Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-12-24
THE COLUMBUS GROUP.
Formal Presentation of D. o. Mills Gift
of Statuary,

Formal Presentation OF d, v. MILLS Sut
of statuary.
| About one hundred people were In attend
ance in the rotunda of the State Capitol on
Saturday afternoon, on the occasion of the
formal presentation by Edgar Mills, in be-
half of his brother, D. o. Mills, of the
group of statuary representing Columbus
presenting his theories of the existence of a
new world to Queen Isabella. The assem-
blage embraced nearly sll of the State Off
GERS and their deputies. and large number
of interested citizens. Assembling in the
rotunda where the statuary had been placed,
Edgar Mills said:
Governor Stoneman Mr.. D. o. Mills, now OF New
York. but formerly of California, has intrusted TO
me the simple but pleasant duty OF presenting 10
you, as Executive Of the State, this marble group,
so happily and conspicuously before US In the
rotunda of the State Capitol, and OF asking you 70
accept It upon the conditions mentioned ID his let
ter of donation. The chisel OF the renowned
sculptor could not represent the results OF the elo-
quence and learning Of Columbus; that was left for
many pages of history, and it Will soon be written,
if it is not now, that California, more than any
other State in the American Union, tutlls his VI
sions of marvellous lands beyond the setting sum-
And it is exceedingly fitting that here the group
should be placed for the pleasure and instruction OF
all, to be for all time graceful and enduring me-
moral OF the great event which led 10 tne discovery
Of America Mr.. Mills has long had this project IN
mind, and is grateful for this opportunity to take
part in the establishment OF the Capitol OF the
State, of which he SO long resident, and IN
whose steady advancement and increasing prosperity
he has deep and abiding faith. will now read
and present to you the letter accompanying thegift
Mr.. Mills thereupon read the following
letter from d. o. Mills:
san FRANCISCO, July l, 1888.
To his ExcellenCy George Stoneman, Governor OF
the State Of Caifornia-Sir: Allow me to present to
the State to be placed in the Capitol, the marble
group by Larkin Mead, representing Columbus be-
fore Queen Isabella, explaining his proposed voyage
of discovery aud receiving her assurance that he
should have the necessary aid, even II she had to
pledge her jewels TO secure it.
Trusting that you will agree with me in the belief
that the rotunda Of State Capitol is an appro
pirate place for a work of art concentrating an
event that has had great influence on the des
TIMES of this western world have the honor to be-
sir, your obedient servant, d. y. MILLS.
Governor Stoneman, in accepting the beau
tiful gift in behalf of the State, spoke as FOL
lows:
Mr.. Mills-Sr In the name of the people OF the
great Commonwealth OF California, i as the Chief
Executive of the people thereof tender to the donor
OF this truly regal gift their grateful thanks and
their unstnted praise. 1t has long been question
in art and amongst artists as to the relative merits
oil sculpture and painting As we gaZe upon the
face OF SPANS greatest Queen aud OF that eNtraOr
binary man, the dscOyerer Of new world, as here
deineated ready to admit that, in this case
least, the marble and the chisel can never be eX
celled by the canvas and the brush When we eX-
ami critically this beautiful work OF art and con-
slider that il was once shlpelesS mass OF Parian
marble, blocked from the crust of the earth upon
which we live and consider the long years Of study
and labor bestowed upon it by the great American
sculptor, Larkin Goldsmith Mead and the trans
formation he has made by the chisel and mallet of
the artist and gaze upon the speaking, almost liy-
lag, face and form, re are lost in wonder and ad-
mlration.
am forcibly reminded, while contemplating this
beautiful creation which the generosity of fell
lOw-CitZen has destined for all time to adOrn our
State Capitol Of the similarity that exists between
the history Of the gift which the State receives TO-
day and the life history of its donor. His career
like the marble-a thing OF uncertainty-full OF
glorious possibilities. As the sculptor, eager with
hope and inspired by ambition, sought to create by
his own skill and efforts something which should
eutte him to the plaudlts CT his teloW-men, go the
man Of business, with the world for his quarry,
and his inherent energy guided by strict
integrity and his zeal, controlled by good
judgment, for his implements, begin to carve
out for himself that reputation which to-day is a
source of pride to every Californian. Day by day
the structures grew. The statue Of the sculptor
and the future Of the great fnancier took com
handing shape and grew fuller and fuller Of
promise.
By unfalug effort and unceasing study, the sue
cess which intelligent effort ever commands is to-
day the reward OF BOTH and eminent is this
to-day in the world of art, it is no more eminent
than is its donor our felOw-Clti2en, d. o. Mills in
the world at large. It's to be regretted that in
State, public spirit does not Oftener 20 hand in hand
with financial success, and that the Executive is not
frequently called upon to render thanks in the
name OF the commonwealth on similar occasions.
As we shall hereafter read the modest inscription
" Presented by D. o. Mills, 1883" there will ever
arise from the bottom Of our hearts the heartfelt
" Thank you"
The occasion was one long 20 be remem-
bered by those who were fortunate enough to
be present Following is a sketch of the
sculptor:
LARKIN GOLDSMITH MEAD
Is an American sculptor. He was born in
Chesterfield, n. H., January 3, 1885. In
1852 he went TO Brooklyn, y. Y, where for
three years he was a pupil of Henry Kirk
Brown. At Brattlebero, Vt, he modelled in
snow a statue of "Recording Angel"
which be cut in marble in 1855 In 1857 be
executed the colossal statue Vermont"
which crowns the dome of the State House Of
that State, and in 1861 the statue of " Ethan
Allen" which stands in the portico of the
same building. In 1862 he went to Florence
and produced the statuettss Echo, 3"
"Sappho," Joseph the Shepherd, " The
Mountain Boy, and bust of Echo. "
His first elaborate work In Italy was a group,
"Tho Returned Soldiers" executed in 1866.
From 1868 to 1874 he was occupied upon the
groups " Columbus Last Appeal to Q1een
Isabella" and America" for the soldiers
monument at st. Johnsbury, Vt, and exc
cuted the statues and corner figures for the
Lincoln monument st Springfield Ill, which
was unveiled October -, 1874. Besides
portraits and busts he has modelled Venice,
the Bride of the Sea" and The Discovery
of America" and in 1874 he completed for
the State of Vermont a statue Of L han Allen,
to be placed in the old Hall of Representatives
! in Washington.