The age-herald., 1899-07-18

Washington, July 17.-(Special)-Among the public improvements under eonsidera- ton here, is one which, while it may add to the beauty of Washington, will hardly be appreciated by the country at large, and will most certainly be represented by large number of patriotic citizens. The plan involves the removal from Lafayette park of the equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson and the erection in its place of fountain, the like of which is not supposed to exist in the world. How long this im- provement has been under contemplation is not certain but the effort is now being made to get permission from the commits sioners to replace Old Hickory by an elec- tro fountain
 No one attempts to defend the statue of Jackson from the artistic attacks which have always been made on It, but 1t is the first equestrian statue placed in the Capital City and even here in Washington 1t is loved second only to that artistic mon strosity of George Washington which stands immediately in front of the capitol itself. Every school child is familiar with the figure of Jackson sitting erect on -a a horse which is poised on his hind legs. One hears all artists decry it, and while think ing they must know what they are talking about, still the layman regards it as beau- tiful work of art. I must confess to think ing 1t truly exquisite and to lay some claim to a slight knowledge of art, too. But it has been generally condemned by the ar tistic world, the comment on it of Dickens, when in this country, had much to do, pos- sibly with crystalizing opinion against it. It seems that he and Senator Seward were walking through Lafayette park on one oc- casion and Seward, realizing that the statue was somewhat grotesque from an artistic point of view, tried to keep Dickens from seeing it. As they approached the center of the park Seward kept pointing in the op posite direction from the statue, calling the attention of the great author to some interesting piece of landscape. Just as they passed, and when Seward thought that the statue had escaped the eye of the critic, Dickens pointing over his shoulder toward the Jackson monument, asked quizically:
 T say, Seward, where are the rockers?'
 It is not unlike rocking horse, but the question which has always disturbed the layman is why should a horse not be carved or moulded in that attitude as well as in another, if it be done well.
 Marvel 6f Artistic Design
 Colonel Bingham, in charge of the public buildings and grounds, has collected pho tographs of all the celebrated fountains in the world with a view of having one erected in front of the white house, where Jack son now rides his rearing horse in bronze. that will be a marvel of artistic design and rare workmanship. The only other dupli- cate of this Jackson statue is in New Or. leans, where 1t is revered as much as is the one here.
 The democratic senators, and especially those from Tennessee have always watch ed the Jackson statue with a jealous eye. Just after France presented the statue of Lafayette to this country, Senator Bate was going to the white house one day when he saw the workmen cutting down mag nificent tree at the edge of the park, inn medately between the executive mansion and the statue of Jackson. The Tennessee an asked what they were doing and was told that the monument to Lafayette was to be placed there. The senator swore by the Lord Harry that no figure should ever be placed between Jackson and the white house, and, forgetting his constituents for a moment, went to the district building and got out a temporary injunction against putting the statue between Jackson and the white house. Then going to the senate he offered a resolution forbidding this sacrilage. I do not know whether the reso- luton was passed or not, but 1t met with such sympathy that work was stopped on the ground chosen for the French hero and another place in the park was taken. La Fayette now stands on the northeast cor ner, looking direct at the monument of Washington, and near the east gate of the white house. Since then nothing, not even a tree, has been placed between Jackson