The news and herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1876-1881, 1877-01-25
THE HOME OF TnB GREAT AMEIsI-
CAM SCULPTOR.

know it will interoHt your read
ere, who must all appreeinte the
"trne and the beautiful" to hoar an
account Of the home where these
attributes reign suprcme-the home
Of Americas well~known sculptor,
Henry Kirke Browne.
Sixteen years ago it was my good
fortune know him and his gentle
invalid wife, at tho tin>e when the
star of our prond State was in the
nscentlnt, and Columbia the centre
of cultivated society anil refined
we!.lth. Nj. Browne had been invit.
ell thit}ler, commissioned by thc
State government to make Q group
Of ntstuary which was to support the
lciiment Of the new capitol. The
central figure Of the group, ten in
number, represented II beautiful
woman, with features Of tho noblcst
Roman type, yet with IL sweet inno-
cenco Of expression which softened
tho majesty Of her mien. Her brow
was encirrled by stars; and in her
right hand she bore tho olive branch.
All ! Peace was indeed within in our
walls then. But the war-cloud
lowered, and Mr.. Browne was com
PEELED to cease the work SO dear to
his heart. Az yet only plaster
cast Of this superb figure existed,
though the block of marble thirteen
feet in length, from which it WAS to
be cut, stood already in tho studio,
and several chips had been taken
flom it. OF one, the sculptor form
ell small papor-weight, and carry
Jug his initials thereon, presented
it to yo,lr correspondent Us q souvc-
nir. When Sherman fired his first
shot in our doomed city-tl ie gun
directed by his own hand toward the
glie5ening white pile of the State
house in the distance-that shot,
strange and solemn omen pierced
the studio which stood near south
vest side, and glancing the solid
wall Of that splendid building, which
III still sad monument Of our disap-
pointed hopes, tore off a projecting
corner. The statue of "Pouco" was
shtttsred
political affairs IN South Carolina,
We cannot Of course, anticipate the
completion of any great national
work but when Reform and Hamp-
ton al III have redeemed the pros
trate Stste, perhaps in some bright
future the Northern sculptor may re-
turn to the sunny land he loted SO
we'll, and "Peace' will raise her star
crowned head upon the battlemonts
Of our now ruined head and desccra-
ted capitol.
But | sm wandering far away
Fl ON the little villa on the Hud-
con.
1T had been raining for weeks dur
ing our stay in New York, and we
had begun to feel as if "Probabili-
ties were against us and our long
hopca-for trip up the "Rhine Of
America" when we awoke one worn
ing and found the sun shining
brightly.
"The very day for the Hudson !"
we excl"iued with one breath and
nine O'Clock found us en- route. The
steamer passed rapidly out Of sight
of the great Babylon tic noise and
confusion of the city were things Of
the past rs gently rolling hills and
vci'd:int valleys stole upon the sight
Presently Weohawken camo into
view, wheIc the blood of Hamilton
still calls from tho ground and
further on, the bold outlines of the
palisades still further Sing Sing
attracted our attention, but we saw
no cunvicts
Tie wind was very brisk and chilly.
GnI in order to loso no point Of in
tAr~t, we hna to submit to consider
able discomfort. However,, We
cheerfully gave our garments to be
waited hither and thither, and stood
firm with flnttcring wells and torn
planes, AMI wildly Tapping shawls
ana water proofs. 1t seemed IL kind
Of virtue to bear these evils calmly,
for were we not on ''clasBic ground"
-or, rather, wator ?
There was considerable difference
Of opinion amongst the humorous
"ccntennial tourists" who thronged
the deck and Expressed themselves
freely as to "what was what" Some
times it grew luhicrously serious.
"That's Yonkers, said one of tho
unterrifcd Democracy south Of NJ.
& Dis line.
"No, isn't at all, responds bluff
Western hoosior, with his hands in
his pockets. "l know bettern that;
it's lrvin3ton."
Il think You ore mistaken, sir,
remarked cut-and- dried, genuine
Yankee. "I guess that's Cold
Spring
Somebody produces q "Guide,"
but that only confounds tho confu-
sion md I turn with solicitude to
pretty New Yorker, who sits ab
sorbod with her novel in snug
corner.
"Do please" T begin imploringly,
tell us what place that is, pointing
down tho river. With subdued