The evening times., 1896-07-22
.H0DGk|Ns PRIZE MEDAts
Splendidly Designed Silverand
Bronze Works of Art.
SENT TO THE WINNERS
They Were Made by the Most F Famous
of Living Medalists = Beautiful
Allcgorical Figure of Woman on
One Side-Dr. G. Brown Goode Re-
ceived and Forwarded Them.


DR.. G. Brown Goode of the award eon-
mittee of the Hodg kius prize contest Of last
year has just received aud forwarded to
their destinations tile medals granted in
recog gnition OF distinguished merit.
The Smithsonian Institution retains copies
OF both tile silver aud the bronze medal,
aud they will be placed on exhibition at
the proper time and place. The competi-
tiou, it will be remembered, was for the
most meritorious original discovery in the
relations of air to human life. Tie CHIEF
prize was $40 900, with numerous smaller
rewards.
The medals were made by J. c. Chap
lain OF Paris, the most famous OF living
medalists. They are of great value, aside
from their significance as proof OF high
achievement in the field OF science and
letters. The main design is the same on
both kinds, and tile reverse side, drawn by
Mr.. Aug ustus st. Gaudens, tue American
artist, is identical in both.
The piece of metal used is three inches in
diameter, and about quarter OF an inch
IN thickness, though, OF course, not uniform
in that dimension. Tie silver piece is
worth, intrinsically, only about SO. But
of course these figures do not even ap-
proach the value of the medal, considered
merely from an artistic standpoint.
The French master to whom the work
was intrusted seems to have tried to pro-
duce a work worthy OF the occasion, and
the general verdict will probably be that,
famous as the thing must become In time
as one of the first awards from a great
and unique institution devoted to the
spread OF useful kno owledge among all races
or men, he has met every reasonable ex-
pectation.
The diverse, or principal design, which
was drawn by NJ Chaplain himself, rep
resents female figure poised upon the
round OF the globe, bearing in her right
hand resting on her knee scroll and pen
or stylus, and in her left, held aloft, a
torch to eniigbten the world. About her
head are the stars, and a light cloud floats
in the distance in a way to be brought TO
notice by the flaming torch. AT the rear
OF the figure, and also in front, low down
on the horizon, touching the knee, are
other clouds Shot through these mists OF
| Tue oue "oAt Oh
side OF the figure, is the legend Per
| orbem'- Throughout the World.
THE woMAN's, FIGURE.
| In the figure itself, allegorical Of learn
| ing, the greatness of the master who pro-
| duced tie design is, of course, chiefly re-
| vealed. Words fail TO convey the impress
| sion Of tremendous power combined with
| grace and beauty that rests in the mobile
| form that, as if alive before the eyes, sits
upon a curve Of the earth balancing off
into space like some godlike being passing
| from star to star bearing a blessing Of
| light and hope to the denizens OF the universe
She is skillfully draped in loose, light
mantle that is flung out from the upper
portion of her body, as if blown away by
flying breeze. 1t covers, but does not
hide, the outlines of the body below pair
| of exquisitely rounded shoulders that are
| exposed in tie most modest tunconsciousness.
The form is matronly, rather than girlish.
| The face is strong, rather than beautiful,
| and yet the lines are clear, the neck beauti-
| fully posed, the features classic and perfect.
Every member and every turn is proof
| of study by a trained and Intelligent artist
Of the first rank. The whole is Il model
of fine art, and Will repay careful atten-
ton from any mini by impartinG new ideas
and stimulating the love OF the beautiful
THE REVERSE SIDE.
The reverse by Mr.. st. Gaudens bears
| two conventional torches OF learning, with
flying streamers gracefully tied a little
below the bowl and ending in moniliform
bodies similar to those artistically used
| ., ,h lott
ginning at the top of the medal, runs the
motto of the Smithsonian, "Fo. the IN
| crease and Diffusion OF knowledge Among
Men,
| In the center, surrounded By ring and
circle of the beadlike ornaments, are
the words, '.Hodgkins Committee Medal
of 1895" Below this are the words,
"Smithsonian Institution, Washington,
! 1876"
The surface of the medals in both cases
is finished dull instead of bright, though
| in the silver there is no trace of oxidiZa-
tion. The effect Of this feature is to
heighten the artistic value of the work by
taking off the edge Of the appearance OF
| ambitious effort.
The award was made public on August
8, 1895. The first prize, $40, 200 cash
went to Lord Ragleigh and Prof. William
Ramsay, both of London, for the discovery
OF argon, the new element of the atmos
phere.
The second prize, So, 1000, was not giver
to any one, owing to failure to comply with
the terms of the offer. The third prize
ST 900, went to DR.. Henry de vanguy, ot
Paris, for treatise entitled, Lair ct la
vie."
The committee wished to show their ap
probation of the merit of twepty-one O.
the several hundred other papers presented
and for nine of these they determined t.
give medals. These medals were ther
still to be designed and stamped, and tina
| work has just been finished.
The silver medals have been semitic A. L
Herrera and DR.. vergara Lopez, City o
Mexico; c. L. Madsen, Copenhagen, Den
mark; "A. R. Russell. London. Thebronz,
medals to E. Deberaux-Dex and Mauric
Dibos. Rouen, France; DR.. o. Jesse. Berlin
Dr.. A. Loewy, Berlin; Alexander McAdie
Washington: Hiram s. Maxim, Kent, Eng
land. and Drs. Franz and Carl oppenheim
er, Berlin. s'-
The only use now being made of tn
large fund left by Mr.. Hodgkins to stimu
late study of the air and its uses and re
lations to man is the award of fixet
amounts to scientists who may be deeme
worthy to pay the expenses of origina
investigation.