Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-29
QUEER IDEAS OF AN OLD HERO.
Some of the Models Submitted for
the Putnam Monument.
Prom the Ne1o York Times.

FF1m me 3e3c OFE ItOteS.
HARTFORD, CONN, May 22.-The COM
mission on the Israel Putnam monument,
to be erected in Brooklyn, Conn, at cost
Of $4,000, will meet at the State capital
on Monday TO examine the twenty-five
models and drawings which were not
fully looked over at the first meeting last
Monday owing to the absence OF two
members. The comm ission refuses to
give the public any information regard
ing the character OF the designs beyond
the announcement that some OF them
provide for statues, others for monument
tai works. and two or three for equestrian
figures. But there are reports that, while
some of the artists and architects have
displayed creditable works, some of the
statues and figures are remarkable pieces
OF invention which excite the most as
founding sensation.
The trouble in the whole matter is that,
as to any idea of the face and figure of
Putnam, there is nothing to 20 by except
| tradition. The familiar face of the man,
as it has been represented in one paint
| ing, made from a description furnished
many years ago by a person VINO had seen
| him and now long since dead, represents
! him as of coarse features, and knowledge
| of his habits, which has been handed down
! IN the community where he lived, war
/ IOUAU
| sort OF person, not at all particular as TO
1 style in any direction, yet possessing just
! these rugged. persistent characteristics
! which gave prominence to men i'm the try-
ing period OF the Revolution. Notwith-
| standing the popular and probably correct
opinion OF the general appearance OF Put
nam, statue has been put in Bushnell
f, park, in this city. which gives him the
/ clean cut facial outlines of a fascinating
] Il ia-a nd n lV
Of an Adonis. Any art pOrtraiture like
| this placed in Brooklyn would startle the
bones in the old village cemetery where
| ue lies buried.
But apparently without any knowledge
of the existing figure, or even of the wood
! cuts of the man as they appeared IN his
! torical collections of tue last generation
which conform very closely To the paint
ing referred to, some Of the designers who
have sent models to the commission have
/ proceeded entirely upon the brOauest
kind Of idealism, and if the world is ever
permitted to see these curosities in art
they will be at once classed among the
wonders Of an ingenious age. There is
sad TO be one statue in the collection
which embellshes the froutispiece OF the
old hero with corkscrew-shaped curls on
each side OF bis forehead, ard another
disposal OF the figure gives to the whole
design "A striking resemblance to COM
monty seen advertising cut Of a
half Indian, half Quaker apostle OF
patent medicine. Another model is
described as having evidently been
made from photograph OF
the lack Of clubs. Still another, and this
equestrian places Putnam on AN animal
whose head and tail, like church spires
point upward, and the appearance Of
which recalls Consul General Waiiers
stump speech ora DRY several years ago
when he predicted a glorious party tri
umph and compared 1t to a buck emery
ibg from the woods with his antlers ant
his tail in the air shouting victory" BuI
theee are the exceptions in the collection
and being so afford the only excuse Ton
any reference 10 them. as all the rest arc
considered by the commission too good e
be seen or described. Possibly, however
after a choice has been made either from
the designs submitted or from "A cOmbiua
ton OF several Of them the whole c0!lcc
tion Will be thrown open to public inspcc
ton,