Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-05-21
The soId,er., NTonument.

nv
There has been small danger for a week
past, that, whatever else we have, we shall
have a soldiers monument of ''white bronze"
hut we have nevertheless taken pains to as
certain the sentiment about the material in
Bridgeport, Conn, where the white bronze
company is located. We have learned from
entirely reliable sources that the company is
a responsible one and its managers men of
good repute, but the material is looked upon
with distrust and aversion by people of taste
aud discrimination, for the reason that it has
no artistic sentiment or expression whatever,
and monument made from it means no
more than if it was made from lead or tin or
painted wood. One correspondent writes;
In the opinion Of people of educated taste nothing
really artistic has yet come from the white bronze
works. Tue company have made plain monument
in the cemetery here, costing $500, and when you
thump on it, it sounds like tin boiler The question
agitated Of having Grant statue to be placed IN
the Seaside park. The white bronze agents raised
the boom, and the matter was left in the hands oil
committee of the most prominent men to decide. 1t
was decided to this effect: that the Monumental
Bronze company could not get mp statue Of artistic
merit enough to deserve place in the park that the
material not of artistic beauty in ITSELF being of
ugly drab color, and not yet in use long enough TO
know whether it would even resist the innovations OF
time. The idea of the gentlemen oil the committee
was, that in obtaining work OF art which should en-
dure IL to the credit OF the artistic development
of the present century to have real work Of art de-
scend TO future generations. The soldier which
the company furnishes is everywhere the same-t
only differs in size. II you get this statue, future
generations will make fun Of you ndpul 1t down."
We have other white bronze information to
similar effect. From numerous outside
SOURCES we have urgent words in favor Of Mr..
Mead's Recording Angel" The following
letter, which the selectmen received early this
week, is evidently the sincere and spontant GUS
expression of a man of artistic insight and
wide observation
FLORENCE, Italy, May Sd, 1856
The Board Of Selecinen Of Brdttleb0rO, ":
Gentlemen IL this morning strayed into the studio
Of Mr. Larkin G. Mead and while admiring his mar
BILE statue of the Snow Angel he mentioned that he
had suggested it to you the browning of your sol
diers' monument write this unknown to him to say
that have seen nothing more poetic, more sugges
tive in my travels in Italy. My grandfather, Joht
Dickerman, was born In Bratteboro, moved to Che
mango county, n. and was born across tue sus
quehauna river in Delaware county; and as soon as
the statue and learned of what you think OF do
ing, my mind has dwelt upon 1t all day and canno
help writing you line on the subject feel as II
had personal interest in it, 1t strikes me that tn
Snow Angel would create a lasting interest In any
town. and more especially in yours where 1t was frs
made; and as l frequently go many miles here T.
look at a famous tomb or monument, so 1t seems T.
me that many travellers in the long years to come
when on their way to the White Mountains, will sto
day at BrattlebOro TO see so beautiful monument
The average soldiers monument is soon forgotten
but just by seeing this once, this morning. am sur
that it will inger in my memory longer than man
that have seen that are Of worldwide fame,
Excuse the liberty stranger has taken, but If yol
adopt it will not be stranger to you on the day
is unveiled to the public. Very truly yours,
j. II. JOHNSTON.
From Chicago comes a letter which wa
written several days before it was known tina
Mr.. Mead had proposed modelling the IRE
cording Angel for the monument. TIL
writer had just seen in the house of wealth
resident of the city, formerly of BIsttleboro
a statuette reproduction in marble of tn
Recording Angel" made by Mr.. Mead las
summer to the order of his Chicago friend
The writer says
''The work once seem is thing never to be forge
ten. You carry its impress long after you have LEI
It. The pose of the figure is perfect the wings Jul
cross each other in front at the feet the hands al
folded, rather one drops restfuuy over the otht
as If the angel had just finished writing something o
her tablet; the arms, which are half exposed are pc
feet in propor on; the drapery falls in natural fold
in the wings each feather shows in detail; on the to
of is little bird, and on the arm Is anoth'
trying to get under the wing The face is striking
yond description; 1t has rare combination OF swee
ness, strength and PURITY without trace OF DOLLS
or eheminacy which cannot be put in words"
A lady long a resident of BrattlebOro writes
Don't have the commonplace, stereotyped sold
which every town can have for the buying. Don
have anything but Mead's angel; Don't let your o.
portunty slip to have real distinctive work of al
such as no other town can have, and which will g
Bratteboro a reputation and standing now and her
after as nothing else could. Fortunate Braltlebor
II she have the Mead Angel on her soldiers mon
ment!"
The sentiment of our people in favor
Mr. Mead's design is strong and steadi
growing stronger. There is a growing a.
probation, too, of the generosity of M
Mead's offer. careful estimate shows tn
he only asks out of the towns appropriate
of @5OOO for the aotual cash outlay involve
in producing the statue in bronz'. He free
gives to his birthplace his own time, wor
genius and reputation and asks no return.