The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-18
Oue NEW MON

We are to have "new money" early IN
the coming year and from all accounts 1t
n, 10 be very beautiful money
Artistiuslly speaking our paper money is
thought not to ~be a success. While 1t
reprssents the tine art OF the engraver 1t
is without design, and is simply a little
sheet Of pictures aud figures on one side
with a mass of bewildering scroll work
on the back. 1t is quite elaborate but,
for all that, it is not pretty, is not strik-
ing. is not effective and is not difficult to
counterfeit. -
Who can recall, without an immediate
look at it, any Of the pictures on any OF
our treasury or bank notes? We remem
Der perhaps the portraits OF distinguished
men that appear thereon, possibly can re-
call some OF the historical or allegorical
views. But familiar as anybody may
happily be with these bills, we doubt ii
such an one could sit down and sketch
even the toughest suggestion OF what
constitute their design. They mean moth
ing as a whole, are without unity OF pur
pose, inharmonious and only have q
meaning by patchwork process.
But the ''new money" that the treasury
department is to issue is probably gong
to be very beautiful. Indeed 1t is prom
ised TO be a revolution in money, speci-
mems OF high art, OF commensurate de-
sign, and printed on absolutely new,
unique and beautiful paper. The one,
two, Ave and ten dollar bills are now
nearly ready to be put In circulation.
The design for the face Of the five-dollar
note, which Will be first issued, Is by
WALTER sHIRLAw. That for the one is by
WILL II. Low. EDWIN ROWLAND BLAsH-
FIELD designed the new two dollar note,
sndwALTER SHIBIAw the new ten. These
are all artists of eminence. Their work
was selected by an extensive competition
and their oil paintings are to be trsnslat>
ed on the notes in the highest style of the
engraver's art.
Each Of the new notes typifes a DIS
7 tinctfve idea. The five-doIIar bill, which
IS the one to be first issued. may be called
america" embodying the ideals Of en-
ergy and progress.
Three groups appear side by side on the
face of the note. The first groap is an
erect male figure, driving three spirited
horses by rcins which are really flashes
of lightning; in his right hand he grasps
from the storm clouds the thuuderbolts,
whose energy is conveyed by ribbons to
IN electric torch, grasped by the chief
figure in the central or principal group
on the face OF the note. The central
female figure, OF magnificent proper
tions, is winged. She holds aloft in her
right hand an incandescent electric light,
which is converting the energy conveyed
to her from the clou ds into direct USE
~fulness, enlightening mankind. She
stands on a hemisphere which shows the
United States; under her extended left
arm an eagle perches at her feet; immedi-
ately on her right, resting also on the
hemisphere, in a semi-recumbent posi-
ton, is a female figure, em%blematic,
perhaps, OF the Press, announcing to the
universe the progress OF civilization. On
the Observers right, to tho loft of the
central figure, is floating figure of peace,
holding a law scroll in one hand md
lightly supporting a love in the other.
In the background are glimpses OF the
great dome and of the Senate wins OF the
Caption, locali7ing the design in its en-
tirety.
On the back OF the new ~five-doliar bill
will be an ideal winged head, in the GEN.
ter, with a V on her breast; on either side
OF the ideal bend will be the heads OF
GRANT and SHERIDAN.