The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-11-06
ISL saOrsaoas's satMsas on Wasb7bstosi. s,
a correspondent of the New York Post
writes fsny,t f,sn,,,,,,,, = w. =, - Z.

E<fi <x6eh1 biB asshhs
a correspondent of the New York Pos,
writes ffom Richmond Va, as follows.
some weeks ago q SERVANT in, the, CAPITOL,
Naie passing tho statue OF Washington. was
a,Iesteu, oy the sound OF cracking tiDabers
uauer nis reel. Kesrly alive to such sounds,
rs are all The workmen since the eapitol nc.
ctoent, ne instituted at once an examination,
winch resulted in the alarming discovery
tnae hesflooring near Houdon's statue had
SUNK several inches. Further investigation
atsctosed The TACT that the brick arch In the
basement which supported the statue was
seriously cracked. The statue was taken
down That very day, boxed up securely. and
SO remains, awaiting the action of the next
Legislature rs to its future disposition. Tie
floor beneath it, and even the heavy rafters.
were found dry-rotted to such degree that
the wood crumblcd between the fingers al
easily as SO much dry earth. The Settling
ana cracking of the arch In the basement.
alter SO many years, is attributed to the rats,
which have burrowed through and through
the foundations of the capitol.
For some days the statue was left standing
IN corner Of the apartment between the
Two legislative halls, where It attracted
much attention. Everyone who saw IL in
this position was profoundly impressed with
the effect gained by seeing the face on level
with the eyes as contraSted with its appear.
aucc when elevated upon the pedestal. The
features, no longer forcShortened by the
visual angie of elevation, discover a counte-
nance Singularly majestic and beautiful. Ac-
customed of late years to regard Washing
ton as Il cold, digniied, auStere man, / was
most agreeably surprised to find in his face
dignity indeed, but blended with it benevo.
lencc, mildness, and positive sweetness, such
ms have rarely if ever bchcld in any human
b ing. Until the statue is seen on borizor-
tai line it Is quite impossible to understand
how truly great it is rs 4 work of art, or to
b. convinced, as now am, that none of the
so-callcd standard portraits ut all do justice
to the PGtcr PdtriG. \ photograph of it,
taken when it was in the corner described
above, was so married by shadows as to be
practically worthless. Taken in proper
light, such photograph would be ex-
tremely valuable. The height Of the statue
is six feet two inches.
What will be done with this statue when
the Legislature assemblies ii is not easy to
predict, Such treasure ought not to be
exposed to the danger Of topping over, as it
would be il restored to its former place, nor
ought it TO run the risk of fire. a PROPOSE
tioil WIS liQC SoiHC CHS aSO W CONVERT ttlc
present residence OF the Governor into a
building rs nearly tire-proof rs it could be
made, and to place in it the books, &C., APP
pertaining to the State library, and appro.
priating Il certain space for the reception Of
the Houdon statue and other works of art
now on hand or hereafter to be accumulated.
Straitcned as the State is for money, this is
perhaps the best disposition that could he
made of the statue.