National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-10-02
PULASKI.
History Of the Rejected Bust Of the Polish
Patriot,
PULASKI.

Patriot.
SEPTEMBER ., 1875.
To fAs BdStor Of the Maternal RspubIfcaa:
S1R: In TIE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, Of the
I'D Of September It IL stated, under the head OF
"Pertonaln that Mrs. Henningsen, owner Of the
bust Of Pulaski at the Capitol in Washington,
offers to sell It to the Georgia Historical Society
for ESQ.," have to say that Mrs. Henningsen,
my wife, does not, and never did, own the bust In
question, and has nothing Whatever to do with It's
sale. She was requested and authorised TO dis
pose OF It while Mime. Kslussouski was still alive,
the wife Of DIR. Kalussowtki, blood relative Oh
Pulaski, and legal repres entariye Of Henry DINO
chovski, the sculptor, Afterwards killed in Pc
land and whose desire It was that the proceeds OF
the bust should be that lsdy's property. At that
time Mrs. Henningsen offered the bust success
svely to the historical Society of Georgia and to
the Legislature Of that State for s2,ooo, gold;
further sum Of $780, gold to be then raised by sub
scription outside Of Georgia to make up the price
q, $780, gold-contrscted for with the deceased
sculptor BY aJoint committee Of Congress.
THIS REMARKABLE WORK,
and only authentic sculptured likeness eItant Of
the Polish hero, the late Horatio Stone valued at
5000 at least, and Miss Winnie Roam testified
that no competent artist could undertake bust
Of similar (heroic) size under g 500, the sum con:
tracted for. The block from which II Is carved
the sculptor devoted over a wear to its execution
A Cong ressisnal joint committee, IL seems,
finally repudiated the bargain made by Its pre-
country had to bear, among which were, perhaps,
prospectively calculated the salary increase and
back pay. II recommended, however, that me me
sculptor, and that one thousand dollars compen-
satien be made them. When this was voted there
never received a dollar. The bust was DanIshed
TO the crypt Of the Capitol, where IL was until
lately, where one Of the buttons and some OF the
m HF Nha nnFEn Lan n
where 1t was set on q trail wooden pedestal which
any mIscheyious boy might have overturned.
DIR. kalussowski, as executor Of DmochoWskTs
estate. which consisted in this country solely of
that bust, caused It, as the readlest means Of re-
gaining possession OF it, to be sold for one thousand
dollars by auction, that being the amount OF the
bond he had given. This, a mere matter Of form,
had no reference to the real value OF the bust but
seems to have given the busy-bodiss OF several
associations the impression that an eminent OPP
portunity presented itself for o display Of cheap
corporate or Individual patriotism at greatly
reduced. or In other dry goods Parlance, ALARM
In one sense they may be right, for under
stand that the old gentleman, wearIed with six
teen years delay, has recently turned the bust
over to an agent the condition that 1t shall not
be sold for less than $500, of which that agent,
who cleaned and moved it to the Corcoran gal
lery, where 1t now is, asks one half as commits
sion: The present owner is, however, not merely
the legal representative of the deceased sculptor
sentative in this country Of Pulaski himself or
all the distinguished foreigners who aided in
SECURING ITS INDEPENDENCE,
Pulaski, who came here with reputation not
second even to kosciuskOs, alone shed his life
blood in the cause. Lafayette, Kosciusko and
others, or their heirs, received vast grants OF
land and moneys; Pulaski's heirs up to this time
nothing II this psltry perquisits is to be cut
down to $50, greenbacks, nearly q century after
Pulaski's death, the transaction will pay no doubt
as an investment and matter Of dollars and cents,
whether the bust be exhibited at the forthcoming
Centennial or elsewhere, but II disposed of for
anything short Of the contract price the salesman
and purchaser or purchasers will secure a cheap
but not enviable notOriety, as the imputation will
attach OF prOfitt0g by the owners discourage
ment and necessities, when this fine work Of art
and personal presentment of Pulaski attracts
lasting notice as a memorial of national ingrati-
tude, Congressional illiberality and implied in
divicual sharp practice.
Respectfully, &C., y. F. HESSINGsEN.