The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-10
THELITERARYW WORLD
WEEKLY cHxr kEoARDISG WRIT
ERs AND BOOKS.
A Contribution 60 the Magazine OF Amer
lean History by n Richmond "o-
man" Historic Gloucester"

ty Miss Mamie H. Winston, OF bleh
Alien. Va. The article is well illustrator
the illustrations representing resptcuNe
"The Ioudon Statue Of Washington bu''
Of la Fayouc by H0ud0n, and me
Gallery OF the Hotunda" in the Capitol at
Richmond Tho character Of the Maya
zine IA "a guarantee thaf whatever finds
a place between its COVERS possesses true
literary merit not less t1au historic inter
est. Iis contents are Invariably OF
character which ape is 10 the cuiuFat-
ed intelligence and which S. 81 real educd-
tlonal value. The August number IS no
exception 20 the rule. and 70 Us gratifying
TO Nirginians GO note Chat the iitat place
on It's table Of contents Is given 20 a VII
einia woman who writes upon theme
that touches Nirgiuians vitality Tor the
glorious old Commonwealth. Whtch pears
along with the dignity Of age the Inevitable
and honorable traces 81 many and noble
struggles. Is not only the proud posacssor
OF a work Of ART which is acknowledge
20 be "the most faithful Transmission OF
the features Of Washington cNtanr but
DE pure hearted ond h'ghaou.ed patiiot
was her own Loyal son. born, reared ana
buried In her soil 1bleh &C. fertile I'm mem
cries sOwn ga blood He was her washing
ton created by great reeds Tor great ser
vices. educated hy mighty cmerscncies
Tor nTfEffn rIH''tfrr"'as 81 50 1879 '''"'-
u tear that class OF persons who rail az
greatness and euq-av0r 90 tear down what
they could never have huiidcd. claim mat
the times IN whicn he lived 'made WASH
ington what Doe was ara what they claim
as a derogatlon 90 his memory becomes TO
the minds OF intelligent people thoroughly
conversant with cary American history
the suhlimest praise which the blindtst
devotce TO sentiment colld beaiow Great
leaders are always the product of the
times in which they live; 30 rs the test
OF genius 10 De able 20 Ilsc
20 great necessities ana make OF
chem great opportunities. But 10 attempt
INV praise of o man whose name has
become historic is simply 10 attempt
repetition Of what has been better said "a
thousand times, and 10 whose greatness
the silent elOQuence Of results % ;Ae no
blest and most enectual testimonial
The statue with whish Miss Ninston's
Interesting article deals rs ore with which
We are all familiar, and porpetuates in
most ovpreeive n yoiceess stone the
physical personality Of the illustrious
patrlot as the pages IF history perpeiuatc
the Inspiring memory OF his mental ana
moral CHARACTERISTICS and his actoiSi
The fame Of the sculptor and the sub
feet has always made the statue an object
and capitol, but a reading of Miss WINS
toms simple and attractively written eight
page sketch which contains ina nutshell
the history Of the statue with little
frequent side strokes and pictures Of Wash
ington. the private citizen gives 90 the al
ready Interested surveyor the additional
appreciation which increased information
regarding any work OF art invariably
produced.
Incorporated into the body of the article
IS naive and characteristic letter sent
BY Thomas jefferson 20 Washington
then living the simple Iife OF quiet cOun-
try gentleman-the Virginia gentleman Of
a primitive era when viriie force and entire
simplicity went hand ia hand and were
q courageous little boy of the nations
founders The letter Is as follows; paris
July 10Th. 17SJ Monsieur Houdon would
much sooner have had the honor Of at
tending yOl. but for spell Of sickness
(Which long ago induced us 90 dispair Of
bis recovery He comes now for the pur-
pose Of lending the aid Of his art 10 trans
init YOU 10 posterity. He is without
yivalship in IL, being employed in all parts
OF Europe IN whatever is capital lie has
order Of the Empress Of Russia diih-
Guilty. however, that arose from desire TO
Show her respect. but which never gave
him a moments hesitation about the
voyage. which he considers as promising
the brightest chapter of hts history. / have
spoken Of him as an artist only, but ] can
assure you also that as man he Is dis
interested, generous, candid and painting
after glory; in every circumstance merit
ing your good opinion. He Will have need
TO see you much while he shall have the
honor Of being with you, which YOU can
and merit give him admission into gentecl
eocities here.
Hond0n. whom Jefferson pictures as
dinintcrested. generous. candid and pant
Ing after glory lis the famous artist
whose great statues Of ST. Bruno, and
Che dlabolical sativist and infidel Vol
taire and bust of Diderot. Mirabeau,
Rousseau. the great Catherine of Russia
and countless other nOtables. will alone
suffice to hand his name down 10 COM
ing generations. as one who breathed In
Ftone all but the breath Of life. lie was
the first portrait sculptor Of his day and
Paris If beautiful to-day with the results
Of ''his subtle chisei, and discriminating
intellect. The bust of La Fayette,
hich adorns a niche an the State Capitol,
feeling the figure of WASHINGTON for
whom the French patriot cherished so
high a regard. and 50 deep an affection,
g. also his work
Miss Johnson quotes la Fayatte as
declaring The Houdon statue twas a fac
smile Il Washingtons person and she
also quotes from paper written by
Dr. Parker OF our city, I'm which the
latter recalls an interview. which ne had
with Rembrandt Becle In Richmond,
III lSJ6 when he was eighty years old
and yer feeble In spite. how ever,
OF the weakness and bodily infirmity
consequent upon his advanced age. ne
made pilgrimage TO the Capitol TO look
once again upon the HOudon statue.
at was with great difficulty that he
assembled the steps leading to the rotunda,
but az soon as he caught glimpse OF
the figure IA marble, he seemed inspired
with new life with head erect and beam
fng eye. he gazed intently upon the state
~ FORM as II 20 scrutinlze Il from every
point of view. After thus contemplating
it. he muttered In solloQuy--"Th0ts the
man that's the man himself" IL is not
necessary 10 attempt any justification Of
the Houdon statue as d work of art That
has already been done. About one third OF
Miss Wluston's article consists OF quota
Won. usually from teffessOn--wOV grace
fully into the body OF her sketch. Her
own literary style Is clear. simple, attrac-
tive, and IL never Sparkling nor metaphor
s.. Is on the other hand never fulsom nor
charactel lied By that gushing, weak ef-
fisive scniimentality which So many
woman writer's fall into and which might
lie termed literary hystera." Her work
always displays a cultivated mind. a we'll
balanced personality. and the kind of tall
ent which has IN 70 the seed OF growth
and increasing success, the kind Of force
which has the strong quality OF "continu-
snce" We feel that this one OF Virginias
lierary ''debutantes' has come TO stay"
A. LODGE.