserand, then, as he happily still is, Ambassador of France in Washington; the Duke of the Abruzzi :—
"Paul Vinogradoff, lately Professor of History in the Uni- versity of Moscow, since 1903 Professor of Jurisprudence in Oxford University, distinguished student of social and legal institutions. May this call of a Russian jurist to an English University presage a clear call of the Russian people on English experience of constitutional government.
Elihu Root, lawyer, jurist, statesman, Secretary of War for four years and a-half, now for two years Secretary of State, a diplomatist who represents not a dynasty or a cabinet, but a people, an envoy of good faith and good will among the nations. James Bryce, British Ambassador to the United States, best expounder of the principles and practices of the American democracy, intimate friend and servant of two kindred peoples that have now made up their minds to stand together for freedom, peace, and law throughout the world.
Jean Jules Jusserand, professional republican diplomat from youth, eminent man of letters who chose his subjects from English social and literary history, Ambassador of France at Washington, to whom and through whom the American people would gladly express their obligation to the genius of the French people, under monarchy, empire, and republic alike.
Luigi Amecleo, Prince of Savoy and Duke of the Abruzzi, naval officer, navigator, bold explorer of Arctic seas, African tropics and Alaskan peaks, illustrating in this generation the adventurous, stout-hearted quality of his ancient family and the still more ancient Italian race."
Harvard Club of New York City, 27 West 44th Street.
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