The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-06-22
.1t st From tho buffalo Express,
DI Hiss Equestrian statue Of jackson.


In the June number OF Hapers Magazine there occurs
communication from Mail Contractor, crilicisng,
among other matters sen by the writer at The federal
city, this work of art The correspondent a gentleman
OF play full mind, and faceous enough on subjects which
he compreh ends has fallen, however, upon one which
nature education has not fitted him to thoroughly
deIsand at present. and he should, therefore, have
fined himself TO detailing the sufficiently well-told incl
dents connected with the rush for office, which envened
the few weeks OF his stay in Washington
We do not intend entering into description or de-
fence OF Mss statue the former has been done for
hundred times, and the latter is not needed
lar the correction OF errors is always desirable. But
writer has evinced much ignorance of the subject,
and has done SO much injustice TO the artist, that
not hesitate 10 lay before readers some statements
that may exhibit at once the carelessness OF the
pondent and the nsuciency OF the charges brought by
him
In the first place he finds fault with the color of the
bronze and paronlzngly speaks of The work as being
highly credable as first specimen of heavy bronze
casting in This country" Does "a Contractor know that
all bronze statues or bronze work OF this color when
late iamented Downing must have been OF the
before they arlcially oxidized The process is
well known TO workers in the metals and is very simple
Ii Miiis's intention thus 10 treat the Jackson, but
want OF time prevented his doing this, or perna
Denty securing the feet 10 The PEDESTAL the latter itse
incomplete al the inauguration The statue actually
STOOD when FIRST exposed to the view Of the thousands
that day assembled, by It's fbalancing power stay
support having been given TO the feet and yet the uni
ted force OF several men was insufficient 10 sway or stir
II from lis centre of gravity.
AS for The cooring that can be done al any moment,
the elements may be left 10 perform the work
they have already done for The pensSe Jefferson The
way-as they do constantly for neglected bronze guns,
and sometimes, as "A Contractor may have noticed, for
the copper buckles upon harness the handles of post
coach doors, where the silver plating is worn of But,
lest 1t should be deemed important that The color should
be changed TO the orthodox green at advise the
Commissioner Of Public Buildings 10 invcs, few shl
lngs in sal ammonisc and procure few buckets OF
water, which, together with VIII ewash brush, will
be all the capital necessary to the undertaking OF turning
the old hero rusty.
But the statue is balanced upon its hinder feet. the
forward ones being projected in the attitude OF paving
the air, while the rider calmly extends bis hands, hold
ing the chapeau IN aiutaon 10 The troops he is snppos
ell to be wing Our Contracior thinks the placing
the horse IN this position ian Americansm-a paIpable
and unfortunate evidence OF the way in which graft
our everyday mechanism even upon The highest order OF
ART" and exclams "a horse upon two legs 70 with much
the same horror that might parayze my Lord Verisopht
on seeing slawan Yankee eat corn from the
Yes, dear "Centracor," with all due Difference TO your
iour horse post coach service and the experience you
may have had in siock, bronze horses do sometimes
stand upon their hinder feet, however nconvenient
continuance Of that attitude gh be found in your bust.
ness Ever iInce the art OF casting an bronze became
such, artsts have sriyen 10 overcome the difficulties
the way oil balancing equestrian statues in such way
as thai the spirit and fire of the animal might act at
ae io and an accessory 10 tue calmness and self
session ofhe nde The first approach TO this made by
Faco IN bis statue of Peter the Great al ST Peersbursh
wherein the horse stands upon his hinder feet but is
partially supported by serpent, whiting beneath the
oh hind one Chat comes home 10 your business and
bosom, Mr.. "Contracor.") and with lis body carried
way oil lne morse. men BACK 10 meet the
tip OF the tail, which is attached TO the serpent This
was great triumph for Falcot, and the world OF
rang with The plaudIts that be received the echo of
which died away probably, before reached the sphere
where "dsiy mails" and schedule time" form the chief
topics OF conversation From the date OF The erection OF
The statue, in 1884, we believe, down to the year 1851,
no attempt had been made TO equal Facors mastery per-
ornance, but in that year or The succeeding one,
equestrian statue OF the Dnke Of Wellington was erected
IN Edinburgh, where the horse, rearing is supported by
he TWO ieet and the tip OF his tail fixed TO the pedestal,
IN position which living horse, with ordinary
cies could assume so hat before Mills, Falcot still
stood rs the most successful arts, the line that had
excited the ambition OF Hundreds before him. Bot the
English papers have teemed with praises of the Elin-
bugh srist who, though he bad violated the rules OF
anatomy, bad still produced result that 80 long
desired and never attained. Now we have Mss stat.
ne, balanced exactly, and "A Contractor" eommseraies
the atUiiy that has led American to rival and surpass
the artists OF Europe in particular ha, hundreds Of years
have not suhced them to attain
This Is an Arpercanism-aGd we rather like Il Would
10 Heaven we had more such, and less Washngtons in
iogas, Coumbuses rolling pins, and Indian
p,ris. whom any Seneca squaw would blush 10 hear
iermea aboriginal
But there stands the Jackson challenging The criticism
OF the world Its history that OF great works in
this country Trace any of them back TO orsn, and
you shall hnd al the beginning, poor boy struggling
the opposition of the world, but with steady eye
upon some object lar away 10 hm-further yet 10 those
whose vision has ambitious stretch Against poverty
and the want OF means TO reach that end against the
adverse buHeings OF scorn and rdIcue and reproach
against misfortune IN its des forms and dsappoinents
ending almost 10 despair, he punges on, and falers not
inbl his labor Is complete. So has been with CLARK
Mills. the paserer's boy, and may il be with all
such Americans and Americansms"
g. w IL