Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-04
rAs CHICAGO COLUMBUS.
Composite Work That Ought to Give
Satisfaction Ali Around.
[Chicago Herald ]

The secret nc last is out. When II was
announced that the Director of the Mint
had resolved to use the Lotto Columbus
as the model for one side of the souuenlr
coin there was considerable grumbling.
Our estimable citizen. Mr. Ellsworth, who
owns the Lotto Columbus. was naturally
the object of fluctuations. But our equally
estimable fellow-citlzen. MIR. Gunther, na-
turallv objected, and urged with diploma
tic suavity the Moro Columbus, of which
he is proprietor. The amiable rivalry of
these two cOnHOssetTs led to more than
one bit of repartee. When IL was said
that the carayels were 20 be on
the diverse side of the medal with the
Lotto, il was claimed that there ought TO
he coramels instead with the Moro, and so
the good -natured strife went on until 1t
kindled the entire country and caused
Secretary Foster, Chief Meredith. aud Di-
Rector Leach no end of worry. 10 was the
resourcefu Burnhsm that finally per-
ceived the way out of tho difficulty. DIN
J.. Warner. sculptor or national renown,
and hereafter TO boast worldwide celebri-
ty. was the man 10 whom Director OF WORKS
turned.
Warner" said he. cannot you build
a Columbus portrait right here in Jackson
Park2 Why shall we not make Column
bus ourselves on the eclectic principle "
Mr.. Warner, in embellishinR fair build
ings, is as versatile as he IS ingenious, as
alert as he is obliging. Certainly, hr.
Burnham," replied Mr. Warner. There
upon the sculptor sat him down with the
forty-four authentic Columbuses to whom
Chauncey Depew referred IN his Coium olan
Grafton, and wrestled with them. lie de-
termined to take from the principal ones
detached features, not accepting any Is
completely reliable, but a number as az
fording valid clues. In this seiectlye
method he has many precedents TO Justify
liberal and unbiased decision. The
greatest sculptors OF antiquity followed
exactly the same mode. They modelled an
eye from one youth. q mouth from an-
other, the arm Of another. the thigh OF an.
other, the ankles and feet of another, and
when all this had been fused into typical
perfection we had such result, tor exam
pie, as the peerless Apollo Belvedere.
In building the Chicago Columbus Mr.
Warner took the back hair of the Lotto
| Columbus, the stern and uncompromlsine
eve of Mr. Gunther's Columbus, the mouth
! of the De BTy Columbus, and the noble
| brow of the Jovlan Columbus.
The more one looks ut this Chicago
| Columbus built in Jackson Park the more
| il grows on ones attention The fusion
seems even remarkable. In fact, Mr.. War
ner appears to have been so successful IL
making an ludiyisible entity that the Chi
| cago Columbus on the sOiueriir coin loses
! all aspect of novelty, and acquires an ali
| of old acquaintance. We must have seen
| II somewhere before, so superb Is the sue.
cess of the designer. so adaptable have all
| the Columbuses been To his unpre-
| iudiced and patriotic purpose.
| Sometimes in sculpture, as III music rs
! in oratory, and poetic art, unconsciou,
cerebration plays uncahny freaks; ano
often plagiarism is charged when wholly
involuntary results are achieved. Mr.
Warner can scarcely have failed to see th'
! gold medal presented by Congress 60 e.
| Washington after the evacuation OF bos
| ton. Here it is; and thus 10y mesteriN
and wholly unsuspected stroke Of genius
! Mr.. Warner has blended the discoverer ol
America with the father of his country.
The Chicago Columbus, the COlumbu
we made ourselves, shall be hereafter tn'
standard. II ought TO be baZoned 9n thu
city colors and made TO adorn the front o
every house and mart IN Chicago. Il ~
great comfort to know that Columbus con
| troyersies will now be ended, aud forever
| We have q Columbus that 10 twin. al
to be twin with him who was first n war
first in peace. and first in the hearts OF hi
countrymen is the only glory tnat was lef
TO be added 10 the discoverer. IL WA III
ting that this final touch should be ialG II
by and for Chicago. and MIR. Warner take
his place forthwith with the unknown de
pIcters of Columbus in torty-four posture
anu costumes. aud has beaten all pTeue
cessors out of sight.