The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1873-12-27
rohu Rogers, the Sculptor.

ua from the HCnOOlS VI CIaSslO NASSN~ l.
Rome, with all the subsequent productions
of European skill, and yet it has remained h
for American genius to introduce new
and important feature. Is it not strange
that neither ancient nor modern statuary
has attempted anything Of q social nature 9
The ancients have left us only two groups I
the one cupid and Psyche" and the
other the 'Laoccoon" while Of modern
European art, Canova's "Graces," and
,borwalsden's "Christ and Apostles, and
n few others are all that can be named.
Outside Of allegorical or monumental art,
groupings we're hardly dreamed Of and 1t
has therefore been reserved for America
to develop a new school of statuary, and
this has been done by Mr.. John Rogers, OF
New York. There are persons in Rock Isl
and who have met Mr.. Rogers in foreign
lands, and who, as well as our readers gen
erally. will be interested in some details OF
the life Of man who has done honor 10
America in other lands as well as at home.
EARLY STRUGGLES.
In 1s4s, Just twenty-five years ago,
Young man entered a machine shop in Man
chester, New Hampshire, and desired to
learn the trade. He was nineteen, and had
seen considerable Of life. lie was native |
of Salem, that town once so famous tor
witchcraft, and had served not only as a
clerk in store, but also in an engineering
corps and had in addition to this spent
few months in Spain, in pursuit OF health.
From his earliest day this youth had felt
passion for art, but his way had been hedged
up until he now resolved to devote himself
10 mechanics. As consequence, he passed
seven years in this service, working his way
from the turning lathe up to the draught-
mans desk. About this time. however, a
new idea entered his mind. One day, while
In Boston, he beheld a man N odeling hg-
ures in clay, and saw the power thus afford
ed Of giving a more forcible expression
than by the pencil He Immediately OBJ
tanned some clay, and was surprised to find
himself at home in the new art. The Man
chester shop was under apress of business,
and the apprentice was forced to labor four
teen hours per day; but Notwithstanding
this he found time to practice modelling.
Often the conception of new group would
fash upon his mind during the hours OF
labor, and its power would be so strong
that, weary as he might be, he could not
rest until he had clothed it with shape and
thus giving to ian airy nothing a localhab-
itatiOn and name"
MARCH WESTWARD.
From 1S4S to 1857 he endured the bond
age at Manchester, finding no friend TO ale
him. Just then an offer was made him b,
superintendent machine shop in Hanni
bal, Missouri, but he had only spent siN
months in his new sphere when the PAM,
Of 1857 stopped the works and he was, il
common with thousands, thrown on
Of employment. He returned east, an,
procuring a small amount of funds he graf
fled his long cherished desire of seeing tn,
works of the old masters, and passed eigh
months in Paris and Rome. On his re
turn the prospects of art were discour
aging, and hence he once more acceptet
employment, which this time was in tn
office OF the City Surveyor at Chicago
Rogers was now thirty, and was not Onl
master of three trades but was enriched b
the experience of travel Ii is not SUI
prising TO learn that that his services wer
highly valued.
FIRST PUBLIC WORK.
DuIlUR Ills ltlSuIb dl AulCdSO HG ulOuGl
ed group, which were presented to som
ladies' who we're getting up fair. 1t wa
the "checker-players, and was general
ADMIRED because Of its ease, freedom an
extreme naturalness. He now passed a
once FROM the mechanical to the artist
profession, but was not fully recognized i
the latter until he produced THE Slav
Auction, which was exhibited in Ne,
York city in 1889. The anti-slavery e.
terprise was then looking for every ally t
assist in the great work of liberation
Hence, Rogers Group was welcomed b
the friends of freedom as a powerful ar
peal TO the friends of humanity, and tn
artist showed his true nobility in thus es
pousing the cause of the oppressed.
LIFE IN NEW YORK.
The young sculptor now felt encourage
to devote himself TO the art which b
thought he had abandoned. He went {
New York city and threw himself upo
the public taste. Here he learned to cor
struet moulds for casting his groups, an
received assistance from an expert worb
man who had learned the business in Italy
lie took an attic in Broadway and issue
the following Unpretending business card
John Rogers, artist, designs and exc
%. y. B:-They can be packed for tran:
portation." Mr.. Rogers thus founded
new school in art, and it now remained
see how it would command patronag
This, however, was soon manifested Ii
stead OF following Canova's example, an
presenting groups Of heather deties, b
seized upon living and social theme
Hence, the popular taste was atOnce avail
ened, just as Hogarth awoke it centu1
ago by his inimitable pictorial dramas
ART AND WAR.
The great rebellion was prolific in worl
Of art and vast numbers of oi-paintin.
and lnnumerable engravings were emplo
ed to Illustrate its fearful scenes. Rogel
caught the inspiration Of the day in I
small degree. Few illustrations of cam
LIE and OF Southern experiences were
effective as those which proceeded fro
his hand, and few 50 powerfully expresse
the military spirit OF the day Such seem
as Union Refugees" One More Shot
and 1.-The Picket Guard, were set off /
the humorous delineatiOns of 'Mail Dav
lamp, Uncle Ned's School and Il
Country Post Office" These Groups d
their part, in stimulating yatriot
sentiment: and the prices nj wb;(
they were offered indicated the poye
~ to which genius is often subiecte
Rogers was glad at this time to realize I
apiece for any Of these beautiful grour
Economy of the severest character w
necessary as matter of course. n,
the artist lived in his study. as arts
and authors have often lived before.
BETTER TIMES.
In 1862, prosperity began to cheer Il