New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-22
The Gentle Ream.


The st. Louis Republican has this article.
under the head of The Gentle Ream:'
As we predicted some weaks since, that
sprightly young female, Miss Winnie Ream
is marshal,ing her forces tor another assault
upon the public pocket, and will soon be
before Congress with a small petition pray
ing that ancient and honorable body to
grant her $4,000 as additional remuneration
for the Lincoln statue. Miss Winnie is one
of the shrewdest little humbuss that ever
adorned petticOats, and she is. consequently,
manipulating the popular mind in advance,
preparatory to making the formal attack.
This manipulation is done by outside parties.
to whom Winnie furnishes the facts and
figures, and who then proceed to arouse the
sympathy Of gullible people through the
press. The last individual that has gal
lantly volunteered to pull the Ream chest
nuts out Of the fire, is Il. Sunderland, Esd
gentleman hitherto unknown to fame
who contributes stirring appeal to the
Washington Chronicle, calling upon CRATE
full and generous nation to Immediately
rush to the rescue of the Keam family and
save them from absolute penury 10y donating
bonus to the fair sculptures for the 'wOrk
of art" which has just been unveiled to the
gaze of an astOnished world. Sunderland
is an eloquent fellow, and wades into the
sea of gorgeous rhetoric in manner which
UOeS Hill STcdC circuit. NEAR Niul.
What has il cost the artist! Years Of
care and toll. "A fragile girl, at great ex-
peuse, crossing the ocean twice, living with
her parents in distant Italy, wasting her
means and herself to transmit to postcrity
the very form and features of the martyred
president.
What has Congress given her? Ten
thousand dollars. A princely sum, say
many. She is but little thing. she ought
.J,,nn
the 6uK! / say give her ten thousand
more. say it without the hope Of favor.
fee. or reward. And give her another order
for the grand old admiral who rode through
the demon fires at Mobile and New Or
leans.
Now VIC know a good many "fragile
girls and fragile young men too. who
would be remarkably glad to "cross the
ocean twice and live in distant Italy with
their parents " for any given length of time
providing their bank accounts justified the
luxury Of a residence in the land of song
and story; and we are therefore unable to
see the hardship which Miss Ream under
went in dwelling twelve months in Rome at
the expense of the United States. We are
sorry she wasted her means and herself"
in producing the abortion which distigurc,
the national Capitol. but as the country is
forced to endure the statue forever. she
ought to be willing to undergo privatiOns
which last for IA little while and then vanish
away. The simple facts in the case are that
Miss Winnie Ream, no one knows exactly
how. wheedled Congress out of commits
sion for an etfigy Of the late lamented Lin
coin.
Then she wheedled Congress out of q.
room in the Capitol where IN picturesque
costume, which quite captivated the MEM
bers from the rural districts, she built up
mass of clay into hideous image of a re-
spected gentleman who had never done her
the slightest harm, and who never certain.
~ deserved such punishment at her hands.
When the clay grew hard enough to travel.