Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-11-08
Special Correspondence of the Free Press and Times


For such grand building as the State
Capitol is. one is struck on entering 1t al
the almost lack of adornment, in the line oil
sculpture and painting. To be sure, salut-
inc vouat the wide entrance is Mead's early
effort at representing "0ld Ethan" but the
cultivated sculptor would be ashamed OF II
to-day, and would be willing to consign it
TO the tender mercies Of the ''side show" OF
some circus. The vestibules contain good
IL number of photographs of the Vermont
officers who fought in the war which
crashed out the rebellion, and which ought
to be increased at once by the surviving OH
GERS, who have thus far neglected the Adju-
tant-General's invitation 70 furnish their
''phiz" for this gallery of Vermont heroes
The Governors room has a few admirably
done portraits in oil of distinguished ex-Gov-
ernors. a. Tiehenor, Skinner, Paine, Viii
liams and Royce a bust of that eminent
scholar and jurist, Elijah Paine and as its lat
est ornament, 4 bust by the famous sculptor,
J. @. a. Ward, of Vermont S first war Gov
ernor, Erastus Fairbanks, recently contribut-
ed by his sterling sons, Horace and Franklin,
the present Speaker of the House. This
work of art is of high order, yet it fails to
carry that idea 10 the beholder of the splen-
did frmness Of character, for which Gov.
Fairbanks was chiefly reputed amongst his
fellow men; still we see the massive eye
brows and the almost stern, yet benevolent
expression of countenance, which was so
familiar to the people: and all in all, it is
4 very satisfactory marble likeness. The
library contains some tasteful portraits and
engrayings; but not a tithe of the number
that should embellish its slender walls.
The Senate has not picture about it, honor
ed and dignifed chamber. If even there
appeared on its walls, portraits of such high
toned and talented Lieutenant-Governors a
Arson Leland. David NJ Camp, Waitstill
Z. Ranney. Robert Pierpoint and Levi
Underwood. it would add much grace and
responsibility to it.
The House has it, solitary portrait Of
George Washington, placed behind the
Speakers chair. 1t Is one of Stuart's and
/ believe Is estimated by critics as a fair
Likeness. \ couple of meagre bronze fig
ures flank the entrance to the House, of
no special significance or merit. With
the paucity of art about the Capitol, all
welcome Julian SCOTS forthcoming war
picture Of the Battle of Cedar Greek. now
about half completed by that genial and
brilliant painter But there Is another lack
about the once stately Vermont Capitol as
regards art there Is not a landscape depie-
ting its ma gnifcent and unrivalled scenery
within its walls \ State that has such
gorgeous range of mountains with such
towering peaks as Mansfield. lie Lion Con
Giant, Jay and Killington, such lovely, !
shining lakes as Willoughhy, Dunmore and |
Bombazine, besides the delightful scenery Of |
its ripping rivers and handsome hills, |
should not be content without having some |
Of their chief beauties spread out with skill
ful brush on canvass. and placed in the Cap
tol As an ornament to the building and for
the enjoyment of the people of Vermont.
In this connection l am glad to see that Mr..
G. D. Robinson Of North Troy, a young
md promising artist, whose paint
ngs were appropriately noticed last
hummer in the columns Of the FREE
Press AID TINES, has here on exhibition in
he room Of the Committee on Military AT
airs at the State House, beautiful land
cape. the scene Of which l. laid near the
DOT Of Owls Head. Jay Peak can be seen
n tine distance, and the picture is much ad-
aired for its extreme faithfulness to nature.
he foliage and the dead trunks Of trees par
tally lying in the water being especially
oticeable MrRobmson bids fair to stand
ign as landscape painter, and l trust the
legislature may encourage him by author
ing the Governor to commission him to
AXE a landscape painting of Vermont
emery to place in the Capitol.
MILITARY EDUCATION
ids fair to be an important subject of leg
lation. Gov. Converse urged it upon the
of the Legislature in his mes
ige, and the joint special committee to
HON the matter was referred, consisting of
majors Veazey, Bailey and Bigelow and !
representatives. Haskins, Edward A. Smith,
enry, Pitkin and 0rmsbee, on Friday last, i
company with Hon, Charles Dewey of |
lis village, one of the board of trustees. =
sited Norwich University at North n
Id, clambered up the steep heights 5
bon which it is situated. inspected v
lie neat rooms of the cadets, witnessed 2
eir fine artillery and infantry drill, dined |
ith the accomplished President, Rev DR.. t
ouglas, formerly of Windsor, and gener- Il
ly made a thorough examination of the \
with a view to know its merits
d dement's as a military school. The fac II
~ Of the University embraces much talent. =
wing besides the cultured President. Gen. s.
ckman as Professor Of Mathematics. who k
: recently solved the wonderful problem e
"squaring the circle, as so attests 81
ofeSsor Benjamin Pierce, of Harvard b
pit Curtis, of the sth L S Regulars, who A
a first class lecturer on military science, n
sides possessing to a large degree the love cf
d respect of his students and Lieutenant n
tchelder, a West Point graduate of 1865. y
d late OF the Second Cavalry, who is an er
mirable instructor in tactics as well as in er
8neh and drawing. ] understand that a co
viii be brought before the committee. y =
ich viii provide for the appointment by fir
Governor, annually, upon the recon- Sc
nda ton Of the State Senators, of thirty
lets, who shall have free tuition, room of
D. in the Institute (which is to be con ge
He'd hereafter by the STATED at an expense In
: l25 per annum This will involve an -
lual expense only to the State of So, $50, of
If the militia, as 1t Is confidently expect ex
shall be cut down to two regiments. T Tl
ides abolishing the batteries, the State m,
well afford this appropriation for mill err
: education. The measure is one that TIT
rs to me, cannot fail TO meet with gen d -I,t
approval from all DESTROYS of the pro- to
S and well-being of the commonwealth. rec
the
Prom Montpelier. mu
MONTPELIER, Oct, 81. On fR'
he choice Of the various State officers Gle
sc election devolves upon the Joint As On
bly,, was the chief excitement of to-day. mt