The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-02
THE GERNTAN1A STATUE.
Description of the Colossal Monument on
the Banks of the Rhine.


the Banks of the Rhine.
New York Tribune.
The colossal monument, which is an en-
bodiment of the sentiment of the German
war song, "Die wacht am Rhein," and as a
memorial of the German victory in 1901,
is the work of the celebrated sculptor, Prof.
Schilling,. of Dresden. The rocky base of
the monument rises from the waves of the
Rhine, ana is part of the mountains of the
'NiedeIwald, " opposite this ancient city of
Bingen. The pedestal is built on artificial
rocks and has been finished some few years,
and on it the gigantic figure of Germania,
holding in her hand the imperial crown,
overlooks the forest. Inside of the monu-
ment are many allegorical figures and relief
plates. Around the monument is q broad
carriage-way, and toward the riverside
stands a watch-tower, which, after the un-
yelling of the monument will be mounted
by guard of honor selected from the invalid
veterans of the late war. Up the center of
the monument is a broad flight of stairs; at
the top of the first flight is a bronze plate
with the words spoken by the Emperor at
the laying of the foundation stone.
At each end of this bronze plate the stairs
ascend to a balcony which is the basis for the
artistic part of the monument. Here, to the
left on a high pedestal, stands a colossal
statue of Mars the god of war. This statue,
from head to foot, has the appearance of
abundant strength and energy. In the right
hand the figure holds sword ready to strike,
while with the other he holds to his lips
trumpet to sound the war-cry. Flames are
seen coming out of the helmet and the ex-
preston of the eyes and the face bespeak
zeal and vengeance and confidence of victory.
The figure to the right is the statue of Peace,
a graceful youth, full of tranquility, the
symbolical olive twig in one haad, cornu-
copia OF fruits and flowers in the other and
prophesying the blessing of peaceable pro-
gression and labor Between the two, i'll
front of the immense base on which Ger
mania" stands, is a large relief-plate which
gives she history of the Franco-GerAan war.
Beneath are engraved all the verses of the
war song, die Wacht am Rhein." In the
center of this relief under which is the
German imperial eagle, with outspread wings
appears on horseback the Emperor William,
surrounded by all the German princes
who took part in the war. The Emperor has
passed through portal decorated with the
flags and arms of the confederated states and
of the three free cities of Germany. In the
foreground on both sides are seen the lead
ers OF the German army with their chiefs of
staff in the backgrounds the leaders of the
the different divisions of the army, and
squads of infantry, artillery, cavalry, etc.
Bismarck, at the other Count Moltke. Under
the great relief stands a colossal group rep
resenting Father Rhine handing to the
youthful Moselle the horn on which to
sound the war-cry"
The height of the figure "Germania' from
the foot to the tip of the appraised hand is
torty-one feet, or thirteen feet less than the
great Bavaria monument in Munich. The
thumb measures 514 inches in diameter, and
the small finger 4 inches. The crown upon
the head of the figure measures 81 4 inches
in diameter; the length of the nose from
bridge TO point is II inches, and the width
at the nostrils IL inches, 1t
takes both hands of a grown person
to span the little finger of the figure.
The weight of the "Germania'' is $50 tons
She stands as if Just arisen from her huge
throne, whose arms are the heads of two
enormous eagles, of which birds the bodies
form part of the back The head of Ger
mania' is turned to the right, as if watching
the Rhine. A laurel wreath adorns her head,
from which long, flowing hair waves in the
breeze. The crown she holds in the appraised
right hand is covered with laurel, while with
the left she leans on the sword which won
victory. A cuirass decorated with the i'm
perial eagle shields her breast and displays
at the shoulders loose shirt of mail. This
shirt, with its various stitches, which rests
loosely and softly at the arm, is certainly
wonderfully fine specimen of this kind of
work. Falling in luxurious folds, fastened
with llon-headed belt the massive figure is
enveloped in drapery, while embroidered
doves, stays, eagles and precious stones orna-
ment the imperial mantle
The "Germania" was cast at Millers cele-
brated foundry at Munich; the Rhine-Mo-
selle group at Behring'S, at Dresden; the flags
and arms of the confederated States at the
casting works in Lauchhammer. Also at
Lauchhammer two smaller plates were csat,
portraying the soldiers departure from home
and his return. The statue of Mars was
erected by voluntary subscriptions of the
many veterans associations; the statue of
Peace by the subscriptions of the college
students and pupils of The art academies and
of other schools. The great relief was pre-
sented by the numerous singing societies.