New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-27

50 that they may live after the plaster casts
have been destroyed
The term Rogers group" suggests haircoth
furniture, wax flowers, plush albums and old
fashioned parlor furniture and even the friends
OF the scheme, which has for its object the pur-
chase Of the original bronze statuettes do not
deny the homely character of the works.
Francis lie Baron. who has been the close friend
Of John Rogers for many years said that IL 1t
is true that the Rogers groups recall the days
Of old-fashioned furniture and inartistic decora-
ton they are reminiscent also Of the days Of
slavery and the time OF the war and the acts
OF patriotism and bravery which they called
forth
His greatest admirers say that the works Of
John Rogers must not be compared with those
Of the men who go to Europe and return with
ideas fortified by foreign study, and there is
nothing in them by which they may be com
pared with the Greek masters or the works Of
the Renaissance. When they were made and
placed On sale it was not intended that the
groups" should become the property OF judges
Of art works. They were popular in subject and
In price. and each group told story which 1t
required no artistic education to read
TYPICAL AMERICAN
The sculptor was born in Salem, Mass. and
received his education in the public schools of
Boston. BY family environment and education
he was a typical young American when he went
to Europe in 1853, and although he studied
abroad for short time he did not lose his
American IDEAS and made efforts to shape his
course after other artists who were content to
follow a beaten path along with the great
majority. He returned good American as
uhp he Cd first rkere
At the Farm" which he modelled in Chicago for
q charity fair was so thoroughly Yankee in its
con position that it attracted Immediate atten-
ton. Then came his war scenes. each represent
Ing some incident with which the people were
familiar and each appealing To a patriotic in
stinct. Mothers whose sons were at the front
bought the soldier groups and saw their sons
glorified in them, wives and sisters and loving
parents decorated their homes with the Rogers
war scenes, in memory Of those who had gone to
defend the flag and would never return: and
when stage or platform was decorated for a
patriotic meeting Rogers groups were never
forgotten.
THE Slaves story" with its portraits Of
Whittier. Garrison and Beeoher: the "Coun-
Gil Of War" showing President Lincoln
seated and holding before him map, Secretary
Stanton standing behind his chair listening TO
GtHfidl 'Tldit, VINO - 'Niidlhlns the pam the
Statues If Lincoln and Henry Ward Beechor. and
the portrait bust Of Bryant, all appealed strong
ly to the public when they appeared. and did
much to impress the features Of the subjects
In the minds II the people.
One Of Rogerss best war scenes according
70 his judgment is known Taking the
Oath" This represents a young woman with
q child presumably the widow and child Of a
Confederate soldier. standing by the side Of
. handsome Union officer who. with cap in
hand and a look OF Kindness in his strong
face, administers the oath OF allegiance while
q typical half-clad negro boy looks Oh