New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-07
DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK.

OF THE PoET-A CRITICISM OF HE ATTITUDE
AND FIGURE.
IFROM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
EDINBURGH Aug 23.-At the present writing the
long-talked Of statue Of Robert Burns. 10y Sir John
Stee which is To be Sir Walter Scotts cs-d-ris IN
Central Park is numbering along the road 20 Gas-
gov in order to be shipped by the Anchor Line
steamer Anchoria which sails the Goth inst, for
New-York. 1t was found that the huge case IN
which the statue Is packed would not pass under
the bridges through the tunnels OF the railway.
and recourse was had to the road and four horses.
When Sir John completed the work which has
not only been 20 him. in one sense labor Of love
for several years. but has given him an opportunity
of embodyinC an lGf of Burns which may almost
be sand to nave haunted him from early manhood,
ne was naturally not unwilling taat a few OF his
friends should il before il let the country. A
private view was accordingly gwen a few days ago
at Slr Johns foundry. AID # the circumstances al
tending IL may be taken a. indicating what The re-
cepton Of the statue by all classes of the citizens If
New-York is likely to be-. thar reception VIII most
certainly be attended with both admiration and en-
thusasm Throughout the greater part OF the day
the favored few came dropping into the foundry IN
parties of two three and sir John was kept busy
receiving those who had probably come with pre-
disposition to admire and compliment and explain
ing 10 them the point of view from which he had
approached his subject. The only artist invited
was Ms d. O. Hill. the well-known lady sculptor,
who is at present engaged up0n Burns statue for
Dunfries Mrs Hills name was made familiar to
Americans some time ago IN connection with a pro-
poea 10 erect in Central Park replica of Der mag
nitcent statue OF Dr. Livingstone. which now stands
in Princes Street Gardens III this civ Her opinion
oil Slr Johns Burns may therefore, be of interest.
" Ii is a great work she said and IN view Of the
incident IN Barnss lie when II illustrates, would
selecl tor special admiration the perfect abandon Of
rue ttltude.' heard few remarks OF the adversely
critical order, and. IN fact, Mrs. hii's words NAV
be taken as expressing The opinion of the bulk OF
Sir Johns visitors. There We're no doubt. cXccp
lions. bat that the greater number of those who
saw the statue regarded il favora0ly cannot De
doubted.
Soon after noon the arrivals were more rapid and
numerous and as matter Of course the increasing
line Of carriages in front Of the foundry gradually
became a more and more noticeable feature If the
street The fact Is only worthy of mention for the
sake Of what followed. The residents of the neigh
borhood. judging from the appearance OF the
houses. are chiefly workia gmen, and rs evening
drew near and the workshops began to close. the
carriages and evident stir aoogt the foundry soon
attracted IA crowd of homeward-bouud mechanics
AMI Others of their class. The cause of the un-
woated coming and going throug. tue foundry gate
soon oozed out and co.. l~1-,.edge thai statue of
Burns from the L4l-- .4e sculptor Of the Queen,
Lord Jeffrey. the Prince Censor, XII North, scott,
Ramsay. Chalmers and Wellington was on
Wow within tie foundry. was amply
sufficient to arrest the homewarl pro-
pres of the hungrest OF wOIkingmen. The
name Of Barns has not yet lost lis power over
Scot,meu. and a s,atu. of tle poet by artist Of
III ohu's emmence, destined. moreover for Ameri-
en-. threw temporary but irresistible charm over
the spot When 1t reached ; T Johns ears that
hese eager workers had gathered in the street. de-
spite the lack OF cards Of invitation IN the nope OF
possibly beng allowed 10 take brief look at a
Burns OF his modelling, be At once took measures to
crafty them. Tley were admitted about 4 hundred
al a time and n each hundred passed in and ont
another hundred ready 10 take their places
until several thousand must have enjoyed the PRIV
ilege OF viewing the scUptoTs latest, and, as he
himself believes his greatest work. IL may safely
be SAID that as among The visitors in the early part
of the DAY the common feeling pervading the even
Ing crowd was one of admiration.
HOW SCOTCHMEN WV THE WORK.
Ihave been thus careful IN noting the circum-
stances attending the private view by reason of
the remarkable consension of opinion among widely
differing classes III the social scale of Edinburgh re-
garding the merits Of the work. and because the
public of New-York would probably rather build it,
expectations the opinion of small section Of
the public of Edinburgh than upon those of half
dozen critics Sir John also appears disposed TO ac-
cept that consenson a ground for indulgence IN
the hope of similar appreciation being displayed 10y
Americans Ii may be added that the Scottish press,
though by no means enthusiastic over the statue,
generally commend it in terms which, while mild
and carefully measured cannot be said to damn ii
by faint praise.
The statue was placed upon the right of visitors
entering the foundry door. low framework,
which raised il slightly from the ground. As 1t will
stand in the Park upon pedestal about seven feet
in height, il Is at once manifest that 1t may
make upon a promenader IL the Mall an inn
preston quite different from that it left when
viewed as 1t was seen here almost close 10 the
ground The conception a whole Is original and
strong The KEYNOTE 20 ii is found IN the opening
verses ending with the words parting love" of
the poets lyric To Mary III Heaven" These have
been engraved upon a scroll partially covering a
ploughsock lying at the feet Of the figure, III which
we thus see Burns. in melancholy mood. the plough
man and the poei-lover. The circumstances at
tending the composition of the poem have been
known 10 the world since Cromek first told the
pathetic story III 1s0s, and they need not now
be recounted. Burns Is represented sitting upon
the stump Of elm tree, the poetic tree Of
Scotland with two forking arms. He Is dressed
IN The costume of his class the close Of the last
century a long-tailed coat with a wide collar open
in front the old fashioned Deckerchief Of many
folds knee brooches, "rg-snd-tur stockings and
broad hob-naled shoes Crossing the body and fall
ing from the left shoulder over the thighs are the
folds of piaid The right elbow rests upon one of
the forks of the poets rustic seat, and in order TO
gain tina, support the massive night shoulder Is
drawn considerably upward. The forearm rs
advanced in front of the figure and the hand holds
qdill pen. The left arm IL drawn at full
length slightly backward, and the wrist rests upon
the second fork over which the hand bangs list
iessly. The limbs are 80 disposed to be in hsr