The Portland daily press., 1863-12-19
COMMUNICATIONS.
The American Capitol in 1863.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. Is, 1868.

WASHINGTON, ". u, Dec. 10, lSO3.
To the Edfforef the Press:
The thirty-fve years since 1898 have left
their impress no less upon our national monu-
ments than upon the nation. Then, the snug,
compact building, where Calhoun and Web
ster fought the same battles which Lee and
Grant are fighting now, stood complete, per-
feet 10 every part. Now, the nation has grown
till the narrow halls OF those former years can
no longer contain its representatives, and the
Capitol like the Nation passes daily from
stage to stage of visible transition. Like the
nation, 1t begins TO have significant history.
1t Is no longer dull, unnleaning pile of SYM
metrical marble, east In the narrow mould OF q
single brain, but has suffered growth and
change with the changing generations Of men,
and even low rises in new and unforeseen
beauty from the confusion of brick and stone
which lies heaped around it. The great dome
was an aiterthought, imperatiyely demanded
by the two extensions, which have nearly
doubled the length Of the building, and would
have made il a row instead of a building, un-
less thus counterbalanced. II Is plain to See
that the light portico was not designed TO
support this dome; and yet there II floats
airiiy, more than making up IN grace and dig
nifty the triiins loss in symmetry. The low,
fiat outlines OF the old dome no more belonged
TO this age and people than the Pantheon OF
Agrippa, from which they were borrowed.
Within and around the Capitol are many
signs OF national taste turning moro and
more to what is true and therefore worthy in
representative art. The very soul OF Lcutzc's
painting Of "Western Immigrants" on the
staircase of the House OF Representatives, is
fidelity. Not even by the sunbeam could his,
men and women have been so faithfully drawn
for the sun omits color. Then there arc Weir's
"Enbarcation Of the Pilgrims fronl Leyden,"
and Powells discovery Of the Mississippi by
De Soto" In the Rotunda-pictures studied
and wrought in a spirit of most perfect truth
fuiness. The earllcr historical paintings OF
Trumbull had this merit and notwithstanding
the captious sneers of John Randolph, this
one fact--tliat they have preserved more than
ahundred Authentic portraits of the men OF
the RevoIution--would be enough to redeem
all their faults. Between the simple honesty
of John Trumbull and the integrity Of recent
American artists, In the worst years of the
Republic, came the brood of Italians--C Causici
Capellano, Valaperti, Persico - whose afro
cious performances still dis1gure the Capitol
The colossal figure Of Liberty mounted on
an eagle just ready TO fly - Heaven knows
whither-is the conception Of Valaperti. The
work was placed over the Speakers chair in
the old House OF Representatives. The ar
list disappeared mysteriously soon afler It's
completion, is supposed TO have committed su-
icide iu a lucid moment. Causici executed
TWO reliefs for the Rotunda, the worst out of
four, which is saying good deal when II Is re-
membered that one Of the Others Is Capea-
nos. Causici had probably never seen an In
dian, but has introduced one In the Landing
Of the Pilgrims" seated fiat on Plymouth
Rock, very nearly III puris naturdiiJus and
profering an ear of dry maize to the Pilgrims,
with hideous grin, which can only be ex-
planned by the inclemency of the weather and
the particular discomfort of his scat. He has
another In bis seconi piece, a gigantic savage
Nth of oil
misplaced), in mortal combat with Daniel
Boone, who contrary TO tradition, seems 10 be
getting the worst of il. Now IL is a plain
physiological fact that the Indian mode OF life
does not develop muscle In masses. That can
be done only by regular and constant exer-
else. An Indians arm Is as smooth as a wom-
ans, and is SO represented in Greenough's fine
group, the "Confict of Civilization and Bar
barism," on the central portico OF the Capitol.
Greenough has here treated the same general
subject as Causici, but how differently. Cau-
sici did not know, had never seen, and seems
TO have been incapable OF rightly seeing, what
he falsely pretended to represent. Greenough
spent eight patient years upo nhis work.
There IS room TO fear tina Crawford, not
withstanding his interchangeable labor and bril-
liant reputation, has notachieyed a success so
firmly established as TO sustain his fame se-
cureiy when tested by time. Perhaps he did
too much. Certain it is, that his group, placed
few weeks ago upon the pcdiment of the
northern wing, has grave fault The group
symbolizes the Progress OF Civilization
The western figure represents an Indian couch
ing over grave. Then follow In succession,
a trapper, pioneer telling tree, Washing
ton, female figure representing the Genius
OF America, a philosopher, teacher and pu-
pills, and a mechanic. 10 say nothing of The
arrangement OF these latter figures, there Is =
confusion in the design, which Is inexcusable
Ine Genius of America Is purely fanciiul
creation, Washington is historical person ,
the Others are types OF real races and classes,
and the combination Of the three is utterly
nnlnteiiigioie. II : sufficiently pcrplexing
combination OF what never could have
been, with what has been, and what migat
have been. The same error appears Ia
Pcrsico's group OF Columbus aud the New
World" OH the central portico. Columbus
Is a real person; the shrinking, halfuncoy-
cred Indian girl. who strives TO draw her
drapery hastily about her, symbolizes the
virgin continent OF the New World. Each is
well III its way, but the combination of the
two IN one group is unreal, fantastic, absurd,
an insult TO common sense.
lms fault cannot attach TO Crawlords statue
OF Freedom. On the second of this month,
the crownlng section was raised 10 its position
on the summit of the dome. There are few,
who have not noticed the serenely beautiful
face and graceful figure in the ygnette on the
left OF the iye-d0llar legal-tender notes An
immense crowd had assenabledto witness the
dizzy ascent OF the third and last section. AZ
twelve precisely 1t started, moving slowly but
steadily through the three hundred feet OF air
between the ground and its resting place. At
that hight the colossal statue seems shrunken
to the Dimensions OF toy. In ten breatless
minutes the perch is gained, and amidst the
shouts OF the multitude the flag fiutters out, .
t,t hal f,tte a<,ifx
Of Camp Barry respond, beginning the grand
salute, which ruas down the line of iortinca-
tlons by the right and anon is heard re-
turning on the left. So they honored The as
cent Of the statue ofFreedom to its proper place
upon the American Capitol On the I'd Dec