Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-08-08
IN WINTER QUARTERS.

incessant study, began work upon his
model. He worked steadily and care
fully, and in 1910, after six years of
painstaking effort, the work was COM
pleted. In 1s41, after numerous vexa-
tious delays, the statue was transported
20 America in the American ship Sea, of
Norfolk, after the vessel had been
altered so as to admit the bulky, boxed
figure through its hatchway. No ordi-
nary sailing vessel of that period would
admit the statue N its hold; and there
was not a ship in our navy which could
transport it. There was considerable
correspondence between Greenough
and the secretary of the navy on this
subject. Finally the Sea was chartered
for $4,000 to. bring the statue to Wash
,ngton, with the privilege of stopping
at other ports than Leghorn, for addi-
t'onal cargo. The anxiety of the artist
20 display this statue in the national
capital without delay was such, how
ever, that out of his own private funds
lie paid the commander of the Sea 81 500
20 speed straight to Washington city
with his precious burden. Consequent
| ly, on July 81, 1S41, the Sea anchored at
the navy yard in the Potomac river, and
preparations were Immediately COM
Jnenced for the erection of the statde.
in the rotunda of the capitol. The sum
of $4,000 was spent for pedestal and
So 900 more was expended in the re-
moval of the statue from the ship to the
rotunda.
Nobody liked the statue after it was
| -, ha ~
of the rotunda, the light upon it was
unsatisfactory, and finally, at an ex-
pense of $4,000, it was removed to the
position which it now occupies on the
4 east front of the capitol, and was sur
rounded by an iron railing. Twenty
years ago, however, the railing was re-
moved, and there it stands an object of
admiration and of criticism. Corcern-
ing it's merits, each observer must judge
for himself.
Ten years ago it was discovered that
the frost and rain had caused the back
of the statue to crack. The soft Italian
marble could not Withstand the vicissi-
tddes of outdoor life. In 1889, by re-
quest of the senate committee ON the
library, the architect of the capitol was
| authorized 10 erect temporary SnelteT,
and since that time, in winter months,
the statue is covered by movable frame
house, and the disintegration of the
marble has ceased Early in July the
house was removed, and the statue is
now exposed to public view by day and
by night. Greenough, the artist, dur
ing his lifetime repeatedly urged con
gress to erect over and about it pa
vilion for its protection; but congress
never does anything right, until com
PEELED to by stress of circumstances:
and hence the pavilion has never beer
erected, and is not likely to be for years
J to come.
/ Concerning the criticisms made by
, critics of his own day, the artist wrote
5 memorial to congress, saying: "ThC
designs of Frederick H., with his hug
walking stick and preposterous queue
/ Louis XVI, with his sredundant periwig
/ cumbrous robes and stilted shoes, wer,
applauded by contemporaneous artists
The effect of those designs to-day is ir
/ repressible laughter. I have been there
= by influenced to avoid putting up IL
: high places of this republic colossa
5 copy of an uncouth costume, which ha'
: already passed into disuse."
SMITH d. FRY.