The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-11
THE CENTENNIAL.
The Exhibition Of Statuary at the Gen.
tennial Exposition.
SKETCH OF THE ART WORK In PROGRESS
The Catholic F0untain-The German Statue Of
HumbOldt-Italian Statue of Columbia

Humboldt-Italian Statue of Columbus
PRESBYTERIAN TRIBUTE TO RELIGION.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb TO- 1878
Your correspondent had the opportunity Of pre-
senttng to the readers OF the HERALD, Q few
months ago, plan for she celebration OF our nrsy
American Centenary, originated and devised by
Mr.. Charles s. Keyser, which at tine time created
no little comment. and which subsequently has
been rapidly and systematically developed.
THE PLAN.
stated at the time that the plan was purely
artistic and could only be consummated through
that patriotic reverence which every one enter
tains for the country that gave him birth: and
also stated that as our population was so
remarkably cosmopolitan. and as our govern
ment Afforded such extraordinary privileges
to all within It's boundaries, 1 had no
doubt the plan eventually would meet
with great favor. This prophetic utterance has
been fulfilled, and l am able at this time to com.
muncare the TACT that nearly all the different ma.
tionaiires that make up our census have accepted
the conditions or the project ana are at this hour
doing ell In their power to carry them to compile
ton.
Four agencies combined make up the plan:-
!. Civil powers.
2. Military bodies
:. s sssS;
Leaving Tor the present the three agencies nrst
named. | viii proceed to the most beau tiful
feature OF the whole design, because 1t is, SO to
speak, the most contemporaneous, and is the
most perfectly under way. Mr.. Keyser, many
months ago, In printed communication ad-
dressed 10 the Centennial Commission rela-
tive to the last feature Of his design, said,
ain reference to the statues would state
that as the chief object OF the celebration
Is to do honor to, and preserve the memory
OF the events and OF the fathers OF the
Revolution, alegorical devices IN bronze and
stone, or the statues Of the men themselves, are
naturally suggested as appropriate to the event.
] propose that the Commissioner shall receive
these as the offerings OF States, societies. cities or
individuals, who shall retain the property, subject
only to temporary use In giving grandeur to the
great celebration alter which they can be re.
turned. to be paced either In the parks Of the
cities which loaned them. or else In the rotundas
OF their capitols."
Developing the idea into greater ana erander
scope, the author further says :-"Citizens Of
other countries residing here. or distinctive por-
tons OF our population might, in this manner,
lend great interest to the OCCASION"
THE FIRST RESPONSE.
no sooner had this plan appeared in print than
Its principal features were communicated to the
HERALD. l am personally informed oy repre-.
sentative gentleman Of the Catholic Total Abstin-
ence Association which in this city alone comprc-
hends II, 900 souls, that IL was from these columns
that he first conceived the beauty OF the idea, and
straightway set himself resoiutely at work. 1t
was from the Catholics that the first response
came, and 1t Is doubtful whether grander or
more artistic design than theirs, now under way,
has ever graced any Of our popular outdoor
resorta
THE CATHOLIC FOUNTAIN.
The design, as indicated BY the headline, "a Q
fountain. grand, beautiful and colossal. The CEN
trail figure represents Moses as having stricken
the rock; the stan resting In his hand touches
assure whence issues stream OF water, that.
moving into hundred different channels. entirely
encircles the rugged PEDESTAL and falls into .
gracefully constructed basin underneath. Around
this superb central statue are grouped four other
ngures, respectively "a MISUNDERSTANDING Car.
roll, VINO was commissioned with Franklin ct the
opening OF the Revolution; Commodore John
Barry, the iather OF our American navy; Charles
Carroll Of carrollton, Nd. and Tneobeld Mathew.
the highest name IN the cause OF temperance
THE sTYLE OF TUE FIGURES.
ura mo cs arr rob Sows the carrier portrait
drapery Is suspended heavy cross. His attitude
represents MN as stepping forward, bis head ia
the generous noDleness and sweetn ess OF the face
Of this the gentle and patriot priest OF che Rsvo.
Barry Is the bluf. hale. hearty. noble, brave
hero the sailor. the man OF courage and action.
Aneatlon bo:n In lace and figure modelled from
the original painting in old independence Hail. is
standing statue OF great dignity AND simplicity
The fourth and last OF the ltfesize statues s that
OF Tneobald Mathew, representing him as pre-.
meQal pledge 4 IA
great mission.
REHABILITATION
From the official notes Of the designer your cor.
respondent recapttulates the i0llowing:-
Name OF sculptor. Herman Kirn, now executing
the work at CarlSruhe. Inc dimensions are as
iollows:-Central figure, Moses, l5 feet high; rock
WORK supporting the same, Is feet high -FOUR
Archbishop Carroll and Richard Montgomery, each
ieet high; pcdestals OF eacn figure, 0 feet high;
ment, 100 feet height OF central structure, 5leet;
helgut OF the Jour outside structures q ieet The
steps around fountain. i,2o4 cubic feet: stems
around pedestas, GU cubic leet; basin, $50 cubic
ee 8ar 1oct 1000 cube
material OF the whole structure Will be Tyrolese
marble
GERMANY HONORs HUMBOLDT
No sooner had the Catholics taken their FIRST
step than the Germans urged on by the enrhu-
siasm OF the hour, turned tneir attention to an
aud determined to rear in Paramount Park in 1875,
q colossal statue OF Baron Won Humboldt They
OF Berlin, VINO was a personal friend ana intimate
associate OF Humboldt, and VINO by the last
steamer sent the following assurance
kest conhdent that the work WILL positively be
finished before April, 1875"
The financial portion or the work Is assured, the
correspondents OF the Drexel Brothers and Messrs
Anwaidt & Wagner having charge OF the de tails.
The statue will be OF bronze, nine feet high
placed UPON granite pedestal or massive and
imposing character
JEWISH TRIBUTE TO LIBERTY.
The Jews, when In this city number more than
wealthiest and most cultured Of Pmladelphians,
took early action on the question Of their part Ia
the great celebration, and decided to erect IN
Paramount Park IN 1879 q handsome figure COM
memorative OF renglous freedom. The model Tor
TINS work has lately been completed, and the
sculptor Is now engaged IN executing the work in
marble. The sculptor, NJ. Ezekiel, is an American
and native OF Richmond, Va. lie Is also MON.
Der OF the Hebrew Association. HIS studio Ia IN
Rome HIS last wol anlned the frat prize ct the
Imperial Academy OF BENIN.
DESCRIPTION OF THE STATUE.
The cenfral nunra namad ..1nsa nn.l~..