The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-18

time such works take ia their execution ia Europe
ryinx from five TO twenty years, and the many casts
which are often made there before perfect be
obtained, we must be surprised that Mr. Mills has sue
ceeded SO weii and performed his work in so short
time From the month OF October to the eighth oil jan
uary following, the day which the statue was inaagu-
rated--that is in less than three monlhs-Mf Mills put
the stalue together. and placed il ON It's pedestal
The design of the pedestal, and its construction was
left TO the artist The five thousand dollars appropriated
by Congress for that purpose placed at his disposal
Had the appropriation been larger. and the nne mol 90
limited. he would have made more imposing structure
II is however, plain. handsome, white marble base Tor
the group The cap stone alone weighs about eighteen
IONS The entire height OF the pedestal and mound is
about fourteen feet. 1s
During the progress OF the work, aud especially while
he was making unsuccessful castngs Mr. Mills had to
encounter the scepicism Of the world Who can appre-
cate his difficulties and mental suffering have been
ready" he says, Ito throw myself in the Potomac"
None but man OF unconquerabs will and perseverance,
could have overcome such obstacles. He had spent all
his means,hs twelve thousand dollars Of his contract
and had not finished casting the statue The world said
he would never do it, Where could he borrow money
under such circumstances There was man. MEM
Der Oi CoiHHliVce, WIN Sy"puth@eu WV" n"i' VIZ
believed in him. John w. Maury the present mayor of
Washington, advanced him money, from time to time, as
he needed-in all over four thousand dollars Eternal
honor to the man Let his citizens and future ages
know that he generously aided at the critical moment the
poor struggling artist to finish his beautiful creation Az
forwards, he work approached completion, several
other gentlemen Of the committee kindly advanced money
Messrs Blair aud Rives and Mr.. B. 3. French advanced
4 = 4 N a Al H. L.xr
for that The entire cost OF the statue has been about
nineteen thousand dollars, thousand dollars over
the contract. This il the actual expenditure, without
reckoning Mr. Mss five years labor the value of his
work as a work OF art
On the eighth of the present month, the anniversary
OF The battle of New Orleans the statue was inaugu-
rated. The day bright and beautiful. suitable to
the occasion In the presence OF the President OF the
United States, the commander chief, both houses Of
Congress- many of the personal friends and companions
in. of the Old Hero and twenty thousand peoples
the artist had the satisfaction of seeing the end OF his
labor and the idol of his soul received with appaudng
admiration The Hon Stephen A. Douglas was the
orator chosen deliver the inaugural address That ad.
dress and the whole proceedings have been published
What proud day for Mills After the GRAFTON, he
was introduced to the assembled thousands he raised
his hsad to the statue for the curtain which covered
10 fall. and his speech in response to the en-
lhusiastic plaudits 1t the moment Of his life;
then, again, he that Genius, which had inspired
him 10 action holding the laurel crown over his head
He had followed Nature" as it directed him. and
had acquired fame. Well does he deserve it. We be-
lieve-and it is also the judgment OF men OF taste, OF
travellers OF artists, and OF the public who have seen
ii-,hat Millss bronze equestrian statue OF General
Jackson Lafayette Square. is the first work Of art of
the kind in the world Erl Hsse .r..