The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-07
HIS DREAM OF FAME.
sculptor Thought He Was Making
Bust of Mrs. Cleveland.
From the Chicago Tribune.


From the Chicago Tribune.
The New York Herald recently told of
life-size marble bust of President Cleve-
land that is now receiving it's finishing
touches in Carrara, Italy, at the hands
of Prof. Fidardo of Rome, who expects
to complete 1t within a few weeks and to
ship II to this country for delivery to the
wealthy New Yorker who ordered it. This
gentleman is a warm personal friend Of
Mr.. and Mrs. Cleveland, and the sculp-
tors work is intended as a present for
them by the donor. who persists in con-
cealing his identity from the pYblic. He
is now in Italy, watching the progress
that is being made, impatient for the time
when it will be started for the United
States This public announcement of the
coming gift has brought to light a curious
story that has in 1t an element of pathos,
while 1t at the same time illustrates the
cruel extreme to which practical jokes
can be carried by thoughtless men.
During President Cleveland's first term
in office Mr. G.. Civolari, a banker, at
No. 107 Mulberry street, New York, re-
ceived letter from an Italian sculptor
named Pietro Vannucca, who lived in
Florence at that time. 1T is very long
since 1t occurred" said Mr.. Civolari yes
terday. He wrote saying that he had
forwarded me life-slze marble bust of
Mrs. Cleveland, and asked me to go to the
custom house on the arrival of the
steamer, and, after paying the necessary
duty on the work, take 1t out and ar
range to have 1t delivered at the white
house through Italy's representative in
Washington. When the steamer finally
reached port l paid the duty-$120 If l re-
member rightly-and had the bust carted
nm ff,x.r IN, L., .l.f..
I'D from the box L saw, not a bust of
Mrs.s Cleveland, but of a woman whom
you would call, l suppose coarse feat
ured, with large but shapely mouth,
high cheek bones, with an abundance of
curly hair
Collectively the features were those of a
strong-minded woman who could take
good care of her personal interests in eth
er verbal or physical quarrel. NY first
impression was that the drayman had de-
livered the wrong box, but an examination
OF the directions and subsequently OF the
steamers manifest proved that l had re-
ceived exactly what had been consigned
to me. The mistake, then, clearly was the
sculptor's He must have shipped the
wrong one and was not aware of his error.
/ wrote him to the effect that If the Presl-
dent of the United States set this bust up
in the white house and told persons that
| 1t was a counterpart in marble of his wife
he would be arrested on a charge of big
amy and sent to Sing Sing, and that d.
vorce proceedings would be Immediately
instituted by the present queen of the ex-
ecutive mansion.
Knowing the sculptor very we'll 1 told
him also that while 1t might do very we'll
| for misft or a hand-me-down, It did not
come anywhere near matching any of the
Folsom family, and that II he would try IL
again and send me something that was up
TO sample 1 would see that 1t went to
Washington. He replied in time that there
had been no mistake and that his guide in
making II had been a photograph Of Mrs
President" Again wrote and to convince
him OF his error inclosed him an admirable
picture OF the Presidents lovely wife. A
reply came in a wall from the land OF sun
ny slopes and olives that would have made
| your heart ache.
1T appears that when on a visit TO Ma
pies and while In a cafe there he met an
American traveller, whose name he had
not obtained, and who made himself veT,,
agreeable. Just before parting company
the American gave Vannucca a photo
graph, which he said was good likeness
OF Mrs. Cleveland, and in a disinterested
way he suggested a plan that grew as he
| talked OF 1t. He said that while there
we're thousands upon thousands of photo
graphs and pictures of all kinds OF the
Presidents wife, there was nothing of her
in enduring marble, and that fame and
fortune awaited the worker In living stone
who could utilize the opportunity. Such
bust Of the first lady Of the land would
be given a place OF honor in the white
house. where IL would be seen by the on
cials OF all the embassies OF the courts
Of Europe and by the United States gov
eminent officers as well as the thousands
OF annual visitors to Washington, AL the