The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-11-25
A BRONZE GROUP FOB MIME
SOFIA.

The Woman'S Auxiliary to the
Worlds Fair Commission decided at a
meeting held in ST. Paul, Nov. I'd, to
prepare for the Worlds Exposition a
statue in bronze representing "a
thought from Longfellow's beautiful
poem of Hiawatha. This is by far the
best thing the woman's board have
undertaken, not that their efforts in
other directions are not appreciated,
but principally because this work will
be lasting monument to their en-
thusiasm and untiring energy.
After the great Columbian exposi-
tion is over, the buildings will be
torn down. The different exhibits
will as far as may be, returned to the
owners. And it is truly gratifying to
know that at least one exhibit, beau
tiful in it's conception, enduring in
it's construction, will be brought back
to the state and handed down to fu-
ture posterity unsullied, untarnished
and indebted.
There are many beautiful thoughts
and scenes in Longfellow's legend,
that can be rounded into an exquisit
work Of art. Take for instance the
lines, 'There the wrinkled, old No
komis nursed the little Hiawatha,"
and later on when the child has be-
come a man we read that, From his
lodge went Hiawatha dressed for
travel, armed for hunting
And further on in the story after
his long fast, where we read he "Came
again and wrestled with Mondamin. :"
Then later his meeting with Mime
haha, where we are told "she softly
took the seat beside him." saying 81
will follow you my husband"
Again imagination pictures an ex-
quisite group where ''Hand and hand
they went together, through the wood
laDd," ETC., and with that memory
comes another where "Over wild and
rushing rivers, in his arms he bore the
maiden"
Then again, take the scene where
Hiawatha comes home with the deer
over his shoulder, the poet says, Sat
the feet of Laughing Water, down he
threw his lifeless burden"
And though sad and gruesome the
scene where he ''Saw his lovely Min
nehaha lying cold and dead before
him." and she sat down still and
speechless at the feet of Laughing
Water"
Another pretty thought comes where
the pale face intrudes upon his pos
sessions, "Then the generous Hia-
watha led the stranger to his wig
wan"
In short the story is replete with
charming suggestions, for the sculp-
tor and the painter. We understand
that this statue will be life size, and
will tittingly immortalize the only In
dian Legend that is exclusively and
dfstinctively the undivided and I'M
disputed property of Minnesota.
Mrs. L. p. Hunt, of this city, has
charge of this undertaking and is ad
vertising for designs. We are told
that the competition is not limited
to Minnesota designers, although we
sincerely hope that Minnesota artist
may be the successful competitor, but
is open to the world. That some beau
tiful ideas will be brought out fol-
lows as matter of fact.
This bronze will have an appro-
pirate inscription commemorative of
the Indian Legend, the Worlds Fair
and the part Minnesota took in it.
The necessary funds for this group
will be raised by penny subscription
among the school children of the state
of which there are about 100000. If
the average is kept up this will net
$4,000.