The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-22


which was the flag ship OF Admiral
Farragut. 1t Is about half completed in
the bronze foundry Of Bureau Brothers.
Philadelphia. II is To cost $500 The
army astragal Is to cost 81, 900. and
will be cast In Germany.
There Is still another astraRai in bronze,
known as the upper. resting Just below
the capital. II has spaces for dates. The
monument commissioners would have
placed the years OF the ciyal war in the
spaces, except that the war covered FIVE
years, 1861, 1852 1853, 1864 and 1865 II oc-
CURED to them then that IL would be fit
ing to memorabilia the years OF the cival
war by the dates 1s6l-1s65. and the Mexi-
can war by the dates lsiS-l9i8 This
caused the outburst OF Indignation against
the cen mission on the part OF the Grand
Army of the Republic, which prevented
the unveiliDg OF the browning figure as a
rart OF the program Of the recent Nation
al enCampment held In this city The pro-
gram was made TO ignore the monument
as much as possible. The opposition blaz-
ed fierCely for over year, but the conf
II lesion had been sustained by The legis-
lature end the governor. IL vas esteemed
that since the monument was not erected
10 any one person. private or general. 1t
vas 10 be a tribute to every Indiana sol
QleTt NHttntT lie SCI NtN VI Nitt lAAAah ~ .
the wars with England. with Mexico or
with the rebellious States. The Grand
Army. however would not permit re-
cognitlon Of the Mexican war In this con-
spicuous way and finally. through Hon.
William II. English, who became a mem
her of the commission, has secured al
order for the removal OF the Mexican
dates The dates 1861 and 1865 are TO take
the places vacated. The only recognition
Of the Indiana soldier in wars other than
the rebellion, is 10 be found hereafter In
inscriptions or the stone tablets, on the
north and south sides OF the pedetal.
The chief pronzes Of course are the side
groups Awards in one competition nave
been made but the successful models
are not satisfactory. The War group was
designed by Adrien Gaudez OF Paris,
and the Peace group by Hendrieser OF
Berlin. They are TO cost about $4,000
The principal objection 70 them IS their
un-American treatment and inadequate
size. The commission has an offer from
Frederick McMonnies, the most noted OF
American sculptors and the designer Of
the fountain in the Court OF Honor At the
Worlds Fair, to design and put In place
the two groups for 100000, they are 10 be
FINISHED in four years. Il Is probable
his offer will be accepted. The groups
are 70 contain not less than ten figures
from Is TO y feet high, and Will be the
most ambitious pieces Of bronze ever cast
in America.
The browning figure, which is finished
and In place, holds the American foundry
records for size. 1t is pronounced by
critics to be superb piece of work, and OF
enduring art fame. The designer Mr.
George T. Brewster, modelled IT from two
Cleveland women, one Of whom posed
for the body above the waist ana the
other for that below. The bronze weighs
about 5000 pounds. II was cast In the
American bronze foundry at Chicago. 10
stands thirty-eight feet high from the
base OF the globe TO the tip Of the torch.
Its pose represents Liberty eXultant. Be
ing unique among statues as 10 height.
there was always question whether,
after it was put in its place go feet
above ground, 1t would be free from art
defects. The designer was successful In
his conception. The figure harmonizes
perfectly with the requirements of art at
Its great height. 1t has a simplicity and
harmony of outline, free from petty and
superfluous details, and has grace OF
movement combined with vigor and
strength. 1t is free from convenuonali-
ties and is original as well as American
I'm treatment. 1t shows evidence Of
thorough technical training. The head
piece Is an American eagle with out
stretched wings.
The plaza Is to be further embellished
by four subsidiary statues, placed at the
four sides Of the monument. These are
TO represent four periods in the history
Of the territory beginning with the hero
Of Vincennes George Rogers Clark who
captured fort there from the British
and Indians in 1879. William Henry
Harrison, the first governor OF the terri
tory, will be the subject Of the statue
for the second period. General Mahlon j.
Manson, the aged member Of the commits
sion, for the third, Of Mexican war
period, and Oliver L. Morton lndiana's
great war governor, for the period OF
the Rebellion. The statue OF Morton Is
already standing in its place at the east
front Of the monument
The honor OF the design belongs to
Bruno Schmitz, a famous monument de-
signer, of Berlin. lie received hYe per
cent. Of the cost, which will reach 800
600. The commission In charge consists
Of five members, the present members
being George j. Langsdale, George W.
Johnson. Mahlon ID. Manson, ID. G. Me-
Collum and william II. English. The
moving spirit and the high artistic stand
ard OF the monument are I'm great part
due to the assiduous devotion and artistic
study Of President Langsdale. memo
rial worthy Of the States dead and OF
the worlds art has been upon MS heafl
and conscience for twenty years when
AT last. through contributions from cltz-
ems and from the Grand Army posts
and by appropriations by the state the
prolect took form and the monument
began 10 be a certainty Mr.. Langsdale'
then an editor I'm Creencastle, was deserve
edlv made president Of the commission
THE other members have caught the hisn
tome and art expression in the design
and have ably supported the head OF the
commission. Indiana believes, from the
evidence OF foreign visitors and American
artists who come 10 Indianapolis TO see
the unfinished memorial, that she mas
the greatest and most artistic tribute 70
dead veterans the world ever saw.
C. r. LANE.