The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-01-06
A Monument to the Maine volunteers.

% a HAouumout 10 bne maine v OlunGoefS.
We are glad that Gov. Cony, in his message,
has urged upon the attention of the Legisla-
ture the Importance of some suitable and ap-
propriate memorial to be erected in honor of
Names common soldiers, who so patriotical-
/ ly rallied around their country's flag in the
late struggle, to uphold its integrity and to pro-
tect its honor. Is
Our talented Maine sculptor SIMMONS
has prepared model for such work, con-
sisting OF granite base and shaft, with tasty
mouldings and panels, bearing the national
emblems in bas relief, and surmouuted by a
colossal statue of the common soldier, just
ready to start tor the field Of strife, to which
he is pointing, and to which, by voice and act,
he is encouraging others to go. It is life-like
and thoroughly natural. 1t is not designed to
commemorate the o1icrs-an covered with
glory and honor-but the common volunteer;
to lift him out OF. the Virginia mud and the
Chickahominy swamps, and place him before
the grateful and admiring gaze of the living
generation of to-day, and of generations yet
to be born. - 'e,s r ti' h1l7'- a-E
"a We think Mr. Simmons idea is an excel
lent one, and that he has brought it out with
admirable effect. What the legislature may
do, of course, is not known, but the Governor
has faithfully discharged his duty in calling
attention to and commencing such memo
rial. r. M ~
We are sorry that the Maine Farmer should
have felt called upon to criticise Mr.. Simmons
model in an unfriendly spirit, without stating
the facts which would have greatly qualified
its criticisms. The Farmer does not like the
proposed monument, and thinks it not in
keeping with the great idea intended to be
kept in circumference. 1t should be stated
that Mr.. Simmons plan or model was pro-
jected on the basis of such an appropriation,
/ if any, as he legislature would be most likely
to make. He was led to suppose $4,000 was
as much, probably, as could be reckoned upon
and his model, neat, chaste, symetrical and
singularly beautiful, was made upon such
presumption. Had he supposed $4,000 or
more would be appropriated, of course he
would have proposed something more elabor-
ate and august. 1880 ail. .il =
correspondent of the Farmer, coming to
the support Of the editor, takes occasion to
recommend triumphal arch, after the French
style, and to deprecate a mere work of art.
and in doing this he takes occasion to speak of
MIR. Simmons as mot qualified, either nv ma
"ture or the character of his previous train.
ling, to produce an ideal work of any yalue y
and sincerely hopes the legislature will wait
''until the right man appears giving an order.~
The French arch, we have reason to sus-
pect, is an idea of some parties in Augusta
who want fat job in stone masonery, and
hence this opposition to an "ideal work." An
arch would have nothing to connect it with
the idea to be commemorated, except its in
seriptions, unless deliberately carved with de-
vices, in which case it would be very expen-
sive, whileiMr. Simmons model, in its very
FORM and appearance, suggests the idea better
than any inscription would do it. asst
But why this unkind fling at anative artist?
why this intimation that no talent is to be
considered unless exoticq Mr.. Simmons is
now engaged upon work for the CITY of
Philadelphia which should silence spcb a col.
umny and bring blush to the calumn;ator
though his face were as rigid as the pronosed
brown statue. That city invited competition