The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1853-01-28
Extract from the Grafton

vi =, SaeRAesE''h fosa te Isaapgu.
! highest CIVILIZATION and Urea tesf -
monuments to tiieir iiiustreuS To- - ~ -
the statesman, the benefactor Of the age, thus
passes on to succeeding generations, and carries
with him the glores Of his time and the memory
of the people associated with his achievements.
Traian on his historic column illustrated to sue.
cessive generations the brilliant achievements in
the field and the wise acts in council, which i'm
parted Iusre and Immortality to his reign. Con.
stantIne, from his stored arch, for centuries has
proclaimed religious toleratIon to the humble
Christian, and proudly recounted the glorious
deeds Of his life and times. The sculpured mar.
| bic above the urns that hold their sacred ashes
deineate the animated scenes IN which their fame
was won, and command the admiration, if not
the homage, of the world. The best Of Emper.
ors, Marcus Aurelius, looks from his fiery steed
| on the realm he exaed-a group in monumental
bronze the noblest in all antiquity. 1t yet sur
wives the ruin Of his country, in sublime ma jesty
perpetuang the glories OF the man and the graft.
tude Of the Roman people arhlds degradation
to which it now impartS a hope Of regeneration.
| The statue before you S the work o! man eX-
alted by his enthusiasm for the glorious deeds and
wise acts Of hero and statesman. 1t is the
work of young, untaugh> American. | cannot
call him an artist. tie Eever studied nor copied.
! He never saw an equestrian statue, nor even a
model. 1t is the work Of inborn genius, aroused
to energy by the triumphant spirit OF liberty
which throbS in the great heart OF our c"ntncHt-
| which creates the power OF gr|a: conceptions,
! the aspiration ard the will, the mena! faculty and
! the m1nual skill, to eternize tie actors who en-
noble the country, by giving their forms and ex-
preSsions to imper;shabIe maer0ls.
Proudly may We compare to ;be equestrian
statues OF Europe that aobIe Roman figure which
preserves the form and features Of cur hero, and
J H. ~ d F-cslr
! j, .r ~ = sry thfaf ea fu,crc rr"s awe seen
r. ii"easions oi ia" ~qBesftfn sa.ucs OF Peter tho
'1rrat. OF Fgadrr'c fitn Gteat, and 0f the Duke
! ot Wellington which are eseemcd, b"iieve the
! 6rst specimens o. hat description Of sculpture
tla: modern Europe has been able ~ contribute
/ to Icr collection If works OF art. The horse oi
! he great Gar Is Supported in lis rampant posi-.
! ton by resting the hind feet with The a'd oi
! the UnSiahIy COn:rivancc OF extending between
| is legs a serpent, which, by Le0d III the body
connects with The tail Of the soed and Is fastened
! TO The pedestal. That of the great Prussan
monarch, designed to appear in mnton, has one
| loot before and another behind 10 he pedestal. a
third lifted and supported by prop To assist in
sustaining the weight and bn one left free to give
| the semblance Of life and movement. The rear
| ing steed Of The Duke of Wellington, like that oi
/ Peter the Great maintains its rampant position
! by the hind legs and tail beng riveeG % the mas
slve pedestal. What wonderful triumph has
our untaught coun.rvman achieved over tlsrse re-
nowned trophies OF European art in the hot and
! fiery churger before you, IeapiEg " so proudly as
if he disdaned the ground" self-poised and self
sustained on the single point whence he derives
his motion No props, no serPents, no unnatural
contrvances, are here. Mature. which has taugh
| the mpetuous steed TO poise his weight and gather
his strength to spring into the air, has given the
genius which fastened this group the power tt
mpart grace and energy to the finely -balanceC
attitude, which makes the weight that Others proI
and hold up by rivets, furnish TO the work ii
strength and stability.