Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-28
CAPITAL STATUES.

Visitors.
Statues, statues, and statures, it may
be said. are what Washington is most
celebrated for, writes Washington cor
respondent of the New York Herald.
The great men of the nation perpetually
live here, either in an official capacity as
legislators or in efigy. Just now the
statues are the great attraction. When
the president cabinet, and heads Of bu-
reaus return they will divide the visitors
attention. When congress is in session
that body and the capitol will be the
center of interest.
To make the marble and bronze statues
interesting it will be sufficient to say that
they cost upward of $1,OOO,OOO. That
amount has been expended Ill the prodUc-
tion and mounting of the equestrian and
pedestal figures which are scattered
around the public parks, IN front of the
capitol and IN Statuary hail. More than
that, there are probably as many works
of art Of this class in Washington as there
are in all the cities of the United States.
1t was some years ago regarded as evil
dence of genius to condemn everything
in the way of painting and sculpture
about Washington. It indicated large
experience abroad, for where else could
an American have his taste properly cul-
tivat ed? Certainly not at home. It was
likewise the habit OF letter-writers to be-
little the infantile effort of country not
yet century old to perpetuate in endur-
ing brass and stone the memory Of those
who deserved recognition from their coun-
trymen. The fippant tongue of the ig-
nOrant no longer Wags, and gifted cor
respondents find the statues Of public
men more engaging theme than criti-
Ching works of art of which they know
nothing.
classification of the statutes Will give
the reader a better idea of whom they
represent. The presidents, for instance,
are always regarded as great men, and
are presumed to be worthy OF enduring
fame, yet only Washington, Jefferson,
Jackson, Lincoln, and fairfield are to date
deemed worthy of immortal rank. Wash
ingtOn has four statues, Lincoln three,
Jefferson two, and the others one. Again,
of the twenty-one vice presidents, George
Clinton, of New York, has this field Of
honor exclusively as his own. Then there
have been upward of two hundred mem
bers of the cabinet since the foundation
of the government. The first secretary
of treasury, Alexander Hamilton, lives
here alone in marble. OF the thousand
silver and gOlden-moved senators, Gen.
b. d. Baker, of California, and Jacob Col
lamer, of Vermont, are all that are now
insession in Statuary hall. The judiciary,
with its long line of eminent justices,
knows lonely Chief Justice j. ohm Marshall,
of Virginia, and Chancellor Livingstone,
of New York, who administered the oath
of Office to President Washington upon
his Inauguration in New York city in
1889. Theology and religion strike hands
in the person of Martin Luther and Roger
Williams. Science recognizes the grand
name of Prof. Henry and genius the name
of Robert Fulton. OF the great naval he
roes of the war Admiral Farragut is fire.
quently mistaken for a New York fireman
of the olden day, his long spyglass sug-
gesting the butt, while Admiral Dupont
holds his glasses SO close to his
breast as though about to pitch red-hot
ball across the field at Dupont circle.
The peace monument was erected by Off
GERS of the navy, but does not cOmmemo-
rate the name of any particular officer
The one continental army officer in
marble is Ethan Allan. Gen. Greene,
of Revolutionary fame, has his memory
brass cast in an equestrian statue and on
foot. The other genereIs whose names
Washington, commander-in-chief Of the
Revolutionary armies; Jackson, of the
war of 1912 and 1915; Scott CT the Mex
lean war, and Mcpherson, Thomas, and
Rawlins, of the war of the rebellion. All
but Rawlins have grand equestrian statues
His has been on a reservation southwest
of the state department.. It has been so
blackened by exposure that from it's gen
eral design and appearance it Is better
known as the Pirate of the Potomac, near
whose banks it stands. Congress has
ordered it to be removed to a more suit
able spot and reburnished. The old col
Onial congress has the statues Of Hancock
Franklin, Adams, and Sherman to pre-
serve its memsry. John Winthrop repre-
sents the old continental governors, and
William King of Maine, the governors of
the United States, and Muklenberg, of
Pennsylvania, stands for the house of
Representatives, of which he was a memb-
er several terms, besides his distinguish
ed service during the Revolutionary war.
The only one not assigned is Jonathan
TRANQUIL, of Connecticut, an eminent
patriot of the Revolution, who deserves
sebarate mention because it was from
aim the term Brother Jonathan, origin
ated on account of his skill in expedients
to meet the necessities of the e0ntinen-
tai congress.
Then they are the symbolic figures of
Freedom" surrounding the dome of
the capitol; ''The Discovery of America"
''The Settlement of America" ''The Pro
gress of Civilization" some alto-relievo
designs in front of the old capitol; the
statues of ''Peace" and ''War" on either
side of the main entrance, and busts and
panels by the dozens. Washington's
equestrian statue represents him at the
battle of Princeton, with drawn sword
and on very spirited horse, apparently
frightened up the fray; again, he is
standing as Citizen George, the cele-
brated work of the Houdin. A third
statue is the colossal one by Greenough.
'Pater Patriae, on the esplanada at the
east front of the capitol, and the fourth
is the central figure IN the group COM
posing the Progress Of Civilization of
the United States" in the tympanum
over the senate portico. These evidences
of regard for the Father of His Country
cost the government in all S125,O00.