Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-08
LOOK UPON THE CITY.
GETTING DETAILS IN SHAPE.
All OF the Money Provided for--Invita-
lions Issued 60 Confederate and
Military Organizations.

in which direction the statue should face
was well attended. as considerable intc-
rest had been aroused in the matter
Mr.. ID. c. Richardson. president OF the
association. presided. and Mr. Carlton Nc
Carthy acted as secretary.
Mr. Richardson explained the object Of
the meeting. and said he was ready TO
hear any motion touching the subjec. to
be considered.
Judge Christian moved that the statue
be placed on the monument. so az 10 face
the city-that Is up Main street
Mr. Dickerson asked that Mr. Sheppard.
the designer Of the figure. be heard.
Mr.. Sheppard said he never had any
idea that the figure would face any other
way han no Main street. This, he
thought was the understanding OF the
Committee on Design, though there was
no record OF an expression OF opinion on
the subject lie had designed the STATUE
with the view OF its facing up Main
street. II he had supposed II was 10 be
pIt IN any other position ne would have
designed IL differently. lie explained that
hy facing II up Main the best view from
the greatest number OF points could be
obtained To turn II any other way would
fall 20 give II the desired effect As TO
M" matter OF sentment-that Is that II
should face towards the enemy-.thc enc.
mN we're during the war all around the
city.
COLONEL CCTSIIAW REPLIES.
colonel Cutshaw. In reply 10 Mr.. Shep-
para. gave brief history of his con-
u"tiion with the monument lie said IL
hal been decided that the monument
should bo copy Of Pompey's Pillar with
typical Confederate soldier on top.
When Alr. Ezekiel was selected as the
artist he Colonel Cutshnw) had written
letter describing what he ! thought
should be the composition-a soldier with
his musket at an order and his left hand
o. his hat-brm, peering towards the
rncnys line. lie had read that letter IN
Nr Shepherd Although the design had
been somewhat changed he never had any
ira That the general conception was 10
T. changed. The artist should. Of course.
- consulted. but If everything was to be
sacrificed 10 artistic effect, we would not
tct what We were looking for. 1t was
never intended that the statue should face
towards the city. The only intention that
could be arrived at was 10 be taken from
the original idea, and the letters that
had been written on the subject
HAD NO SUCH IDEA.
MIR. Sheppard iterated that he never
had any idea that the statue would not
face Main street.
Major James Phillips asked what Mr..
Sheppard had to do with the facing OF
the statue. He had been employed to make
1t. and had been paid for IT.
Tho president explained that Mr.. Shep-
Iard had been invited to speak.
Mr.. Mccarthy said he had no recollec-
ton Of the questions having been dis
Cussed In the Committee on Design.
Mr. f'TenglaW SAID he had an iruprpc-
sion that the statue was intended TO face
Main street. How he got 1t he did not
know.
\ SUBSTITUTE OFFERED.
Major Phillips moved as a substitute
for the motion OF Judge Christian that
the statue face down the river.
Major Myers said he was member OF
the Committee on Design. and desired
TO state that the subject OF the statues
position had never been discussed in that
committee.
Mayor Ellyson said he took il for
granted that oil desired the statue to he
placed in the position in which II would
rrove most satisfactory. He haG not
sufficient confidence in his own artistic |
judgment 10 express an opinion on the
subject. That the statue mad been de-
signed with view 10 occupying par
ticular position was very lmportaht
matter When TWO SOCn men as MI.
sheppard and Colonel Cutsnaw disagreed
he was embarrassed and did not know
how to vote He would have accepted the
Judgment Of either with confidence If the
other had not differed from him. Why,
lo asked, could not the whole question
he referred 70 committee. whose ar
tstic perceptions rendered them compe-
tent 10 settle the matter.
NJ Sheppard said he thought 1t would
Be- A distinct injustice TO the statue 10
lace il down the river.
colonel Cutshaw said he had never
..,,i.r.tood what the artist designed the
figure TO represent He would be glad TO
have him explain. Did IL simply repre-
sent a soldier?
JTDGE CHRISTIANS VIEWS.
Judge Christian spoke to his motion.
~ said the figure was not intended
merely - represent the Confederate sol
aicr defending Richmond. but the heroism
~ the confederate soldier OF the whole
-suthland lie thought as the artist had
.lmposel the figure for the purpose OF
t, facing a certain way his judgment
.houll control. He had the greatest re-
'pect for Colonel Cutshaw. but he thought
Q would be a grave mistake not 10
AIRY out the idea of the artist.
Mr. T. Wiley Davis stated that week
ago ne would have replied: Certainly the
SLIDER should face the city" Until he
came 10 the present meeting he would
have said that II was on record that IL
should thus face lie agreed with Judge
Christian To place the figure on the
column with its back turned to Richmond
would be the greatest mistake lot OF
sensible men could make.
Mr. Randolph thought IL unfortunate
that Colonel Cutshaw and Mr.. Sheppard.
Tire two men most competent TO decide the
question. should disagree. The associa-
ton should. therefore. decide. He be-
leycd that nine tenths of the people in
the city OF Richmond desired 1t should
face west Certainly he believed this TO
be the sentiment Of the Confederate Vete>
rams. Colonel Alonzo Phillips asked why
the statue might not be faced up Twenty
ninth street.
Major James Phillips said his impression
had always been that the figure was to
represent Confederate soldier On the
outpost.
Mr. Dickerson thought that to hand
down the uniform Of the Confederate
soldier was one OF the main objects of
the statue. He hoped that the artist
would be sustained.
MAJOR MYERSS POSITION.
Major Myers said the design was the
work OF MIR Sheppard. II was not the
design Of the committee There was not
"a man on the committee competent to
decide the nice questions involved. When
the design was adopted that closed the
matter, and IL was for the artist TO de-
CHE In what position the statue was to
be placed The artist had said the statue
should face up Main street. That had
settled the matter with him.
THIN. said Major Phillips. Mr.. Sheppard
should have brought It here and put II
upon thu column.
The question was then put upon the
sub,tiiute. which was that the figure face
down James river. and II was voted
down--ayes 2: noes. rs
Sir. Mccarthy asked what would be the
effect OF looking at tn figure from the
base Of Libby Hill. Mr.. Sheppard said
The statue was not intended for close
scrutiny. but as an ornamental mass Ihe
same conditions obtained with all CO.
lossal statues. IL II was Intended to be
scrutlnized II would BE- put low down.
WILL FACE MAIN STREET.
The question recurring on the original
motion, that the statue face Main street.
IL was adopted-ayes. 2s; noes, g.