Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-09-23
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

immediate neighborhood Of the Capitoi,
number of artists are now at work, rendering
in marble exact copies of plaster models, the
result of the genius of our distinguished coun'
tryman, Crawford, the sculptor
Prominent among these models Is the Geniu:
of America, represented as female of giant
proportions her dress, not hoped, but loose
and flowing; nor is her waist wasp like, undo,
the assumed compression of corset! He,
breathing apparatus being free from exterio,
pressure, she exhibits in her countenance nc
symptoms Of pain from obstructed respiration.
Her starry robe is carelessly hanging from tn.
shoulder. On her right are sunrays, and on
her left the famous bird, the name of which
is Eagle, with q plentiful supply Of darts in
his talons, as threat or warning to those
who may offend the liberty of which he is An
emblem. In such an event, should the provo
cation come from q foreign foe, he would find
republican legions to assist him with the most
approved military pyrotechnics. This figure
of the Genius Of America, with its embellish.
msnts, is for the centre Of the tympanum.
A figure is to represent War; not in the
Roman. costume, as of him who is seen in q
niche on the eastern portico, grasping sword
but in the dress of Continental officer. He
has his hand upon the hilt of his long knife,
as much as to say. off 1 draw it shall
fling away the scabbard, and at once go
in for hard fghting." Such is the expires.
sion of the countenance as I" done" in marble,
according to our reading of it. We must con-
graduate the artist on giving his model re-
spectacle physiognomy-and not a visage
which might be mistaken for that of bandit.
The face expresses earnestness, or determine.
ton, such as was becoming our patriotic fore
fathers
Commerce is another good figure. A thought
full, venerable, "stGid and steady" looking
gentleman is seated on bale well-roped in
his right hand is roll-which, if unfurled,
would, probably reveal the fact that our tom
mage and number of trading vessels exceed
those of any other nation of the world-his left
hand rests on globe, which has another bale
as its base. Near this are two small bags,
one numbered 80 900, and the other IS, 900;
and as if to convey an indisputable fact as to
their contents, one of them has burst from
the inside pressure. The wand of Midas would
not have been amiss, had it been convenient
to US, to tIansmute the marble money into the
auriferous substance.
The Mechanic is represented reclining as if
to rest himself from the fatigue of his honest
toll. A wheel is near him, to typify machinery,
while he holds in his hand a hammer. His
sleeves are rolled up, exhibiting a profusion
of muscle, and his face expresses honesty, and
contentment Of mind in fact, fair develop
ment of that indispensable class of commu-
nifty.
The Woodman is incorporated in the artistic
programme, and there are many good points
about the statue. 1t seems to be generally
thought that he has made his cuts rather too
high up the trunk but this apparent defect
may vanish after it shall have been placed in
Its appropriate place, and viewed from point
more favorable to the effect designed. That
" venomous sarpint" rearing its saucy head
near the aforesaid trunk is in danger of being
injured!
Of the larger figures, there are TO be an In
dian Chief, Hunter, and an Indian Family
The Schoolmaster-an institution essential
to republicsnism and good government-is
here seen, &C teaching the young idea how to
shoot; in other words, instructing the pretty
little fellow from book. The tutor has his
arm around the waist of his pupil, which in
dieates kindness and affection. The cowhide
and lash, and dunce-cap, are not visible
These are abandoned to more refined and mer-
ciful instructors The idea is teaching, not
fagellation and Juvenile modification
Two Youths appear in the expressive mar.
BILE. The smaller carries q book under his
arm, while his companion delights him with
bright pictures of the future, pointing away,
as if to encourage the listening Juvenile.
There is no " show" whatever of the whisky
bottle, brickbats, clubs, and other emblems of
rowdyism in connection with these young gen.
tlemen.
In addition, there are other marble and
plaster figures in the workshops; among them
tho head and shoulders Of an Indian; an IL.
dian woman resting water basin on her bend
ed knee; male Indian with a similarly con-
s.ructed vessel on his shoulders, sinking under
its weight and making a crooked face sheavs.
Of wheat, etc.
We learned, on inquiry, that the workmsn
comprise natives of Switzerland, Ireland,
America, Germany and Italy. They make
exact copies in marble of the plaster models !;
business which requires extreme care and
a steady hand.
Political In genuity For months previous
to the late so'called Wing National Conven-
ton, our neighbor, the Intsiiigencer, was in
dense fog, and to such degree was the
vision of the editor obfuscated that he could
see nothing whatsoever 1" attractive" in any
one Of the three political parties on the con.
trary, there was more to "repulse " But the
convention, composed Of political doctors, pro.
vided remedy for the defective eyesigbt