River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-08-06

In 1884 Greenough went to Florence,
Italy. and there, after much travel and
incessant study, began work upon his
model He worked steadily and care.
fully, aud in 1910, after six years OF
painstaling effort, the work was COM
pleted. In 1871, after numerous vexa-
tious delays, the statue was transported
10 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 IN it's hold, and there
was not a ship in our navy which could
transport 1t. There was considerable
correspondence between Greenough
and the secretary of the navy on this
subject. Finally the Sea was chartered
for $500 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 bis own private funds
he paid the commander of the Sea 81 500
% speed straight to Washington city
with his precious burden. Consequent
", on July 81. 1s41, the Sea anchored at
the navy yard in the Potomac river, and
preparations were Immediately com
menced fo- the erection of the statue
in the rotunda of the capitol. The sum
of $4,000 was spent for 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 II stands an object of
admiration and of criticism. Concern
ing its merits, each observer must Judge
for himself.
Ten years ago ii was discovered that
the frost and rain had caused the back
Of the statue to crack. The soft italian
'1arble could not withstand the vicissi-
tudes of outdoor life. In 1889, by re-
quest 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 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-
,yress to erect over and about il a pa
vilion for its protec on; 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 10 be for years
TO come.
Concerning the criticisms made by
critics of his own day, the artist wrote
a memorial to congress. saying: "Thc
designs of Frederick H., with his huge
walking stick and preposterous queue;
Louis XVI. with his redundant periwig,
cLmbrous robes and stilted shoes. were
applauded by contemporaneous artists.
The effect of those designs to-day is ir-
repressible laughter. l have 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 d. FRY.