Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-14

with its pedestal on their shins took an ami
mated part and spared not to denounce the
whole conception and execution of the work in
bitterest terms.
Greenough urged that his masterpiece be re-
moved outside the Capitol, fronting the west
under which better light could be had. Buf
congress decided otherwise and ordered il re-
moved to the east front and surrounded by an
iron railing: This was done and on the self
same spot the statue now rests. although the
railing is removed and a granite pedestal re-
places the former marble one. The further
sum OF $1,000 was expended in its removal.
thus increasing the total ultimate cost of the
statue to $4,000.
Touching the conflict Of opinion az to the
value Of the work. it is needless 10 point ont
tnat pueh OF the savage criticism hurled
| against IT was inspired by contemporary
jealousy and perpetuated by hostile Ignorance.
Many shafts OF cheap wit have been aimed at il
ana its creator regarding its conception de-
sign and the idea that speaks through il: how
though pedestrian" statue, it sits still and
pad to be hoisted by huge derricks, &C.: but
uIeenoughs own defense of his work has come
WIN accruing years to be accepted more and
more widely as final and satisfactory Possibly
the only legitimate reflection that can be cast
upon the work Is that ii blends the mytholopi-
co with the actual. Referring to the uncon-
ventionai dress in which he Represented his
immortal subject, Greenough thus silenced his
censors In a memorial to Congress:
must confess that in adding one mere to the
representations OF Wash'ngton's dress rendered
py the sister al t. Of painting and engraving
particularly in colossal stat tue, 1 should be
aftrlD ling totce passing fsshion Of that age \
in.por lance which did not belong to it AMI at |
sacrifce fatal &c the demands of pure srt |
mhen contempt rary designs had portrayed |
FREDERICK the Second with his huge Walking |
suck ana MS preposterous queue: when the |
scTliptors Of Louis XIV had elaborately copied |
the redundant periwig, the cumbrous robes
and suited shoes of that monarch, those about
tht courts OF France and of Prussia saw in those
REPRESENTATIONS images as imposing as they were
exact What is the effect which thew now nro-
duce? Irrepressible laughter, which reyerses
the decision OF contemporary prejudice and re-
Pels the attempt to produce or to heiyhten the
sfect OF moral dignity by adventurous means
witness OF such consequences Of the change
OF dress, have been thereby partially infiu-
enced to avoid putting up in one of the high
places OF the republic colossal copy of an un-
eouth costume, which has already passed into
disuse."
And again, "the nakedness of statues has
been objected to as a violation of decency.
Tour memorialist. with due Difference to the
suscepnbllities which would make concealment
anonymous with delicacy would suggest that
" is the sentiment embodied in a work of art
WHICH renders it fit or unfit for pure eyes. The
inspired writer meant not merely the face when
~ declared that God had made man after his
OWL image"
PROTECTION TRoM THE WEATHER.
In recent years the action of frost and rain
IN the soft marble has caused cracking down.
ward through the throne on which the figure
'its This fact was communicated to Congress
hree years ago, and the senate committee on
'uDnG buildings and grounds requested Archi- ;;
ec' SiaIk TO put up "a temporary shelter for it. i.
dr: Clark obeyed, and in November 1889. he :
lad the Carpenters under his control build the
present ''perambulating house." az he iocosely
err1s 1t. for immediate needs The cracking
process has been arrested ar the statue ia now :
are from further damage from the elements.
M the msinformed scoffer or facetious guide
an In winter weather longer point tc the q
!ndraped figure and say. That represents G. b
Washington as he got left out in the cold with
is real estate syndicate when property buyers X
pandoned the eastern section of the CITY on a
ccount OF the syndcate's exhorbitant prices n
or land and built up the great and fashionable n
northwest"
When permanent shelter will be provided b
not yet determined Thus it will be seen d
nat the work originally contemplated in 1888 Z
nd subsequently modified and adapted to suit \
ne varying ideas of succeeding generations is p
OF finished yet, although 10s long years have 4
assed No doubt if this government had been
monarchy without change of DYNASTY the d
rimitive design projected in 1888 would have
cen promptly and methodically fulfilled and Il
ere 1t not for the fact that the government b
lade royal amends to the memory of Washing RI
IN IN completing the matchless marble shaft Il
lat bears his name the father Of his country q
light well be supposed to turn uneasily in his II
rave at the ingratitude of this republic. al