Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-11-23
MISCEXL NY.
NATIVE GENIUS IN THE WEST.

A young sculptor is Just coming INTO
notice at Cincinnati, whose history il
somewhat curious, aud who really pro
misses, we are told by good judges. to be
one OF the wonders Of the aud-The
hrst discovery of his talent has an air of
romance about it. 1t happened thus:-
There is gentleman OF Cincinnati by
the name Of Thomas. He is the proori.
etor OF the Evening Post, and the father
OF remarkably intelligent aud estimable
family one Of his sons wrote "Clin,on
Bradshaw" East aud West" and a
great variety Of works; another of them
mas produced several poems, plays, and
0ther evidences Of talent. The elder
Mr. Thomas, about two years ago. hap
Pehcd to be passing stone-cu,ters shop
IN Cincinnati. Just as he was seeking a
place where ne might spread out some
papers relating to business which he was
explaining TO person by his side. Stop"
said the compartment see slab ofstone
IN that shop which will do just as we'll
as table or desk-wc need not go
step farther there's no need of our trou-
bling an office for our purpose" A
young mxn was working on a tomb stone
as they entered. lnswceping past him.
.ae attention of MIR. Thomas was acct
dentslly caught by device the young
man was chiselling on the stone. TWAS
the presentation, about the size OF the
palm OF hand. oil the prophet Elijah !;
and so remark able for lis classic contour
and chronological correctness, that Mr..
Thomas exclaimed, almost unconscious
ly-" Young man, you can do better
bdsincss than cutting tomb stones. Turn
Z your attention to s,atuary. You have
been made for a sculptor" A few days
after MIR. Thomas had bundled up his
papers and gone his wey, abe young man
ut The stone-cutte1's recuJfed 70 his mem
ory and he went back TO the workshop
10 seek him out, andto make some in
luiries concerningAim. lie discovered
that he had served an apprenticeship TO
stone-cutter Of that city that he was
then RAID twenty, and that his name
was Clevepger. Mr.. Thomas examined
other specimens OF his work, and being
more and MOI thoroughly impressed
with his qeraus, be wrote an earnest no.
.ice off, mich he published in his Even
ino PIT. The artists ambition was A.
,u'Ssened. Many called to see his w ork,.
they created universal iaterest. A week
or two afterwards Clcveneer called on
MIR. Thomas. He desired his recon-.
nender TO sit for bust. The request
was granted. Perfect secrecy was OBJ
served. The bust was first modelled in
clay. 1t was seen by few, and the
likeness pronounced perfect. 1t was
next cut III stone, and any one who had
ever had glance at the original, would
at one recognise its accuracy. Itwas the
first stone bust ever made west OF the
Alleghauics and, what is stranger still,
the first that the maker of it had ever
seen at all. 1t was soon discovered that
this extraordinary young man had never
been two hundred miles from the spot
where he was discovered, and crowds
presently hocked to witness the wonder.
The artist worked on at other busts.
lie studied drawing and anatomy most
nssfdnously. He read every thing relat-
ing 10 his art, which had now become
the mistress Of his love, the goddess Of
his alteration. Up to this time he has
executed seven or eight other busts I'm
stone, each succeeding one being better
than ITS predecessor. Among them are
inose oil Zen Harrison and Judge Burnett.
lie has besides numerous models Of 9th.
ers. and among them very excellent ones
ofDr- Eberle and Henry Clay.