Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1853-02-01

sider the lepgth of time such works take intheir
execution in Europe, varying from i've to, ,twen-
" vears.and The many casts which are often made
there before a perfect one can be obtained, we
must be surnrised that Mt. Mills has succeeded
80 well, and performed his work in so shOltsa
time. From the montho October to eighth ol
of January following, the day on which the stat
ue was inaugurated-that Is, IN less than three
months-Mr Mills put the statue togetheTI and
placed it on it's pedestal:
The design of the pedestal, and It's constEuc
ton, was lett to the artist. The $4,000 appro.
prated by Congress for that purpose, was placed
at his disposal. Had the appropriation been lar
ger, and time not SO limiteds he would have made
a more imposing structure: 1t is however, a
plain, handsome, white, marble base for the group.
The capstone alone weighs about eighteen tons.
The entire height OF the pedestal and mound Is
about fourteen ieet.
During the progress ofthe work, and especial
" while he was making unsuccessful castings,
Mr.. Mills had to encounterthe skepticism OF the
world. Who can appreciate his difficulties and
mental suffering7 "I havs been ready" he says
to throw myself in the PStpmac. None but a
man of uncomfortable viii and perseverance
could have overcome such obstacles. He had
had spent all his means-the SI2, 600 of his con-
traCt-and had not finished casting the statue.
The world said he would never do it. Where
could he borrow money under such circumstan-
ces? There was one ma0 a member Ofthe COm'
miItee who sympathized with him, who believed
in him. John w. Maury, the present Mayor OF
Washington, advanced him money, from time to
time, as he needed-in all over $4,000. Eternal
honor to the man! Let his fellow citizens and fu-
ture ages know that he generously aided, at the
critical moment, the pOor struggling artist to fin
ish his beautiful creation. Afterwards, as the
work approached completion several other gen
tlemen Of the committee kindly advanced money.
Messrs. Blair and Rives, and Mr. b. Il. French
advanced several hundred dollars each. Let
them too, be houored for that. The entire cost of
the statue has been aboIt 8 900 ,or 900 over
the contract. This is the actual expenditure.
without reckoning Mr.. Mills five years labor,
or the value ofhis work as work of art.
On the 9Th of the present month, the anniver-
sary of the battle Of New Orleans, the statue was
naugurated. The day was bright and beautiful,
suitable to the OCCASION In the presence OF the
President of the United States, the Commander
in Chief, both Houses Of Congress, many of the
personal friends and companions narms of the
Old Hero, and twenty thousand people, the artist
had the satisfaction Of seeing the end of his labor
and the idol ofhis soul received with applaudng
admiration. The Hon. Stephen A. Douglas was
the orator chosen to deliver the inaugural address,
That address and the whole proceedings have
been published What Il proud day for Mills?-
After the oration, he was introduced to the assem-
bled thousands; he raised his hand to the statue
for the curtain which covered it to fall, and as
his speech in response to the enthusiastic PIau-
dts. 1t was the moment of his life; then, again,
he saw the Genius, which had inspired him to
action, holding the laurel crown over his head.
He had "foIIowed Nature" it directed him,
and had acquired fame. Well does lie deserve
it. We beIieve-and it is also the judgment of
men Of taste, OF travellers, of artists, and of the
public who have seen t-that MiIls's bronze
equestrian statue of Gen. Jackson, in Lafayette
square, is the first work of art of the kind in the
NNnrlh.