Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-11-20

many years ago for the eastern entrance 70 the
north or Senate wing Of the Capitol are to-
day being placed IN position, Where they will
doubtless attract, as their merits deserve, q
good deaf OF s1tention. The commission Tor
totm was given to the sculptor Crawford, 1t
will be remembered, at the same time that
Rc;ers received his for the doors In the COR
rioor leading to the hall OF the House OF X, ,p-
resentatives; but tue death Of the artist b fore
his models were en- tirely fiDished had the effect
OF deisying the work. The Flushing strokes
were finally added by the German sculptor
RhiueharSt, aud the deSlgns Were sent 10 this
country 10 be cast in bronze. This part OF the
work has been most creditlbly done by the
Cbicopee Foundry, and the result Is before us.
Although 20 limited IN sp1ct as MOI TO be
aoie 10 en,er into a full description of the
doors, We shall nevertheless try TO give our
readers who may not have an opportunity to
see them some conception Of wDat they ara.
Primsrily, the idea sought to be conveyed by
the design Is that OF Peace and War, and to
connect as far as may be the Father of his
Country with the two eras: and, as the door is
double one, side is properly given TO each.
Each side is divided into five sections or
panels-those at the bsttom being little
larger and those at the top a little smaller
Than the others. The two upper panels
are alike, and are intended for lighting or
venulatiug. They are composed OF open or
tfscery work, showing star in the centre sur.
founded by circular wreath Of oak and Iau-
rel, the tour corners being occupied oy oak
ieaves and acorns, and the whole form az a
beautiful aud appropriate combination. Then
follow the typical or historical scenes. The
upper one on the right hand side represents the
battle Of Bunker Hill, with Warren in the fore.
ground, falling MORALLY wounded. Next
comes Washington rebuking Lee ~ the battle
of Monmouth, which is followed by a repre-
senIatiop Of the battle of Yorktown, with Ham.
jlton on foot leading a charge against the
BRUSH. La corresponding spaces on the
opposite side come, first, the laying
of the cornerstone of the Capitol by
Washington, next Washington tiking the
oath OF office as President, followed by The
entry Of Washington into Trenton. The two
base panels are general rather than specific in
their design and sigDitcstion,-the scene on ,he
one side showing pioneer farmer defeading
MS home, Vile and child from the assaults OF
toreien soldier, " lille on the other is repre-
sented the husbandman IN tine of peace, sur
rounded by his family aud the implements aud
fruits of his industry. The figures throughout
are IN high relief. and The portraits and cos.
Tunes of the distir guish.d psTsonascs pro nj.
hent IN the different scenes are intended
TO be historically correct. As b.twrea the
different panels, we may add that in our
opinion the one showing Washington taking
tue cath of Office gives the finest effect, arts.
tcalIy considered, while tue least mer.t,ri.
Gus in that respect is the base panel OF the var
series, representing the defence ef tn. house.
hold but upon III Sc points of course tastes
and di'ncieS may naturally aud properly differ
VI course, Whether intentional or not, yisi-
Tors VIII be pretty apt to compare the doors
under notice with those by Rogers in tue
mouse corridor portraying the more notable
events IN the lie OF Columbus. Judged by this
test they VIII very likely disappolnt The ma.
JorIty at first sighL Not that they are miteri.
ally inferior in point of design or execution;
Dut The figures are larger, tue style OF trent.
ment rather more severe, and the whole less
olhaie In accessories. SO that the general effect
is perhaps lille less pleasing. In respect to
mechanical execution, We do not see but that
The foundry at Chicopee can successfully COM
pete with the more famous establishment p,
Munich, where the Rogers doors were cast
Were we disposed to criticise, we should
object to the arrangement or disposition
OF the events selected by the artist to
carry out his idea. To our mind, both
bistoric and poetic Il ness weuid seem ID
require that The first eveut-that rep.
resenting the battle CT BuDker Hill, should be
al the top Of the left rather than of the rigct
hard s.de, TO be followed by the other w.-
scenes H. the order IN which they now come:
While those 'mbiematc of peace should follow
them, on the lett hand side. instead Of preced.
ing them, as now. And, If our memory serves
us, The relative positions occupied oy the
groups OF the peace series do not correctly
represent the chronological order in which thew
occurred. Wbetber these artistic anaehron.
isms are chargable TO either OF the artists, or
TO the workrnen who put in their present
places the panels aiier they We're east, we have
no means OF knowing, but the inharmonious
arrangement to which we refer can hardly
fail 10 strike the eye OF all who really enioya
work of art.
Curlously enough, too, while the pame and
location OF the foundry where they were cast
appear In four different places on the doors
the name OF the eminent sculptor who first
conceived the design is rowhere TO se seen.
Nor is The artist who completed them served
any better in this respect. From the story told
by the doors themselves, The only Inference the
busy world can draw is Sbat they are not only
he material children but also the IDEAL ere.
alton Of the Chicopee Foundry.
TIE DYER COURT OF INQUIrY.-The Court
resumed Its session this morning at !, o'clock
all the members present and the coun sci tor
both sides. After the reading Of the record, j.
Z. Wall, formerly clerk in the Ordnance
Bureau, who was sworn yesterday, was re.
called, and the examination continued by MIR.
Arrick. This witness claimed that certein i'm.
provenents made by him were used by Gen.
Dyer on guns. He was on the stand all the
afternoon, and the croSs-examination being
conducted by Mr.. Field.
GENERAL SERVER reports that West Point
Academy contains two hundred and TWENTY
four cadets, but could as well accommodate
four hundred without additional cost, and he
therefore recommends an increase TO that mum.
beI. His estimate for repair and improvements
this year is SGj,OO0.
GENERAL GRANT is at the Contnenta,
Hotel, Philadelphia. and it is reported will
be entertained at the Union League House to.
night.