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

The statue is sculptured of soft Italian
marble. mounted on an eight-foot granite
pedestal. and. rising ten feet above that, it
represents the father of his country in a sitting
posture as q sort of jupiter Tonans dove the
Thunderer), except in the matter of thunder
bolts, which are Intentionally lacking. The
head Is modelled after that by Houdon, the
celebrated French master of the eighteenth
century. The right arm points vertically from
the elbow and the left holds a sheathed sword,
extended in token Of peace. The figure is
naked to the waist, whence a robe. falling in
graceful folds, covers the knees and legs while
the feet are bound with sandals Of ancient
pattern On the left side of the little throne
or raised dais, which is square backed, is
design IN bas relief representing the sun god
Apollo driving his chariot steeds across the
heavens, and on the right side is
another design portraying the infant
Hercules strangling the serpents. Small
marble figures of a typical Indian brave and Of
Christopher Columbus adorn either side of the
seat at the rear The back of the throne also
bears in embossed letters this Latin inscrip-
tion, denominated bad Latin. made in
Italy" by Representative named Wise in the
Twenty-sixth Congress:
Similacrum istud
Ad maguum hbertatis exemplum
Nee sine ipsa duranturum
Horatius Greenough
Faciebat.
Into the granite base or pedestal are cut the
famous epigrammatic words Of Richard Henry
Lee in eulogy Of Washington-whose name. it
should be observed, is nowhere verbally indi-
Gated on or about the statue-"First in war;"
OF the left side; First in peace" on the right
and First in the hearts of his countrymen," in
front. The effect of the whole work Is unaues-
tionably impressive. and the statue is pro-
nounced by competent judges to be in every
way worthy the prominent place now accorded
TO II, beyond all odds the most desirable in the
entire city for the display of such production
ORIGIN or THE WORK
The statue had its first remote origin in the
steps taken by the old Continental Congress ON
August Z, 1888, then assembled in PhiIadeIphia.
authorizing the erection Of "a bronze eaues- |
trian statue of Gen. Washington at the place |
where the residence of Congress shall be |
established, as a means OF expressing in |
durable form the deep gratitude Of the nation |
for his triumphant conduct of the revolution
Yorktown had been surrendered almost two |
years before and the treaty of Paris was then
In process of negotiation, but the war spirit |
had not ceased to absorb the public mind in /
executed, however, and with the subsidence of /
the military enthusiasm the idea of the statue
was permitted to slumber. Then, again. while
Washington lived. and as private citizen and
next as a statesman disclosed to the infant
nation the other and peaceful side of his
character, people generally questioned the pro-
Rriety OF rendering monumental honors To |
Washington exclusively in his capacity as a dis
0rguished soldier.
But Washington died on December Il 100
and nine days later the American Concress
took up the idea dropped by the Continental |
Congress and carried it further ordering ..tbat
Q marble monument be erected by the United
States in the Capitol at the city OF Washina,", |
that the family Of Gen. Washington he re-
quested to permit his body to be deposited nm
der It and that the monument be 80 designed
Is TO commemorate the great events OF bis
military and political life"
prasi1a,t Iohp
Of this action to Washington's widow at Nonnt
Vernon and week later she replied feelingIy
to him in this wise
Taught by that great example which have
% long had before me. never to oppose NV
private wishes to the public will, must con- |
sent to the request made by Congress which
you have had the goodness to transmit to me-
and In doing this need not. cannot say what
sacrinee OF individual feeling i make to a
sense Of public duty."
MISUNDERSTANDING.
Notwithstanding the terms of this letter. IL
developed subsequently, tina. Mrs Martha WASH
tngton understood her own remains would also
be inferred beside those of her husband IN ,ha
mausoleum authorized to be buiIt under the |
proposed statue. and, as eventually explained
by her kinsman. George Washington p Custis
sne mad yieided TO the request of Congress
only upon Una. 'aeit understanding. In ac-
cordance with it moreover, she directed that
upon her death her remains should be- inclosed |
In leaden coffin precisely similar To the one
containing the ashes Of her illustrious consent
Cnhappiy disagreement arose just at this
point between Congress and the Washington
heirs. who strongly objected TO a separation OF
the bodies As result nothing at all tangible
was DONE ,
Not until 1880 did Congress again awake To n
realization OF its remissness regarding This ,
matter and take steps to perform its duty.
John Quincy Adams, IN official correspondence
with Mr.. Custis at Arlington House, expressed