The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-06-24
THE NEW SAvhL MONUMENT.
"Too Many Females" on Deck TO satisfy Adj
miral Porter.

"Too Many Females" on Deck TO satfsfy Adj
miral Porter.
WASHINGTON, June 19.-Admiral Porter
Is gentleman Of great versatility. but with
character difficult to understand l have been
twenty years studying this character. and cnn-
didly confess to not having mastered the sub
jcct l have accepted him M nm authority on
torpedo boats on torpedo warfare. on prize
cases-indeed. have accepted him as fine old
salt generally; but, until few days ago. had
not the slightest suspicion that he claimed to be
n proficient in monumental art. The Admiral
assures his friends and the public generally
that the design Of the tall white marble
monument recently erected ut the west front
OF the Capitol grounds Is his, and original
ut that. That the design IL original Is con-
ccdcd by all navy officers | hear speak OF If.
But that it expresses the object for which II WIS
originally intended Is seriously doubted. In
truth II has already been the subject OF u good
deal OF adverse criticism by many officers, who
shy they fail TO see anything nautical or naval
about IT,
In the articles Of agreement with the artist.
Franklin Simmons a copy Of which have be-
fore me. stipulation is made: " For monu-
mont on the grounds Of the Naval Academy ut
Annapolis Md. In memory Of the officers, sea
men. and marines Of the United States navy
their country" Here follow the specifications.
The locality was changed to Washington as u
more fitting place. and Congress appropriated
100000 for the foundation. The artist was paid
from fund made w of the voluntary rOntrlbu-
tons OF navy md marine officers ana their
friends, amounting to u little over $4,000.
One would think from the extract made above
that this expensive monument ana liz surround
ings should at least express something OF u
nautical character and in some mnnncr mai.
cating what these heroes BLEED and died Tor. But
of the kind We have II base ten feet high. by
twelve feet surfncc and enclosed ON its four
sides with white marble steps. and on top Of
this n platform Of the same material ABOVE
this rises the shaft. in three courses of huge
teen tons. fiat on two sides and s"m circular on
the others, or rather fronts, with moulded
ing twenty three feet. or thiriy-thrre feet IN
Guiding the base. This il crowned with group
Of two female figures, eight feet I'VE inches
high. representing n story and Grict. Both nra
well executed, and do credit Ia the scuptor \
reputation History stands in an casy, grace,
ful attitude with an open book in her lett hand
and a pen in her right. She does not, however,
seem To care much about recording history:
Hricf Is in q NOR. disir"ssed mood. has buried
her face in her right hand, and has rested both
on lIistory's naked shoulders over which her
tears are falling. The specifications say:
ON ,hc front oi The monument second sccienl sur.
GROUP oi three figures The central nvutc shail rerre
Lh nsaIe .I,l net sS s,s g., N gJ FAR, nor less
'sn ~N,m 70 ,n, ,N,t'ihS a. ,si ulI ns' ,i ,
the design with sca she'll Nci In iull rcci In 'front.'
ts de,sn two ho,' one repr ntns III, nav, amt "
a' on Sh Xxx, rr .. All b se ~', S'
shall be- securely a,tcued 10 the -amc.
This must have been changed somewhat. for
the breezy young lady with peaked cap on
her head, and apparently Just turned sixteen
/ who in nlnds Ia Il, present Victory simply holds
wreath IA her extended right hand. lherf
/ IL nothing To- show whom she intends 10 crown
/ A. tu the two very dlminutive urchins cr0u.h.d
! at her feet one representing the navy and thu
other the marines. they are IN" mrrrst suck
] lnEs and were II not that lac Of the marines
wears ca'nlrynnn helmet. and he OF III,
navy has thr""-prphsrd inrk IN Ms hhud
might hr m -tak"n Tor candidates Tor "A found
Ink hospital. Perhaps the three pronscd iJrk
referred 90 was intended Tor a rid"nl.
No doubt nnture WAS studied closely in work
ns nui these figures. Indeed. We are told IN
hr carefully studied from nature. ana cNr'utrt
T faithfully IN all it, details. and IN the nohl"S
style of the art" am afraid | shall have t.
1T Admiral Porter 10 tell me- what he means by
ia" unhll II style Of the art.
The cost Of thlS monument when finished vii
be- over tiu.uuU. ~ tine Government cannot aifor,
Let il be- Understood that do not rcnsurc Mr.
Simmons the 'uiptor. IN this article What IA
had 10 dc hr did well and, ~ | said hrlur,
fully sustained the high place hr has galnr,
mNng Amer AN s'ulitor- II Is the dos IN. o
rather tir architectural Iuu Of the work. AN
Tor which Admiral Porter claims all the credit
that meets w,th 80 mith adverse criticism. an
e. which object This part oil the work is sim
ply Hat and meaningless.
We have in this monument "a convincing proc
that Admiral Porter is not a success as II de
slgurr ~ monuments, wuats hc may b" ~
naval hero. Indeed. would suggest "a him. II
Il friendly way. that hc sti.N to hls torpedo hoat
ami ms uriD' money, and leave monumrntal Ar
nnd obituary poetry 10 George Mash.ustol
CuIdS \. NJ. of thu lhilnd rlphla Letyn'.
StilL Admiral Porter is not happy. lie con
fcss r that IA re- are too many females Ahou
the thins to give IT "A truly nautical App"nran't
lie says. in "a suilor-ltkr way. something mus
be- done 10 offset this strange defect. Hence b
in~trurts Mr.. Edward Clark. architect of Ia
Capitol. who has had charge Of the ere ton Cd
tins great naval monument. 10 80 ds- I,
the outlying lamp posts that they Will rrsemnl
an 'hofs. coils OF rope. yard arms. chains. an
granite" he says. will give II n truly nuutici
appearance. MIR. Clark: and the people wi
understand the thing better COLUMBIA.