Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-11-29
The Purchase Of the aSchooI Of Athens
Painting by the University Of
Virginia Alumni.
SOME INTERESTING LOCAL REMINISCENT
CES REGARDING IT.

l >N~~
VIM: A. Pratt, architect and artist, who's
name is hereinafter mentioned, has boun(
volume of the Virginia University Maya
zine from 1861 to 1877, which contains
some interesting statements about the
painting of the "School Of Athens" re-
Gently burned there. He has also memo
randa kept by his grandfather of the sub
scriptions made to the purchase of the copy
of that painting.
The first suggestion made for the pur
chase of copy, was made in 1850 by Daniel
H. London wholesale dry goods importer
of Richmond, who had seen the original at
Rome in the summer Of that yepr. 1t was
to be bought by the alumni by individual
subscriptions. In 1852 Mr.. London visited
Paris and contracted with Paul Balze for
COPY of the work at $500. The selec-
ton of Bali was concurred in by several
members of the alumni then in Paris,
among them John Lewis Peyton then an
attache Of the American legation there,
and now of Stanton. When Mr.. London
returned, meeting of resident alumni OF
Richmond was held in the House of Dele
gates in the interest of the subscription.
One of the speakers who addressed the
meeting was A. FL. II. Stuart, then Secre-
tary Of the Interior at Washington.
The subscriptions Jagged, and from 1852
to 1866 the committee soliciting contribu-
tions had only gotten together $13S. 1t
was in April, 1866, that the first real oppor-
tunity was offered that seemed to put the
picture in their reach. MI. VIM. A. Pratt,
theE retired from active work made con-
tract with the committee. he to be paid
81 900 to cover his expenses and to have the
right to exhibit the copy in the United
States for three years.
Mr. Pratt started on his tour of raising
subscriptions in 1866. In those days rail-
roads and hotels were not as plentiful III
Virginia as now, and we see frequent en-
tries of ''stage fare'' and bill for lodging
at the country taverns. The maximum of
the Individual subscription asked was $40,
and the minimum 50 so. Among the
Staunton and Augusta county subscribers
obtained we see the names of DR.. Clement
R. Harris, John l.. Feyton, W. w. Gibbs,
Jas. II. Skinner, Geo. M. Cochran, Jr., W.
L. Baylor, John B. Baldwin, Francis I.
Stribling, Alex. H. H. Stuart, II. J.
Churchman, A. l.. Nelson, Benz. Black
ford (then at Lynchburg), W. Fl. Hartman,
Edwin NJ. Taylor, w. H. Tams and John
CARRIER.
Among the Harrisonburg subscribers
were Douglas Gray, VIM. Herring, j. N.
Gordon, S. M. Sommers, j. N. Liggett, B.
F. Martz, &. G. Strayer, r. A. Gray. L.
W. Gambill, Thos. D. Bell, John Wilson,
| Francis w. Mcfarland and e. P. Hodges.
The little browI-covered memorandum
| book in which Mr.. Pratt recorded the
names of the subscribers he obtained and
the amounts they paid, contains many
names well known in Virginia in their day
and some well known even at this day
William f. Richie of the old Richmond
ENQUIRER, James P Holcombe, James
Barbour, just deceased, John B. Minor,
who died last year, John s. Caskie, one of
the first judges elected by the people under
the constitution of 1850, Alexander Rives
Of Albemarle, James G. Southall, Socrates
Maupin, James Alfred Jones, VIM. NJ.
Burwell, I iberius Gracious Jones, after
wards famous Baptist minister, VIM. S.
Gilman, one of the pioneers of the Gilbert
c. Walker campaign in 1869, W. r. Gait,
the sculptor, R. M. L. Hunter, Fred. w.
M. Holiday, afterwards Governor of Vir-
ginia, J. r. Tucker, Philip st. George
Cooke, J. L. Gordon, Rev. MI. Waugh.
Raleigh E. Colston, R. T. w. Duke, Jas.
Neeson, 4. B. Guigon, Thos. T. Giles.
Among the members of the legislature,
then in session, who subscribed were John
B. Floyd, E. W. McComas, Jno. S. Cal
vert, Or. Funsten, and the Clerk Of the
House, st. Geo. Tucker.
Among the students then at the Univer-
sity, whose names are down as subscribers
are Charles j. Armistead, Paul Lightner,
Thomas J. Niche, Jr., s. Wexford Corbin
and Robert w. Hunter.
The result of Mr.. Rratt's efforts was
success and in 1857. having made the alum.
nj gift of one of the three years to which
| be was entitled for the exhibition of the
picture, he turned it over to the Board OF
Visitors of the University. On the after.
noon of April 18th, that year, it was
opened to the inspection of the public In
the new Public Hall, Major Preston of the
| Virginia Military Institute making the
address Of the occasion.
On the face of the picture was a record
of the fact that it was ''executed in 1910 by
Raphael and copied i'll 1856 by Pau
Balze, and writer in the University Mag
azine in 1871 giving history OF it, sug
gested that one other con tribution to il
should be recorded on the same tablet
| presented to the University Of Firginia
by the Society of Alumni, through the
earnest efforts of their faithful and jealous
agent VIM. A. Pratt.
Mir. Pratt did at the home of his son
Capt. G. Julian Pratt in Augusta county
a few years ago, but his name as connected
with the picture has not died with him
and many testimonials were put on record
by the alumni committee Of his faithful
ness, zeal and liberality, and awarding to
him the prominent and proper plece he
! deserved in connection with the work.
Suffering Babyho0d.
MI. John Kce, Of the firm of Lushbaugl
& Kice, returned Tuesday from the johns
| HOPKINS HOSPITAL. at Baltimore. whittier