The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-10-10
FIRST In WAR
FIRST IN WAR,
FIRST IN PEACE,
FIRST IN TIE HEARTS OF
HIS COUNTRYbfEN

FIRST IN THE HEARTS OF
HIS CoUNTRYMEN.
If upright, the statue would be about l2
feet hig h, and this will give you full idea
of its gigantic dimensions. The immortal
Father Of his country is represented with
his right arm stretched out and raised from
the elbow, and his hand pointing will, the
forefinger to heaven, and with his left arm,
also outstretched, and grasping Roman
sword, with the handle from the person. and
the point towards the breast of the holder.
The head is bare, save the profu>l"n OF
lair which covers it, and so are thc arms
and the upper part Of the body. Ti.c COS
tune Is classical, hanging or flowing down
from the left shoulder, and covering the
lower half of the person to the ancles and
sandaled feet. The richly sculpturcd seat
of the immortal occupant is adorned with
has relief figures of Columbus on one side,
and that of an Indian chief on the other,
with various emblematic devices, such as
the rising sun, in orient glory, the crest of
our national armor, the infant Hercules
straDging the Serpent, with several others,
which do not now recollect. regret
that neither my memory nor the guide book
serve me as to the other Inscriptions and
embellishments, SO as TO enable me to give
mnuter description of this great work Of
genius and art. One Of the inscriptions is
the name Of Washington, and another is in
Latin, commencing "Hoc simulacrum," and
recording the name Of the artist, and the
date and history of the work A foreign
writer has said of it: "Notling can be
more human, and at the same time more
Godlike, than this statue of Washington.
1t is sort of Jupiter and indeed it does
remind one forcibly of him, WHO shook
Olympus with his nod" The Washing
ton Guide Book remarks at is greatly
admired BY those most familiar with the
great works Of art in Italy, and is growing
in reputation with the public"
The gifted and accomplished Everett, in
congeniai admiration of such triumph of
art, as we'll as in just discrimination of its
exalted merits, says: ave regard Mr..
Greenough's Washington as one of tho
greatest works Of sculpture of modern times.
We do not know the work that can Justly
be preferred to it, whether we consider the
purity of the taste, the loftiness Of the COT.
ception the truth of the character or the
r = accuracy of anatomical study and
mechanical skill. Had it been the work of
Conova, Chantrey or Thorswalien, it would
have been deemed, we doubt not, worthy Of
either Of those artists. Nay, we are per-
snaded, If, instead Of being statue Of
Washington, it had been statue of Julius
Cesar or Alexander tho Great-if, instead
of coming from studio of young Ameri-
can, of the present day, with all its freshness
upon it, it bad been dug in the ruins of the
baths Of Titus, or the villa Of Adrian, shat:
tered and mutiated, arms, legs, nose and
even head gone, stained and corroded, when
it had been scraped and smeared together,
furnished with modern extremities, and per-
haps head Of doubtful authenticity, and
thus restored, had been set up in the V8t-
can or the Tribune, it would have been
deemed rs true piece Of sculpture as any
there.
srhis grand work is one Of single piece
Of marble, not Of pure white, which it is i'm.
possible to procure, in masses Of sufficient
size for such q statue, without stains, fatal
TO its beauty, but Of blush tinge, highly
favorable to the effect Of work Of art The
marbles Of this kind are now preferred for
works Of tliis description ','f'
Such tribute as this, from a kindred
and. coequal genius ,in' smother line, is e.
nough Of itsef to set the seal of Immortality
e@ fss s,ssssts%s as|as sssf .,,,., !.
intended not to commemorative any single
action, Lin tbe illgstyiaus eatser, military and
civil. ct on, mo ) was ss, ,gapa as he sras
llEsa. IN ese'y, department dspPsfsEmgaea end sslaliea o