The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-08-22
Winnie Ream.

A correspondent at Washington writes
as follows of Winnie Ream, the sculp-
tress, whose marriage to Lieut.. Hoxie was
recorded the other day:
The bride is proficient in music,
sings, plays the piano, guitar, and harp,
and knows more or less about poetry and
light literature 81 never could bear al
zebra and geometry" she said on late
occasion, sin fact | can hardly count
two and two. Sister says | am afraid to
go out shopping alone for fear people
won't give me the right change"
Winnie Ream was born in Madison,
Wis. is the daughter of Robert L. Ream,
who was registrar of deeds at that time.
He is of German descent, and her mother
of Scotch parentage. Her parents re-
moved to Washington when Winnie was
little more than an infant, and afterward
to Kansas, where her father was employed
in the surveyor generals Office, being one
of his most accomplished draughtsmen.
Winnie was educated at Christian College,
Columbia county, and afterward spent
some time in Arkansas, at Little Rock
and Fort Smith. Vinita, Indian Terri
tory, is said to be named from her.
During the war her parents again re-
moved to Washington, and the father be-
coming helpless from rheumatism and
the family without means, she sought
employment in the dead letter office and
helped to support the family, the father
being confined to clutches for four years,
and the mother taking dodgers, among
whom Winnie formed some distinguished
acquaintance. Going one day with a
congressman from Maine to an artists
studio she for the first time saw the pro-
cess of modelling in clay. 1t was rev.
citation to her. 81 can do that" she
said. "You mean you can try to do it,"
replied the artist. "No," said she, 81
mean can do it." He gave her some
clay and medallion to copy, which she
returned the next morning so modelled as
to astonish him. She soon after received
many orders, and finally, TO the astonish-
ment of people who knew or cared about
sculpture, she obtained the great Lincoln
commission. Not until she had obtained
this, however, did she give up her posi-
ton in the postoffice, but did all of her
artistic work after office hours, many of
her evenings being also devoted to must
cal rehearsals, as she sang in the E-street
Baptist church choir at a salary of $3.50
year; so that her life was o very labo
riOus one.
AS soon as her model of Lincoln was
completed, and she received her first in
stallment of $1,000 on account of it,
she sailed with it to Europe to secure
skilled workmen for the chiseling. She
spent two years and half there, large
portion of the time at Rome.
AT Rome she modelled bust of Cardi-
nal Antonelli, who gave her valuable
medallion of Christ's head as souvenir.
At Vienna she made bust of John Jay,
then American minister there; at Berlin,
of Kaulbach; at Paris, of Dore; in Lon
don, of Spurgeon. In this country she
has modelled most of the distinguished
men of the nation, and has also attempted
ideal creations, among them her Sap
pho" "Spirto del Carnivale," Miriam, y
young West" Her husband sympa-
thizes in her work, being himself an ar
dent scientist student, and the under
standing is that neither shall interfere
with the others pursuits.
She lives in her own house, which is
filled with works of art, and her parents
and widowed sister live with her.
Her statue of Faragut, for which she
is to receive 100000 from congress, is
ready for the casting. She is entirely
self-taught, having never taken lesson,
except the few crude hints received from
the first artist whom she visited.