The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-14

iron the colnntus (ohio) statesman, Oct 81.
MR.. POWERS.


early career OF this distinguished artist, whose ge
MUS does 30 much honor 10 his native land. We
wish we could furnish full history Of the more
recent and successful portion OF HIS life, embracing
his course TO eminence among the sculptors Of the
Old World, all Of whom admit his claims TO the
highest order Of excellence in his great art
Mr.. Powers returned 10 this country in the Hi
hernia, few days since. We hope that our gov
eminent will avail itself Of his services in any work
of art the execution Of which may be contemplated
We are among the warmest advocates OF proper
encouragement 10 "home industry" and we think
that home genius is quite az important. a poohc
work from the hands of the great western artist
for such he ls--would be honorable alike TO him
and to the government.
HIRAM POWERS. THE SCULPTOR.
BY S. roRKE ArLEE
Hiram, the son Of Stephen Powers, is the eighth
OF nine children and was born the 9th Of June,
1907, at w Woodstock, in the State Of Vermont. His
youth was passed, with his village companions, in
the alternate nbors of the farm and school house.
Like other boys, he fond Of fun and fights, but
always evnced an inveterate preference for the
former. He was engaged in great many freaks,
wherein he was az often follower as leader, and
which the biography Of every schoolboy could ex-
hibit; therefore will not stop to expaate them.
An eloquent pen has already deliberately immortal
lied this part of his history; and, il reference he
made to the last number Of the Knickerbocker, the
Will ulOrcut dIppcuT vic
however, is very certain Powers, during his resi-
dence in Woodstock, evinced no special predilec-
ton for the art Of sculpture, saving so far as fond
ness for sketching rude caricatures may be con-
eidered. Some jets Of mechanical ingenuity were
displayed in the construction Of miniature saw
mills, and in an improved method Of casting pewter
guns. For his skill in the latter department, the
boys of thai day voted him public benefactor; and
his fame therein is still preserved in the fresde ira
ditions Of the parish housewives.
In 1919, Hrams father immgfated to this State,
and settled on farm about six miles from Cincin-
natl. Ohio welcomed young Powers as son
whom she particularly loved; and chastened him,
for about two years, with an ague fierce enough to
shake a common mans bones out of their sockets.
On recovery, he went to live with his brother, a
lawyer in Cincinnati; with whom he sojoured
about year, going to school, coming the rndi-
ments Of the Latin tongue, and now and then, just
for the fun Of the thing, opening Coke upon Little
ton. These easy times, however, could last no
longer; the res augusta doni urged him to get a
livelihood for himself His first enterprise was at the
suggestion ofthe keeper Of theprincpal hotel in Gin
cinnat The landlord proposed the establishment of
reading room appropriated an apartment in his tav-
ern for this purpose, and promised Hiram decent
support, II he would act as overseer thereof Moth
ing could please the boy more; and he fell in with
the scheme with all the enthusiasm Of seventeen.
In few days, behold him in his Office; and we can
easily imagine the glance of complacent authority
WHiSH hc, SvCt uItt tHIcW TOuHu uIS iUefhry
domain. He was never off his post, and always on
hist guard. When the paper came, he was the first
TO take it from the hands Of the carrier; and with
what an air OF graiifed dignity did he lock the file
over II, and spread out the damp sheet, smoothly,
with both his hands! He was restessly vigilant
and many were the mortified wights whom his
quick eye detected in the Of directing their pred
atory pcnknives towards some favorite article in
gazette. But, alas! change came DER the spirit Of
his dream Clothes cannot last forever and his, no
doubt, were hurried into premature dissolution by
The continued agitation Of his frame. Rents thrent
ened 10 appear in divers parts Of his habiments
and excessive and peremptory demands were con.
tinually made on his ingenuity to preserve the in
tegrity Of the cracking fabric. His patron affected
not to notice his embarrassments and the decent sup
port was like Lord Lackand's estate, neither here nor
there. He was permitted, indeed, TO take the crumbs
which fell from his palron's table, but he began
then, first TO know f5s
9TH opprcssors wrong, the proud mans contumely.
The insolcnce OF office. and the spurns
That patient merit Of the unworthy takes"
There is nothing strange inthese adventures, MOI
has he alone experienced them; 80 let ns pass on
merely concluding with good.humored sentence
we have heard him use in reference to this part OF
his hstory--"I was forced to leave that place, as
my clothes and shoes were fast leaving me-
Powers then was taken into employment by
Messrs. Heating & Bell, traders in -four, salt, DC
We, in the West, term such traders produce mer-
chants. With them be remained some time, and
then transferred himself TO Mr.. Lumnn Watson,
who was engaged in similar line Of business. In
short time, however, MIR. Watson sold of his
stock Of produce, and invested his capital in
clock and organ factory. During the recess, Pow
ers was sent on q collecting excursion through the
country. On his return, a mutual attachment hav-
ing already taken place between his employer and
himself, he became clock maker and organ
builder
His new employment suited him; and Mr.. Wat
son has often spoken to me of his surprise at the
aptitude, industry, and skill of his young workman.
In very short time, Powers became Tie first ma
chanlst in the factory whether theoretical pract
cal. Whatever he touched, he improyed and when
ever he could take the liberty his ,rork always sur
passed the pattern We have several organs in this
city, whose melody his genius has enriched Pow
ers never, M has been stated, made an entire or
gan. He did, however, make an improvement in
what is called the reed stop, which, by his nvel,-
ton, can now be tuned by the mere turning of a
scretU.
Il was some time in 1896, and while he was still
with Mr.. Watson, that Powers was first conscious
OF penchanf for sculpture. Lafayette had visited
Cincinnati; and Mr.. Eckstein, resident artist of
this city, was occupied in modelling the bust Of .sthe
nations guest" All Powers'a leisure time was
spent in Eckstein's studio; and, in the course of
desultory conversation his grande passion was ex-
cited and directed: BY the time the bust was fn-
ished, MIR. Eckstein was so well satisfied with his
pupils proficiency, that he inrusted him 10 cast the
bust from the model, which was done with his un-
qualified approval. Mr.. Powers, at the same time,
also cast, from the models Of the same artist the
busts Of Clinton and Jackson. OF this gentleman
Mr.. Powers received some instruction in the
French language, and about twenty lessons in
drawing.
Mr.. Powers now began to try his own hand at
modelling in his own room; and his first efforts
werc to animate the dull clay with the beauty Of
Miss Assess and Miss Fs-ss, whe, at that time,
were pretty little schoolgirls. The model OF
Miss A. was destroyed by himself in a fit Of
Juror brsrs A certain brother artist stepped in,
one day, in his absence, and Of his own free will
and accord, but no doubt at the instgation Of the
Devil, proceeded to give the model few extra
touches AT sight Of the proclamation, Powers
was enraged. A kind Of paternaI respect, howev-
or, kept him silent before the aggressor; but so
soon as he bad departed, he deliberately demosh-
ed that which he could not but look upon thcreaf-
ter, rather as memento Of sacrilege than 'the inn
age and likeness' of female loveIiness and beauty
The cast from the model of Miss r. have seen,
ana It IS an exact verisimtude Of the fair original
IL has, however, never been finished. When re-
member, too that il was the first atfenont n conId