The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-12-11
A Visit to the senIptor Powers.


A writer in the Providence Journal des-
cribesa visit to Hiram Powers, the sculptor.
in his studio at Florence:
"He seemed glad to us because we WIRE
Americans affairs, and especially the awful
tragedy which had SO recently occurred in
Washington, the assassination of President
Lincoln. Through cogrted and petted by
the English, Powers has always been tine
to his country, loyal TO the core. DIR. w.
reminded him of little incident which &C.
CURED some foul months before. and which
Powers had alluded TO at that time. in n
conversation with Dr.. W. An English or
some other lady of secession procliyities
had asked him if he had ever executed a
bust of jeff. Davis. No, madam said he.
his bright eyes flashing with fire. i hope
that before long an artist OF executing, not
the bust, but the man himself We spoke
OF the readiness Of the English TO be on
our side now that sue 'ess had crowned our
arms. All said he / know not which Is
the more vexatious and annoying, when
you are dragging n heavy load M hill. 10
have some one hitch on his horses b. hind.
and pull you back, or, when YOU arc going
down hill, TO have him put on his horset
before aud dash away with all fun y. tn The
risk of upsetting your load and breoking
your neck. And thus we talked ON for mn
hour about American aTtirs. when | said.
MIR. Powers. we have cheerfully allowed
love of county 10 take precedence of our
love OF art. Now let us, ifyou please. look
at some of these beautiful things which lie
about Us in such prolusion IN your studio
"lle smiled and proceeded TO crafty our
desires; among other things VIC saw the
model of his American. n female Of fault
less prOpOrt ons. with her foot upou a bro
ken chain sign. flying hCr conquest over her
enemies. 1t was ordered by Congress dur
ing the administration OF President Frank
Pierce, and was designed TO crown the
summit OF the Capitol dome mt Washington.
But 4 presume, some lover ofthe peculiar
institution suspected that thel symbol
might be OF the nature OF u prophecy, him
ting at the overthrow ui slavery nm 10 IL
never found its way TO the spot for which
! was designed. / think Powers said that
the statue was then in New York boXcdup.
AMI put away in some ut-of.the-wny pace.
IL occurred to me tina 1t would be Il good
time to bring 1t forth to the light, and lift
It up in the sight OF all nations, n sign that
Amenco had broken the manaclas ct tho
bondsmeu and let the ensluycd 70 free.
\ We were preparing TO leave the stu-
dio Mir Iowcr- n tied us 10 bu. ourn.m q
va hus '\iHiiuiE Bool IL said that We
should regard it as both nu honor aud u
pleasure to do 80. Perhaps not. said he,
when show you one nanle' and opened
his book he pointed to the mime aud re-
sidence of III. w. Hnmblcdon. Coniedente
states Of America and across it Powers
had drawn SO broad u black mark ~ almost
10 oblitciatc the letter, One other written
IN n similar way had received the same
treatment. i don't want my Register
slid lac. TO lie disgiaoed in unyssuch way
rs this IL was refreshing to meet a man
ni such thoroughly loyul spirit, and to
know that at times when our cause was
unpopular with 30 many men who priled
themselves as being the great patrons Of
art, this foremost among modern sculptors
had not sweryed from his political intep-
rity, nor proved n traitor TO his country in
The hour Of her peril"
-Ihc saNony Llonring mill OF Lconhnrd &