The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-30
A LOOK AT THE MONUMENT.
1t is One of the Largest Equestrian
Statues in the World.

Statues in the World.
RICHMOND, VA, May 29.-The Lee mon
ument makes Richmond, Va, noted as hav-
ing two of the largest equestrian statues in
the world, the other being that of Washing
ton. Situated on the Allen plat, in the
west end, in the direct line of the most fash
ionable residential section, the monument
is placed at the intersection of two 140-feet
avenues on the summit OF ascending grades.
1t Is enclosed in a circle of 200 feet in dame
ter, with a street sixty-five feet
in width on each side, SO that
the distance through the area from
building line to building line is $50 feet.
| The pedestal of the monument consists of
two parts, which may be termed the base
and the pedestal proper The base is formed
by rectangle, with the surface inclined
upward to a parapet, around which six
foundations are located, upon which Lees
generals may hereafter be placed. In the
I interior of the grouping another inclined
surface leads upward TO the pedestal proper.
| Here the transition from the straight lines
of the rectangle to the graceful curves of a
cylindrical form have been very skillfully
harmonized by the artist. The change is
not noticed, and upon the front and rear are
seen an oval space upon which bas-reiiefs
are placed, surrounded by tracery in
| granite of laurel, the ivy and the oak.
/ ADONe 10 u llOH uedu, US Ieduy lOT DdOOlo,
with pose of courage inbred by conscious
| power.
LEES IMMORTAL NAME.
On the sides are four columns appearing
| to support the great load, between which a
bronze tablet appears with the name of Lee
gilded beneath laurel wreath. The pedestal
and base are of white granite, the columns
dark blue. The hight of the pedestal is
forty feet and a few inches, aud that of
the statue slightly more than twenty feet,
making the total hight about sixty
feet above the ground.
The sculptor, NJ Mercie of Paris, who has
immortalized Lee in bronze, is Frenchman
who in early life gave evidence of great
| ability. He was scarce 20 years Of age
when he was decorated at Rome. His
famous works adorn the streets of Paris,
the lofty summit of the Trocadero, and the
halls of the Luxembourg palace. He has
| given to the world the picture of Lee as be
appeared upon the battlefield of Gettysburg.
His face is calm and majestic, but full of
| power. The horse which he bestrides has
all four feet on the ground, yet
he appears as If in the act of
walking. A fore-foot Is planted in
advance, while the mind foot on the same
side seems about to follow. The head is
slightly bent to one side. while the tail
falls gracefully clear of the flanks. Gen.
! Lees dress is characteristicany plain. He
Is grit with sash, which presumably hides
a belt, from which swings the sword of q
commander of cavalry. He is without
| epaulettes, but upon the forearm of the
coat sleeve is an ornament of broad braid.
| His hat is crushed in his right hand, while
he holds the reins in his left. The feet are
well tipped in the stirrups, the right foot
| being slightly in advance of the left.
The engineer selected to execute the work
of the association, which has been accom-
plished to their entire satisfaction, was Mr..
G. 2. E. Burgwin, comparatively young
man who was chosen, because he had com
pleted at small cost some works OF consider
able magnitude. He is also an author. At
IA years of age he constructed a model
| bridge across the Rhine; at II he received
| a first prize for en original poem written
in Latin, in the Sapphic and adoric meter.
| He is principal of the Mechanics institute and
assistant chief engineer of the James River
Improvement Company. Mr.. Burgwin, it
| will be remembered, went to Paris as COM
| ment.
THE MONUMENT MOVEMENT.
Gen. Robert E. Lee died Oct. IL, 1870.
| The 25th of October following Gen. Jubal
| A. Early issued call, addressed to the sur
viving officers and sailors of the Army of
| Northern Virginia, to meet in Richmond
| on the Sd of November to take action to
| perpetuate his memory. The meeting was
held pursuant to call, was presided over by
the late Hon. jefferson Davis, who, with other
| distinguished southerners, made addresses,
and the Lee Monument Association was
organized, with Gen. Early as president. A
Ladies' Auxiliary Association was a'so
formed, and the two proceeded to collect
funds for the purpose Of erecting a monu-
ment. Money flowed in quite freely Tor
time, but finally interest in the cause
N raw we'd daa
until Gen. Fitzhugh Lee was elected gov
ernor some, four years ago. The various
organizations collecting funds were then
consolidated under one name, and he be-
came, as governor, the president of the Lee
Monument Association, ex-officlo. It is
largely due to the efforts of Gov. Lee that
the monument has been built so soon.