The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-14
The Freedmen's Monument to Abraham
Lincoln.

A model in plaster of the Freedmen's Monu-
ment to Abraham Lincoln, designed and exc
cuted by Miss Harriet Hosmer, reached this
city hort time since from Rome, and in re-
sponse to invitations a large number of ladies
and gentlemen visited the Statuary Room of
the Bos on Athen@um to-day to witness pri-
yate exhibition of the same. recent letter
frC m Miss Harriet Hosmer, addressed to James
h. YeatmaD, ESQ, of ST. Louis, Mo-, President
OF the Freedmen's Monument Association, gives
the best description of the monument we be-
liCve that has ever been published. 1t is as
fOllows:-
SIR:-In designing monument to record the life
aud wees of Abraham Lincoln, have endea-
vored to express the thatIthe Temple of Fame
which we to his memory, Is based upon the two
great acts OF his administration, the FHlrncipG
tion Of the S'dve, and the Preservation Of the Aale
gtcdR Union.
Commencing, however, with his earlier history, 1
have represented other of the Presidents life,
in the four bds-retiefs which surround the lower
base. In The first, his blrtn his journey through
the woods to his new home IN Indiana; and his oc-
cupatiOn as builder of log.cabins raIspitter, fat
bOatn an, aud farmer. In the second, as stump.
farewell to hls constituents and friends at spring.
field and as taking the oath of Office of President
of the ULited States at Washington. In the third,
fol r men orabe events OF the war-the lombard.
ment OF Sumter, the capture of Mobile and Of Pc.
tersOurg, aud the surrender of Lee at Appomattox.
procession, aud the final inerment at Springfield.
Upon the circular columns which enclose these
bds IRE eS and Owning the first base OF the 1emoe,
are placed four sfatu s. representing the condi ion
OF the neP1o as actually ex sted at different periods
OF he PRESIDENTS four yea OF ofice first, as ex-
posed in CHAINS for sale; second, upon the panta.
on third, as guide and assistant to our troops: and
fourth, as soldier and freeman. Above these col
umns rises an octagonal base, four sides of which
contain the inscriptions -
ABRAHAM LINCOLN;
MARTYR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES;
EMANCIPATION OF FOUR MILLIONS OF MEN;
PREsERvRR OF THE AMERICAN UNION.
Upon this rests circular base, forming the mme-
dia base OF the Temple, upon which IS represented
n IfrO-r NJ oIo
hand in hand sy mbolica Of the union of the thirty
SIX States. Upon this rise the four columns of the
scrl6ed the concluding words of the Emancipation
PROCLAMATION ;-"And upon this sincerely believed
to be an act of justice, invoke the con 'iderate
Judgment OF mankind and the gracious favor of
Almighty God"
Within tae Temple statue of the dead President
rests upon sarcophagus and the four mourning
Victories. with trumpets reversed, which guard and
SURROUND the WHOLE record the great sorrow of the
nation, stricken down at the moment OF proc aiming
1t is needless to say that in so small space but
little study could be given to details Shou oppor-
tunty be aford ded me OF completing the design upon
q larger scale. many improvements and accessories
would be introduced; Tor instance, the historical
bdS-ret,efS wou contain careful portraits OF ind-
viduals and places; in the circular basretiefs the
characteri tics of each separate ate would be pre-
served, and the shields, affixed architectural orna
meDts, would bear Their appropriate coats of arms.
The Object thus tar iu desiRn has been merely to
the manner in which should propose to illustrate
the history OF the great man whose life was rich
prominence to its most brilliant passages.
With what degree of i'll this has been done,
now leave for you and Others to dAterm ne, and l
have the honor to te, very respectfully, yours,
LEaHoRN, September 10, 1866.
The model is a very beautiful one, and large
enough to give an excellent idea of the appear
ance ot the monument when completed. Tue
prominent scenes in Mr.. Lincolns history,
above alluded to by The scuptress, are finely
brought out, and the whole design reflects the
highest credit upon Miss Hosmers abilities and
superior Judgment. II is proposed to erect the
monument on the Capitol grounds at Washing
ton, D. G. Its height will be sixty feet, with
base sixty feet square. The architectural work
is TO be of New England granite, aud the figure,
bdS-reliets and ornaments OF bronze. The
monument will cost S250,000, and about five
years will be required for its completion.
The origin of the Freedmen's Monument is
explained in letter from General L. @. H.
Smith 10 Mr.. Yeatman, in April, 1865, in which
ne states that poor negro woman of Marietta,
0hio-one of those made free by President
Lincoln's Proclamation-propose that a monu-
ment TO their dead friend be erected by the
coloIed people of the United States. She handed
to person in Marietta So as her contribution
for the purpose Such q monument, the Gene
raj writes, would have a history more grand
and touching than any OF which we have an
account; and asks, in conclusion, if would not
be well to take up the suggestion and make it
known TO the freedmen?
This letter was published In the Missouri
Democrat, and contributions TO the amount of
SlIOOO IN cash and S6OOO In subscriptions were
received. This money was placed in the hands
| of a commission, of which Mr.. Yeatman was
chosen President, with the request that they
should take the necessary steps to procure the
| erection of the monument. Measures we're taken
to collect subscriptions in the Southern States,
but soon afterwards the Freedmen's Bureau
Bill was vetoed by President Johnson, which
cast so deep gloom upon the freedmen that it
has not been considered advisable to push the
project since. In the meantime Miss Hosmer
was consulted, and conceived and designed a
monument, and shipped the model to this city,
where it will be exhibited privately for few
days.
The design has been adopted by the Commits.
sion and is considered as one of the greatest
achievements of modern art; and an opportu-
nifty Is given to the citizens of Miss Hosmer's
native State to aid the freedmen in proceed
ing at once to the erection of this noble
monument. The ladies. especially are invited
| 10 contribute to the fund of the Association.
| Boston TrduelLeT, 1911.
Theodore TiItOn on WOmen's Rights.