The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-10-28


it was finished and shipped to Washing
ton. Jackson recommended its accept
ance by congress. but it being wing
body that honor was absolutely refused.
1t made Old Hickory very angry to
find partisan hatred vented on work
of art and because it represented JET
ferson. Moreover, the sculptor had
presented his subject as just having
signed the perfect draft of the Declare
ton of Independence. every word of
which was in large form and could
easily be read if the statue was on a
pedestal indoors. No! Congress
would not allow it inside the capitol.
and President Jackson ordered it put
on pedestal IN front of the white
house, in the center of the semi-circle
along Pennsylvania avenue. 1t was in an
inaccessible place and too far from the
avenue to see its beauty of finish and
excellence in likeness Besides. the
artist supposed it was to be indoors,
and made no provision for the casting
of a statue to be exposed to all kinds of
weather. year in and year out. There
it stood for nearly forty wears. greener
in color than the grass about it. and so
disguised by corroding that no one
knew who the solitary man was. SEN
fenced to watch the daily procession of
clerks going to and from the old war
and navy departments. When Gen.
Babcock became superintendent of pub
lie buildings and grounds he discovered
the rare beauty of the long neglected
statue, and had it removed to a high
pedestal just east of the white house,
where it could be seen to some advan-
tage. Here again its value was noticed,
and Mr.. Hoar of Massachusetts, said it
was i shame to expose SO valuable and
creditable Il work of art to the open air.
So fully forty years after it had been
snubbed by congress, republicans and
democrats We're proud to ask MIR. Jetfer
son in out of the cold. inhospitable at
mosphere of the capital of his country,
and they gave him the place of honor
in the old hall of the house of repre-
sentatives, where the light of his coun-
tenance now shines for all. Guides
who daily conduct strangers through
the capitol say that David's statue of
Jefferson is the one particular statue of
the twenty-five about the building that
they look at longest and praise the
most
In 1864 congress-, DESTROYS of perpet-
uating the historic associations of the
old hall of the house, authorized the
president to invite each state to furnish
statues in marble or bronze, not ex-
ceedn two for each state. of deceased
persons illustrious for their historic re-
nown or for distinguished civic or mil
itary service, as the states determined
worthy of national commemoration.
The first state to respond with statue
of president was Ohio, which present.
ed a heroic figure of James A. Garfield.
The statue of jackson. in Lafayette
square, which cost $50 1000, was Or
dered and paid for by congress. as were
the fine marble statues of Jefferson,
Lincoln, and Washington. President
Garfield is a contribution from his state,
and the most remark able and dis
tinguishing feature about it is the crown
of laurel, the palms of victory, and the
conquerors sword. AS casting in
bronze, repnsing at the base of the
statue, it attracts far more attention
than the statue itself. Maine has given
but one statue as yet-that of William
King. its first governor,-a genteel-
looking man in frock coat and finely
chiseled features. New Hampshire has
contributed nothing. Vermont has
given Ethan Allen and Jacob Collamer,
distinguished senator. Massachu
sets, Gov John Winthrop and Samuel
Adams. Rhode Island, Roger Williams
and Gen. Greene. Connecticut. Jona-
than Trumbull and Roger Sherman.
New York, Chancellor Livingstone and
George Clinton. Pennsylvania, Robert
Fulton and Gov. Muhlenberg.
OG.e Of the peculiar traits shown by
visitors is the unsuitable desire to break
off something to carry away. The big
toe of the Father of his Country has
been knocked off by some yandal
Lincoln has had his forefnger broken
of. The symbolical groups about the
main door have had the feet and hands
of the statuary mutilated. A sculptor
here in Washington is usually employ
ed to restore the broken part, and the
seryice has always paid him well. The
next addition Of 2 public nature will
be when congress provides ior histori-
cal group. including Lafayette. Column
bus, and Grant. 1t is proposed to
erect them in the great circle at the
western base CT the capitol remove the
Peace monument to some more suitable
place, and have ornaments in its place
not So suggestive OF weeping willows
and cemetery sepuiohsrs.