A MONUMENT TO ADAM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 179, 21 August 1909, Page 4

A MONUMENT TO ADAM.

SHAFT ERECTED IX IIOXOR OF FIRST MAX.

Believing that it is better late than never, Mr. John P. Brady, an American contractor and builder, Ims had erected at his country home, Hickory Grounds, near Gardenville, a monument to the memory of Adam, the first man.

Mr. Brady ifi a student of Maryland history as well <as of theology and world history, and he is glad that he has paid this tribute to Adam at this time, for he wishes to claim for Maryland the honor 1 of erecting the first formal memorial to the first man on earth. Mr. Brady has of late seen so many persons raised to eminence in s'uch short order that he began to grieve for the memory of Adam.' The fear that Theodore Roosevelt would get a niche in the Hall of Fame before a place had been found for Adam made Mr. Brady realise that no time was to be lo*t.

After spending much thought upon designs for the i:: »:. • .. . Mr. Brady came to the conc.usion that nothing could be more fitting than a plain, square shaft of concrete surmounted by a sundial. Ho superintended the eons'truction of the shaft himself, and engaged Mr. C. L. Wooley. a local dial expert, to erect the dial. Mr. Brady thinks that nil nations and all nee? and all tongues should be represented at the dedication. He wishes to avoid tlic confusion of tongues referred to in the Hible, and so has decided lo serve unripe persimmons to all who

r'-semhle for the ceremony, Xo elTort will be taken to make the event exclusive. Xo certificates of direct descent will be required. Without saving that ladies would not be admitted. Mr. Brady wishes the occasion to be distinctly masculine. lie has ;io intention at anv time to erect a monument to Eve. lie said emphatic* ally that lie would not erect such a monument himself uoy contribute to any s.ich memorial.

The monument bears two panels, on the one of which is inscribed

[ TTITS THE FIRST 1 I SHAFT IX AMERICA | | IS DEDfCATED |

and on the 'other, directly opposite—

I TO | I | I THE FIRST MAX. I i 1

In the circular form surrounding the

s'linlial is Mic Latin quotation. "Sic trail•it gloria mundi." Translated into EngIMi 'it would read, "vSo pnss'es the gb»ry of the world. r \

Mr. Brady, who saw si reporter rccentiv. said: "After all. there is no serious reason why there should not have been thousands of memorials to Adam. Some of us may blame him for the misfortune* which we get in this world, hut fotf of «-• wish thai \v» had not iippn lironirlit ft was kind of Adam to come lie naved tlie way and should he accorded that homage which we ]mv to nioueers in all fields. There seems to hi' glory enough to go around for everyone who ever did anvthing. a-id manv monument* Mid othe r tributes have been paid to men who never did anything.

somTinxu of a hero. *'Tt -has made me feel sad to see every public eomniittee or board leave il* names on tlie public buildings of lh:» '•ifw We cannot have a, new school building without the hrig list of tlie ! f-Vhool Board, the Knilding Committee, and an endless array of other name-? Miniated riofht out on the front to nun' if* -beauty for ever. If it u so ea*v to '"•t oneV name graven in stone. 1 thought, it wn« hiqh lime Adam had -'omeMmig to show for having been here. Adam 'had •*» pretty bard time of ?t. He wis ..coniethm? of a hero after all. Just tank of H—to bo here on this big earth. ue 4 a mini TCvc came, and then JJ1 —From Titbits,