The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-11
MISS RRHAN IN COLD SILVER.
The Measurement Figures ofa Woma
Who is Almost Perfect Venus.
From the Chicago Daily Tribune.

Who is Almost Perfect Venus.
From the Chicago Daily Tribune.
What single thing on exhibition at the
worlds Columbian exposition of 1893 will
attract most attention aud ca use most COM
mentl
In all probability 1t will DO a statue in
the Montana state builking.
Why's There are several reasons. In the
first place it will be the lar
gest statue of its kind ever made,
in that it will be eight feet high,
Including the pedestal, and Of solid silver.
Though there are stories Of ancient statues
of fabulous size and value, sculptors agree
that in all probability no solid silver statue
larger than four feet in hight was ever
made.
The statue will also attract attention be-
cause of its great value. The intrinsic
worth Of the silver is S35, 900. and the scuIp-
tor is to receive $4,000 for his work. Max
ing a reasonable estimate of the cost Of max
ing the statue it represents at least $780,
600, aside from its value as work of art.
In brief, the statue is that OF a woman
after the severely Greek style Of sculpture.
She wears a single garment, which leaves
arms, neck and upper bust bare and falls
just below the knee. A girdle about the
waist loosely confines the drapery. On her
head is diadem. In her left hand which
is raised above her head, she holds the
scales, in which gold and silver balance
each other. thus symGolizinR Montana's
stand on the silver question. In her right
hand, which falls at her side, is a drawn
sword. She stands on globe two feet in
diameter which is supposed to be floating
in the clouds.
But il is not because of its size, or because
OF It's value in dollars and cents or even be-
cause of its artistic merit that this statue in
the Montana building will attract such at
tention. IL is because of two other reasons
1t is the figure of the perfect woman from
the physical standpoint. Ii is the figure of
woman known all over the Euglish-sDeak-
ing world-Miss Ada Rehan.
When Montana decided to show such a
statue in its mining exhibit a COMMITTEES
appointed by the state came to Chicago In
search of a sculptor and a model. 1t found
the sculptor in r. II. Park, 1S43 Michigan
avenue. IA the search for a model the COM
mittee was at first unsuccessful. Half a
dozen prominent actresses Of the United
States were under consideration, but were
rejected one by one. Finally some one sug-
gested Miss Ada Rehan as a woman of rare
physical protection. Miss Rehan was con-
suited and was won TO consent The First Ma
tional Bank of Helena, Mont, agreed Go
furnish the bullion, and the committee. after
appointing representatives in Chicago
OF course the selection OF the model
leaked out. All Montana was indignant,
not that it loved Miss Rehan less but its
own fair daughters more. The statement
was not reiterated, and it came to be be-
Iieved in Montana that Miss Dora Hauser,
daughter Of President Hauser of the First
National Bank of Helena, was the model Sc
lected Now Mr.. Harvey Of New York and
Mr. Highly of Chicago, the represen tatives
of the committee, announce that Miss Rehan
is the one selected, and Mr.. Park confirms
il. In fact, in Mr.. Parks studio stands,
nearly completed, the working model Of the
silver statue for the MonCanta building,
Miss Remains own self in. clay.
''Not long after 1 had received the com
mission said Mr.. Park last evening, "I
saw Miss Rehan In Philadelphia, and ar
ranged for sitting in New York. | saw her
there and made all the measurements and
drawings necessary for the modelling Of g
portrait statue. | found that Miss Rehan g
figure was as nearly perfect as an artist
could desire for q model for an ideal figure
and reported to Mr.. Harvey that she filled
my ideal Of a we'll proportioned woman.
"rhere are probably many hsndsomel
women than Miss Rehan, but her face il
strong aud full Of dignity and Intelligence
Every community doubtless mas it's physi
cally perfect woman, but Miss Rehan is not
only perfect. but an artist also. Her figure
is severely classic, With the single exception
of the face, which might be said to bt
slightly Milesian. She is of heroic mold
She would not make a correct model for 6
Hebe or Psyche, but rather for a Juno oil
a Venus"
"By what standard was Miss Rehani
physical perfection determinedp
There are many systems OF measure
ments laid down by different artists, anc
they ell vary in some details"
"Can you give any of the measurement
| of the perfect woman as exemplfed in Miss
RehanN
IAN artist makes his measurements II
heads. For instance, Miss Rehan is a littlt
over "a heads high. The average is Z. The
| Venus de Medicis is 8, but the head is very
small. About ~ is considered the idea
measurement The width of the shoulder
| ia an ideal figure is twice the head, and thu
| extended arms measure the same as th'
/ hight Of the figure. In Miss Rehan thest
prorpotions are exact. Miss Rehan is . fee
| 81 inches, but l have made my statue
| feet, and everything in proportion. o
| course no artist would give the measure
ments Of his model in feet and inches TO tn
public, 1 cannot give you either, the meas