The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-09-12
IN WINTER QUARTERS.


jncessant 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
70 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 ordis
nary sailing vessel of that period would
admit the statue IN its hold, and therO
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
to display this statue in the national
capital without delay was such, how
ever, that out of his own private funda
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
menced for the erection OF the status
in the rotunda of the capitol. The sum
of $4,000 was spent for a pedestal and
$4,000 more was expended in the re-
moval of the statue from the ship to the
rotunda.
Nobody liked the statue after it was
placed in position. 1t filled the center
IF 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
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. Concerns
ing its 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-
tldes of outdoor life. In 1889, by re-
Equest of the senate committee on the
library, the architect of the capitol was
authorized to erect a temporary shelter,
and since that time, in winter months.
the statue is covered by a movable frame
house, and the disintegration of tho
marble has ceased. Early in July tbs
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 a pa
vilion for it's protection; but congress
never does anything right, until com
PEELED to by stress Of circumstances:
and hence the pavilion has never been
erected, and is not likely to be for years
to come.
Concerning the criticisms made by
critics of his own day, the artist wrote
a memorial to congress, saying: 'The
designs of Frederick II, with his hugo
walking stick and preposterous queue;
Louis XVI, with his redundantperiwig,
cumbrous robes and stilted shoes, were
applauded by contemporaneous artists
The effect of those designs to-day is II.
repressible laughter. Ihave been there.
by influenced to avoid putting up in
high places of this republic a colossal
copy Of an uncouth costume, which has
already passed into disuse."
SMITH p. FRY.
Passing 1t On.
"Nan, what do you do when another