National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-17
ART MATTERS.
nANERICAn IN MARBLE.


London correspondent Of the Philadelphia
Telegraph gives the following description of John
Bells piece Of sculpture Of America "The
principal subject Is the United States directing
the progress Of America, which Canada accom-
panies pressing to her breast the rose OF England.
The composition, however, comprises eve figures,
and Q bison, Tor American buffalo,) on which the
central figure Of America (as . quarter Of the
globel is mounted. This figure Is between nine
and ten feet high, and is Of the native American
type, with costume in accordance. On her LEFT
arm she bears a shield, with blszons Of the eagle
for the United States, the beaver for Canada, the
volcanoes for Mexico, the lone star for Chilli the
alpaca for Peru, and the Southern Gross for Bra
I'll. On her right hand is . stone-pointed fsath-
cred lance, hung with Indian totems Of the gray
squirrel and the humming-bird. The housings
beneath her are grizzly bears skin- The buf-
falo Is represented as pressing on, almost charg-
ing, through the long prairie grass, and in the
rear, aroused BY its passage, is rattlesnake.
1.-The two male figures on the rear faces OF the
composition represent respectively South America
and Central America, both Of which, as less pro-
RressiVe are represented sedent South America
Is personated by an Indo-Spaniard hRlfbreed,
habited in sombrero, poneho and Indian gtrdle,
while In his LEFT hand is the short hOrseman's
by his side Is an orchid Of the forests Of Brazil
and at his feet horn Of the wild cattle OF the
plain and blossom Of the giant lily OF the River
Amazon. Central Amerie . is presented In Mext
can head-dress, with staff and feather eincture,
and at his feat is plant Of the cochaneal cactus
These two male figures are each eight feet six
inches in stature. In relative proportion with
these, about eight feet high, are the two female
erect statues on either side in 'front.' representing
respectively the United States and Canada, Tor
the British Possessio1s,) which, although differ
ing in feature, bearing and expression, are both
Of tie Anglo-Saxon civilized type. Canada Is
partly habited in furs, and in her head-dress ap-
pear the maple leaf Of the mainland and the May
hover of Nova Scotia. In her left hand is the
English rose, and in the right are ears Of wheat,
while at her feet are some mr. branches and pair
Of snOW-shoes.
HShe advances on one side OF the buffalo, while
the other side, directing its progress with the
star-seeptre which she points forward over is
head with her right hand, advances the hgure Of
the United States, habited IN q dress partly thin
and partly Of q thicker material, to suggest the
great range Of her climate In her tresses Is seen
the legend Uniied) on the bracelet upon her left
wrist, while the wand bears q wreath Of the
foliage Of the evergreen oak. an emblem Of the
States, and at her foot lies the Indians culver,
with but an arrow or two LETT In 1t. This is the
dominant and directing figure OF the whole group,
although not the largest in scale, as 1t was judged
requisite to present the central figure Of America
las quarter Of the globe) OF larger dimensions
than any other figure representing but portion
however important, OF the same. The inquire OF
the United States controls as we'll as directs the
progress Of the buffalo, which was selected TO
bear the central figure, as typical OF the innate
power and force Of the continent, and OF which
animals in their native state still range in such
multitudes in the vast natural meadow at the
foot Of the Rocky Mountains-n