The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1893-02-17

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rider, could not be constructed without
an awkward support Of some kind.
Prof. Charles Page, Of the Smithsonian
institution, at that time one Of the
great scientists OF this country. ridi.
culed the idea and endenyored 70 prove
that the feat was impossible. He
showed in very clear. theoretical
manner that, with the wind blowing ut
so many miles an hour, with so many
pounds pressure per square inch, no
statue so constructed could stand. Prof.
Page convinced many people of stand
ing that Clark Mills was undertaking
the impossible, and the young man
came very near having all OF his trouble
and expense without recompense; for II
was almost decided at one time not TO
accept his work This was on the
ground that. even after its successful
erection and unwilling, IL would fall
and be destroyed, and the money in
vested would be wasted. The young
man, however, had some warm friends
who believed in him and in his ability
to accomplish his work, and the statue
was finally accepted and inaugurated,
and there 1t stands to-day. There II
will stand forever. Moreover, when 1t
was finally decided to accept his statue,
Young Mills was allowed 10 make his
casting from guns captured by Gen.
Jackson ut New Orleans.
The success of the Young artist inme-
diately made him famous. AT the fol-
lowing session of congress an appropri-
alton was made for an equestrian
statue of Washington, after the same
model, and Clark Mills was engaged to
do the work. He built n workshop
three miles from the capitol, and re-
manned there until his death. His first
work, in that place. was the statue Of
Washington which stands in the center
OF Washington circle, where Twenty
second street crosses Pennsylvania
avenue just east Of Rock creek, about
midway between the white house and
Georgetown Heights. These two are
the best pieces Of statuary in the nation
al capital.
Mr.. Mills made duplicaaa .ef his
Jackson statue for the city of New Or
leans. de also made handsome and
striking statue OF Gen. Scott for the
soldiers home, and placed il upon a
height where it overlooiss the city of
Washington; and another, an eques-
trian statue Of Scott, on Sixteenth
street, midway between the white
house and Columbia Heights. But none
of his work has excelled his first pro-
fessional effort, the jackson statue. He
took plaster cast of Gen. George b. Nc
Clellan, when that military leader was
at the height OF his fame, and made a
clay model from it: but he never put
it into bronze. The model exists, and
some day handsome statue OF Nc
Clellan can be made from it.
In his later years Mr.. Mills used TO
abuse himself with model making, Just
as he had done in his early days Of pow
erty and struggle for existence. His
home, workshop, forge and farm, were
combined in a handsome place north of
the city, where he commenced his
career in adversely and ended it in tri-
umph. The young reader must not be
misled into the belief that because
Clark Mills became great sculptor
without adequate training everybody
can succeed in like manner. He had
special gifts which were developed
by industry. The successful genius is
the genius Of labor. SMITH D. Fay.
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81.