Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-04-20
LEUTZE's PICTURED THErNTTED SIXTIES
CAPITOL.
8 westward the Course Of Empire Takes its
Hay.S
Correspondence OF the State Journal.
w .Sur>crnN-


ing half way up on broad stair, then turn
| ing TO the right or left, mount another flight,
landing Immediately over the point of start
Jag. Standing against the marble balustrade
at the top of these stairs, let US examine a
painting on the wall over which the artist
has inscribed the classic title written at the
| head of this article. 1t occupies a space
over the stairs about thirty feet in length
and sixteen feet in heighth, and represents
an emigrant train crossing the Sierra Nevada
.Gountains on the route to California. The
train is passing southwark along the uneven
road ON the mountain side, while just beyond
and high above towers the lofty range, peak
above peak, with gilded erests, stretching
northward as far as the vision extends
At the foot of the mountains fertile val
ley extends far off northward, through which
a river winds along its way. The train has
| already passed this valley, and ascending the
side of the mountain makes its way south
ward till it reaches near the centre of the
| picture, when turning to the east and crossing
| little ravine it comes directly toward US
| and then turning again pursues its original
/ course southwark This movement brings
the forward part of the train, which is com
posed of persons on horseback and others on
foot, directly into the foreground.
| will described the composition more mi
nutely range of mountains extending
| from the center of the picture many miles
northward, the emgrant wagons coming up
the mountain and moving along in procession
| till they reach the center, some of them turn
/ ing and coming across the mountain gorge,
two quite across and headed again 10 the
south, some Of the men holding the wagons
| from upsetting in the uneven road, young
| women driving some COWS with Il switch stick
which feed along the road, and the teamsters
| driving the oxen drawing the wagons. In the
| advance of the moving column, u man leans
forward in his saddle, the yellow tinge of the
sunset clouds reflected upon his bronzed face,
| gazing eagerly into the distance as he catches
the first view of the land of their destination,
| while his horse has got to take a few steps
more to reach the summit of the mountain
| pass. Walking by his side is d young man on
| foot with sunken cheeks and consumptiye
| look, his hand clutched in the foretop of ais
| long hair and gazing into the distance with
almost painful intensity. Next in order is
man in red wooden shirt, riding dapple grey
horse, who has also caught glimpse beyond
| the mountain and turns partly around in his
| saddle and beckons with appraised hand to
| those in the rear. \ grinning negro is ca
reSsing the head Of a mule, which in the iost
| ling crowd is thrust over his shoulder, while
the mistress, riding, fondly clasps and kisses
| her babe-a pearly teardrop starting from her
| eve. Then comes a man on foot and his wife
! or son lit might be either) leaning upon him
| for support. The features feminine, the
| hair long and curling and the hand is small
| and delicate like a woman's, but close scru-
| tiny of the dress leads to the conclusion that
| it is an invalid son. The father carries
the rifles Of both. These are both interest
| ing faces; that Of the father expresses the
most atfectionate regard and anxiety for his
| languishing child, while the latter is express
| sive Of suffering, trust and confidence in the
| strong arm that he leans upon. Next in Or
| der is the forward wagon, in which a woman
! is riding with child in her arms, clinging to
| the folds of her Orange-colored shawl. Her
! eyes are elevated above anything on earth,
| but fail to reach heaven; it is vacant, I'M
| finished face, with an expression of alarm.
| Her husband, in red wooden shirt and coarse
/ trousers, and a black silk handkerchief tied
! loosely around his neck in the best double
| bow knot that ever painter tied, is driving
| the four oxen, with one hand resting on the
| ox'S horn, New England style) Their little
! boy, with his hands filled with arrows and
| cross bow, and rabbit skin slung over his
| shoulder, is riding astride one of the oxen.
| In advance of all Is the sWarthy Mexican
| guide, dressed in full suit of buckskin, elab-
|
! the seams, wearing huge pair of Mexican
| spurs, who turns half around in his saddle
! and addresses the foremost Of the party, while
with extended arm he points to the west
! and Just ahead of the guide two men in red
| and blue WOODEN shirts, with sleeves rolled
up, are cutting a tree which has fallen across
/ the road. At the southern terminus of the
mountain, and forming part Of it, is high,
| castelated rock, such as is frequently seen on
/ 1 I. H-l
resemblance to the ruins of ancient mason
work One man has assembled this
rock and is waving his hat above his head,
while another from below reaches him
! the American flag fastened to a k2otty stick.
| And here group, consisting of man, his
wife, boy Of sixteen and little girl of seven,
| have climbed up to the foot of this peTPen-
dicular rock, and are viewing the prospect
below. The woman, dressed in deep blue, is
sitting upon a buffalo robe spread upon the
rock, with an infant in her arms, looking pale
ard weak from recent sickness, and her hands
clasped in thankfulness for their safe Journey
| By her side is the little girl, in checked sun
| bonnet, holding up her hands in real glee,
| the very picture of delighted childhood you
| almost hear her say, GO mamma, isn't it
pretty ?" while the stalwart husband, wearing
a coonskin cap made up with nose, cars and
| tail on, stands behind, bending over in the
attitude o. pFOteCtloll, OutfllG the lnNdIIU
| wife words of encouragement and hope
| Near them stands the lad, with a healthy
| sunburnt complexion and uncovered head, a
newspaper protruding from his pocket in his
| red wooden shirt, on which, by the aid of an
opera glass, can be distinguished the word
! IateRiqazce', his rife standing erect in front
Of him, and resting on the rock he stands on,
looking off toward the south, with character
enough in his expression, young as he is, to
show that he is already capable of striking
out for himself Near this group a young
man, with his fiddle in green satchel slung
to his back, is climbing the mountain, while
he lends a helping hand to rustic maiden in
| homespun frock and bare feet, who is readily
| understood TO be bis affianced. This COM
prises all the figures in the foreground, and
| the others l shall not attempt to describe.
The following diagram viii perhaps enable
/ the reader to understand more definitely the
location of the several parts If the compost
| ito.
Mountains.
Sunset. Noun tains. Noun taius
Mountains.
Mountains.
mount aims y
|