Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-22
VIEWING THE MODEL.
MANY PERSONS vIsrr THs CAPITOL FOB
THIS PUsp0sE
Bids for the Pedestal to be Opened To-hor'
row-soms Of tbs Details Of
the Work.

The ststuette made by NJ. Neon Mer-
Gle, the French sculptor, as an illustra-
sion OF his idea OF the equestrian statue
of Lee, is now on exhibition in the Sem
ate chamber.
1t was viewed yesterday By hundreds
of people, many OF whom intimately
knew and we'll remember the great
chieftain, and the general verdict was
that the model was a fair representation
and that the artist had done his work
faithfully and well.
Soon after the large doors leading
from the rotunda Of the Capitol into the
Senate chamber were thrown open yes
terday morning persons began TO file in.
Some went through real interest others
for curiosity alone. At times during the
day, especially in the forenoon, there
was a crowd in the hail. All lin
gered for q few moments, moved
about TO obtain different views,
and all were free to pass their criticisms.
Many were sufficiently well versed IN
art and aequsinted with the subject to
give their opinion weight, but the ma
lority Of those who visited the chamber
lacked the thorough knowledge OF either,
which was necessary to give force to
their impressions.
SOME OPINIONS,
Following are some few of the many
expressions of opinion heard:
Carlton Mccarthy : 1.-The left fore
leg of the horse is bent too much"
Captain Ii. r. Owen: "Tm disap-
pointed the sword is buckled too for
down. 1t would be impossible to draw
it. The position oi the horses head is
not natural no horse ever held his head
in that position for more than a second.
These are small things, but they worry
me"
J. p. Goss "The position of the
horse is awkward no horse ever stood
in the position represented-both legs
on the same side extended. The tail
looks like it is swept ont of place by a
tornado, and yet the horse is in repose. "
G. A. Bohannan: ~ think it is good
piece Of work.
William Ellis Jones: 81 think it Is
good"
Major C. H. Dimmock 81 think the
tOm ensemble very good"
Major r. 7. Daniel: splendid work
OF art Large horse, gracefully shaped.
l like it,.
MIR. George Ice "The horse is too
large in proportion to the rider.
TIE BIDS.
Tomorrow at noon bids for furnish
ing the material and labor and erecting
the pedestal for the monument will be
opened at the Office Of Mr.. G. p. f. Bur
gwyn, the consulting engineer, who has
entire charge. There will be several
bids, and, while it is rather guess.work,
it has been estimated by a gentleman
we'll yersed in such matters that the
cost of the pedestal can be brought
within the bounds OF 800, 600. This, 1t
is understood, will leave about enough
money on hand to pay for the bronze
statue.
DIMENSIONS.
From the ground to the bottom Of the
pedestal will be forty-two feet, aud from
this point to the top Of the riders head
will be twenty-one feet, making the en-
tire height Of the monument sixty-three
feet. The width Of the base will bQ
sixty feet. The circle around the monu-
ment, which has been nicely laid of and
graded, will be 200 feet in diameter, or
about four times the area of the enclosure
of the Washington monument on the
Capitol Square.
THE PEDESTAL.
The pedestal will be surrounded by
slabs OF fne-cut granite placed on in
clined planes, one terrace being placed
above another by means of arches, so as
to make the optical effect that OF much
greater height than really obtained.
The main pedestal will be supported by
four Ionic columns, which are to be OF
polished granite. Two of the sides Of
the pedestal will have large memorial
tablets, on which will be inscribed some
OF the deeds of the great commander.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.
The cornerstone for the monument
was laid the 9th OF last October, when
there wGs an immense assemblage pres
ent, despite the terrible weather. Ger
tain parts Of the foundation, amounting
to about eighty cubic yards of masonry,
have been laid.
Under NJ. Mercie's contract with the
Lee Monument Association he is re-
quired to deliver the bronze horse and
rider, which will be as large as the
Washington equestrian statue on the
Capitol Square, eighteen months after
his small model has been accepted. As
this model has been accepted and NJ.
hiercie has been notified by cable the
eighteen months will expire February
90, 1890.
Governor Lee, president Of the Board
of Managers. who has worked zealously
in and out of reason for the success Of
this undertaking, is very anxious that
the monument shall be unveiled before
his term OF Office expires, and he will
write to Mercie and try to get him to