Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-09

materials and workmen. There was hitch
in the issuance of the bonds, but it was
caused by a complication and did not in
dictate lack of enthusiasm over the arch
project.
A Colossal Task.
The sculpture society had to make their
general plans for the work in one night.
No such colossal task was ever performed
by artists in SO short time They selected
the arch of Titus. slightly modified, the
scheme for the main feature. This arch had
no side entrances, but it was decided to
pierce the Dewey arch transversely. SO that
ii would span 9TH avenue and oath street
with free space for each thoroughfare. En-
tending on 9TH avenue in each direction for
distance of one block, they planned a
coonnade, heroically designed and lavishly
decorated.
This was one nights work The next day
the sculptors We're hard at work on their
designs, and within a week the models
We're growing in their studios.
To j. Q. A Ward was naturally intrusted
the task of making. the great group for the
top of the arch. Prancing sea horses draw
ing Victory's barge through curling waves,
with Liberty at the helm, was his subject.
Two weeks he had to complete his model
in-work which ordinarily would have oc-
cupied as many months. And the task the
glory of the reason for 1t. inspired him.
Done in haste the great group will be- but
hurried in appearance it will not be.
Arts Tribute.
And so with the two great groups which
will appear on the sides of the arch's down.
town front. Niehaus and Karl Bitter took
them up with the same impulsive enthusi-
asm, and the sea warriors returning to
their home, with Victorys wings spread
over them, will stand out on the Dewey
arch not only as evidences of the intense
patriotism which animated the idea but as
ON
Daniel c. French, F. w. Ruckstuhl, Geo.
E. Bissell, Charles A Lopez, Isadore Cont
and many others-nearly all the members
of the sculpture society, in fact-have done
as much. Never have the studios of New
York's workers at this art been so busy
Vacations have been curtailed; other orders
have been put aside; nothing has been per-
mitted to stand in the way of making the
homecoming of our great admiral a beauti-
full as well as an enthusiastic occasion.
The Repatriation of Art
"All this has another significance Mr..
Ward said. He was hard at work on the
touches needed to finish his great group.
His years sit lightly on him. The tale of
time told by his gray hair and pointed
white beard is belied by the athletic lines
of his active figure. He is no plush-jacket-
ed sculptor dabbling daintily. He wore
white. clay-spattered undershirt that day
and his trousers We're the overalls of the
hard-working hodcarrier. He professedly
was pleased with all parts of life except
his own group (which stood in brown shin
ing clay behind him turning standard)
and modesty alone made him slight the
merit of that. Two assistants We're work
ing with the mud which filled the great
clay chest in one corner of the enormous
room, and they We're visibly proud of their
master and Of his work
Mr.. Ward beamed benignly.
1t all means more than we see on the
surface, he admitted. 1T means the com
ing of a great thing to New York and to
America. From time immemorial it has been
said that we lacked public spirit, and es-
peciaIly that as a people we lacked artistic
appreciation. What could be more public
spirited than the way the country is pre-