New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-01-12
HIRAM POWERS.
LECTURE BY THE REV. DIR. BELLOWS IN Tmg
Gamscv@UH or otR sAtf6F, BRocELYN.

LECTURE BY THE REV. DR.. BELLOWS IN TIE
cmLVacH or ottR SAVIOR, BbOoELYN
The Rev, DR.. Bellows lectured last night at
tbe Church Of Our Savior, Brooklyn. Hiram Powers,
the Ameyan Sculptor large aud apprecative audi
ence, which, Notwithstanding the inclomency OF the
vp,.ther had assembled to hear him
Mr. Garrish President OF the Brooklyn Christian Liberal
Union introduced the lecturer.
Dr. Bellows introduced his lecture by an explanation
Of the circumstances under which it prepared lie
said that as no was passing through Florence last Aprl,
at the invitation of Of BIS Pensioners, ho stopped
TO allow the distinguished Sculptor Mr. Hiram
Powers, TO take his bust aud lie found Mr.
pSWtrs's Conversation to 6e II such a ich and
original character that 1t occurred TO him that while
he was sitting for bis portrait 1t would be very good OPP
por,unty FOR him TO take Che sculpOr On repairing TO
his lodgings each day, therefore he had endcVored TO
lot down. as nearly In his languagehs possible what
ever Mr. Powers had said about art or about himself
which he thought would be likely TO interest his country
men. He then proceeded TO detail the conversations
he had had with Mr. Powers at his seYial in.
teryiews. Among other anecdotes related by
Mr. Powers, he stated that when he was just
beginning his profession no undertook model bust Of
Gen. jackson, Who was then President of the United
States, and when he mad flushed It Alr Everett brought
The Prussan Minister. who had great reputation A.
critic 10 H. After looking al II the Baron said You
nave got the General his head his face his courage ms
Identical SELF andet won't do You have also got all
his wrinkles all his and decay. Y0u forget That lie
IS President OF the United states and the Idol OF the peo
ple 1On should have given him dignity and elegance
he does not possess lou should have employed your
ART Slt, ana NOT merely your nature" lie did not
dare, III ms humility and reverence for his two
great visitors, to tell the Baron that his
at consisted In coneealng art and that nature the
highest art he knew or could conceive o. He quite
content however that the truth Of had been
| fully acknowledged ana this little incident confirmed
him IN the determination to make truth the OF
/ bs work Mr. Powers was born Mt Woodstock W. early
In the century. His father small farmer and hall
blacksmith and had a family Of seven children. one 81
the boys having managed TO acquire education al
Dartmouth College Travelled out 10 CINCINNATI and be
came editor, and the family followed him 20 Ohio
Soon after their arrival the father died. and Hiram after
number OF lnischances, gOt permanent employmen,
with clock maker ia Cincinnati where he fret developed
hts mechanical skin. While thus engfged ho happened
70 visit museum, and there saw plaster east O
excited bis curiosity, and ho made Acquaintance
German In Cncinnati.wh0 cast busts, aud gained from
him all the knowledge lac possessed OF the art With th
Introduction he went 70 work. and found sitter IN tn,
little daughter OF john b. EOOte who used to give hIn
sttings when he had of hours, sometimes early IN Tho
morning, sometimes IN the evening Knowing that II
WAS long job be had before him. he afraid 10
clay, which wac apt to harden freeze. Sc
he made his first bust OF beeswax, aud fal
i, 80 the Likeness Wac concerned be believed lhif Orr