The sun., 1897-02-28
MONUMENT TO MRS. STOWE.
THE SUBJECT or A VIOLENT CONTRO-
VERsY IN CONNECTICUT.

but Mrs. Kendriek Docs. and she II said 20
Have the support or MIS-. stoves sister-
The ConnIct Tn Newspapers and Legislature.
HARTFORD, Conn, Feb. 2e.-within q year OF
the death Of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author Of
"Uncle Toms Cabin" the citizens Of her State
have become cmbroiled In quarrel over
statue designed to honor her memory. The
whole statue project has been enveloped In somo
mystery from its inception. although 1t has ad-
vanced 30 far that plaster model Ia In the
Capitol for inspection, and q bill awaits action
carrying an appropriation Of 5000.
Probably tho first known about the proposed
statue was brought to public attention in a let
ter by the son Of tho author. the Rev. Charles +.
Stowe, that was published In the Courdnf on
Feb. Ii, when tho Legislature had been in scs-
sion about month. Mr.. Stowe began his letter
by enumcrating the plans Of memorials that had
been proposed TO him by letter and by word OF
mouth. Some had proposed monument to bo
erected on tho burial lot at Andover, Mass;
others monument or statue In somo other
place. Mr.. Stowe said.
with all due appreciation Of tho kindness
shown BY those so loyal to my mothers memory.
permit mo to say Nhat my sisters and have al
ready ordered monument, to bc finished by the
New England Granite Company OF this city
somo time In June. On this monument will be
cut Erected by her children Mrs Stoves
children regard Il as their exclusive privilege TO
erect monument over their mothers grave Mt
Andover. As to monuments or statues to bo
erected elsewhere, all such undertakings are ro-
gardcd by them with indifference, tinctured
slighuy by apprehension.
"No more useless unsightly way OF wasting
money. generally speaking. Is known to man than
that which finds expression In tho statute nui-
sance, There are many ways Of doing honor to the
memory Of person like Mrs. Stowe much more in
keeping with her character. II anything Is to DO
done, why could not money bc raised to found
Harriet Beecher Stowe scholarship at Hampton,
Fiske, or Tuskogeef Such memorial would, I
know, bc quite In keeping with my mothers
taste, and far more useful to man and honoring
to God than some brazen monstrosity scowling
tho unfortunate beholder out OF countenance
from It's ugly granite pedestal. Tho ordinary
bronze statue ought 10 be regarded as a terrible
penalty to be inflicted only on great offenders
against society, like Adam. Capt Kidd, or Bcne-
dict Arnold"
This letter brought out In q few days reply.
over the signature OF Mrs. Ella d. kendrick.
chairman Of the Stowo Memorial Committee"
This was the first that had been heard OF the
Stowe Memorial Committce. Mrs. kendrick
explained that two bills regarding the stowe
statue had been introduced In the Legislature
BY courtesy OF Hartford representative. Mr..
Gsns ns ..us s'tss III 9Hof BssghSr he Stove
either in The csR.S ..S on ,ds ho Gapo
seropristion OF 5000 toward dcfraying the
eSpenses OF erecting such a statue, -, 500 to
BE psd sad NOT for the
state 10 furnish The memoriai' but to contribute
q small amount to the fund. thereby showing the
nss ses sS9 most dis
Mrs. KendricE said also that she thought the
Rev Mr.. stowe would DO gratined when he saw
hVf Glimpse of H. II sThe TT h Conception of tho memorial
the ISs snE dSns
the committee is amply able 70 attend to the pro-
Of ri: b. Sss sss ss
Capitol grounds. or elsewhere, clothed In dress
Of 1850. with tight. sleeves, hoop skirt, and the
pa. ssobsr a' sa,Ss sn sound s
10 The Tmss letter. which warmly espoused the
cause Of Mrs Kondrick, the entire cost Of tho
Jf,nrs,S = eorrespondent had been apparently one
OF the favored few who had been In the New
York studio q the sculptor who was modelling
The whole structure will be about twenty.
nyc feet high Upon the stone work Is to rest
| Ing Mrs. Stowe in costume and appearance OF
about the year 1850, holding In her right hand
| i proposed TO have a large figure representing
Cncle Tom, with hands upraised toward Mrs.
Stove and on the hand. broken shaekiss; s; h o on
large bronze plate about three feet square. On
| on the other. Eva Suitable Inscriptions will
| be put In proper places"
| Theso COMMUNICATIONS stirred the Courdn
to respond In an editorial headed sheer lmpu-
| dence" From this and other editorial refer
ences. IT is plain that tho Courant z In close
| said:
| "Some persons unknown have. 1t appears,
constituted themselves q Harriet, Beecher
| nVt.ltf nd
| pioyed a sculptor, who Is now modelling. They
have done this without consulting Mrs. stoves
| family and against its wishes. The family docs
| not even know who they are. The public docs
| not know The General Assembly does not know.
| we doubt whether Mr.. Griting, who intro
| duced their little bills for them. knows. Tho
name OF tho sculptor is equally n secret. Mrs.
| Ella III Kendrick lprcsuinably a member of tho
| Commit ee has announced that he Is as good .
sculptor as the country Affords and that his
| studio Is in New York. II would be interesting
to know whether the idea OF this memorial statue
| originated In Connecticut or In New York"
| Referring 10 the appropriation the Courdnt
| said:
Nl ILL.,. N MN