12 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
GENERAL VIEW OF THE SEDGWICK MEMORIAL ROSTRUM, STOCKBRIDGE, MASS. 
Daniel C. French and Augustus Lukeman, Scs. 
UNIQUE MEMORIAL FOR AN IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY 
One of the most novel and interesting memorials in the 
country, both by reason of its purpose and its impressive 
natural setting, is the Sedgwick memorial “Rocky Rostrum,” 
erected by the Laurel Hill Improvement Association at Stock- 
bridge, Mass. 
The Laurel Hill Association, the oldest in the country for 
the encouragement of forestry, the preservation of trees and 
shrubs, and promoting other ideals of village improvement, 
was in the habit of holding open air meetings around a little 
rostrum in front of a great granite boulder estimated to weigh 
over ten tons, and Mr. Daniel C. French was requested to 
design a rocky seat and platform for this natural auditorium, 
with the boulder for a species of sounding-board. From Mr. 
French’s careful little model, Augustus Lukeman built dp the 
rustic rostrum, selecting and arranging the field boulders to 
construct the platform, the steps leading up to it, and the 
upright monolith which serves as a reading desk, for which 
Mr. French designed the bronze ornaments which support 
the leafy wreaths that adorn it when the association meets. 
Behind it on the platform is a large stone seat for the pre- 
siding officer and the distinguished speakers, bearing an ap- 
propriate Latin inscription in bronze letters; and Mr. Luke- 
man’s bronze tablet, of which we give a reproduction from a 
photograph, appears on the front of the platform. The peo- 
ple sit around among the trees of the grove, as in ancient 
times; and these annual occasions are freqently made matters 
of much more than state importance. At that of last year, 
the orators included such notables as ex-Ambassador Choate 
and Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte. The association’s ap- 
peal for popular subscriptions to defray the cost of erection 
of this forum among the bills was promptly met by the pub- 
lic spirited citizens. 
BRONZE TABLET ON SEDGWICK MEMORIAL ROSTRUM. 
Augustus Lukeman, Sc. 
