Evening star., 1886-08-14
THE GODDESS ON THE DONE
The PeriIous Work OF the Men who
Paint Her Pedestal.

THE STAR THAT APPEARS on THE BRONZE
GODDESS BRow-THK STORY OF PAINTER
WHO woRsHIPED THE fIGURE--IMPRovK.
MENTs TO BE MADE ABOUT THE CAPITOL
There is said to be a superstition attached to
the Goddess OF Liberty that stands silently on
the dome of the Capitol. Though IL Is not wide
spread, it is said to be deeply rooted in some
minds. Had Congress decided to gild the God
dess it would perhaps have been found difficult
TO get any one to undertake the task. II is
we'll known that when the dome was thoroughly
painted several years ago, the painter who
worked about the Goddess lost his reason, de-
claring that she had life, and was possessed OF
the spirit OF the Virgin. At a certain hour in
the morning, very near the moment of sun
rise, there is one point in the head-dress of the
statue that reflects back the light, appearing
star. 1t Is only for a short time that it can
be seen. Every morning this ensnared painter
would kneel in front of the Capitol and worship
the star-crowned Goddess as long as the star was
visible Others are said to have come under the
influence OF this bronzed Goddess, and have
imagined that she exercised some mysterious
power over them Some imagine, IL is said, that
should they look too often at the star that
shines on her forehead at morn they might
suffer the tate of the poor painter.
ASIDE from any ignorant superstition, the
man must have considerable courage who ciings
TO the feet of the Goddess. They might anger
the dame or lose their foothold and be hurled
to eternity. 1t has been suggested TO the super
stltious mind that the man who was found
crushed on the root of the Capitol was trying to
WOO the Goddess, who in her anger cast him
down. Why should she not be another Aphro-
dite?
AT all events the Goddess, or perhaps IL is the
great height, is apt to turn the head of a man
who Climbs up there. 1t is q very dangerous
undertaking, and few men have the nerve to
attempt it. But the dome has to be painted,
and there are thirty painters constantly em-
ployed to climb about al over the donre and
the root OF the building TO renew the paint
Where 1t Is cracked and to clean away the rust.
Two or three Of these men venture to kneel at
the ieet OF the Goddess. Since she Is not to be
dressed In gold they will not have to venture
further than 10 her feet. To render this under
taking less dangerous they have bound strong
cables tight about her ankles, and they Will
probably climb up with safety II she dOesnt t
get angry and cast OF the cords. From
these cables strong scaffoldiug is being
fastened to the white pillars just beneath her
ieet, which it is the purpose TO paint. The dome
and all below the Goddess viii be gone over
here and there with the brush. 1t takes about
100 men, constantly employed, to carry on the
repairs ana improvements to the Capitol build
Ing and grounds. A hundred of these are now
being employed on the new terraces. On &C
count OF the long session of Congress the work
Ing season will be very short. Ii is expected,
however, to complete the marble terrace on
each side as far as the beginning Of the grand
staircase. the work will then have to be post
Is expected that about three years will be re-
quired to complete the whole thing. The only
oti.er work outside OF the ordinary repairs that
Will be done during the recess is to re-arrange
the heating apparatus OF the Senate, SO as 70
extend 1t into the terrace.