Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-10


Liberty
The plaster model will remain in Paris
until replaced by the finished monument.
No more appropriate place for the Lafay
cite monument could be found in all Paris,
it is said. than the one which was offered
for it by the French government and which
has been accepted. 1t is in the court of the
Palace of the Louvre in the space partly
incosed by the buildings. The site was
originally intended, it is said, for monu-
ment to Napoleon.
The Lafayette will be worthy Of its rich
and historic surroundings. In the design
of the statue Lafayette is represented as a
youth, mounted on a Flemish war horse.
the tail and name of which are knotted and
dressed. The generals form is attired In
military dress that may be likened In part
to that of the nobility of his time and in
part to that Of the continental service. In
his right hand he graspS his sword, holding
1t up and offering 1t to the cause of the
American patriots. The statue measures
fifteen feet in height, and the pedestal 1t
occupies stands twenty-six feet high. When
Lafayette landed at South Carolina, in the
days of the American revolution, he rode
from Charleston to Philadelphia on horse
back and offered his services to Congress
at the latter place for the continental army,
from which it can be readily seen that an
equestrian statue Is most appropriate.
The Lost Wax Process.
The permanent statue, to be made at Con-
gress Heights, will be cast in bronze, after
known as the lost wax process, which was
exclusively used by the ancient Greeks and
Italians The metal to be used in the statue
will be of the finest kind, and will contain
an alloy of gold. silver and copper, plan
much used by the Corinthians in their work
1t is said thatGnot for 300 years has
statue been cast by the process that Mr.
Bartlett intends to use in making the La
fayette. 1t will be notable in this respect
alone. The pedestal for the statue was de-
signed by Thomas Hastings Of New York,
and is to be made in the Celleon style,
with columns of various-colored marbles
about it.
Two years ago the plan of having La
fayette monument built for erection IN
Paris by American subscriptions was first
talked of. Robert J. Thompson Of Chicago
is the author of the project The Lafayette
memorial commission was formed for this
purpose September l, 1898. by the United
States commissioner general to the Paris
exposition, Mr.. Peck, who appointed the fol-
lowing members and officers: William r.
Day, William b. Allison, Rev. Edward Ev-
erett Hale, DR.. w. T. Harris, Archbishop
Ireland, John w. Mickey, Melville E. Stone
Frank Thomson Charles A. Collier; hon
orary president, Ferdinand w. Peck, COM
missioner general TO the Paris exposition;
vice president, Alexander H. Revell; treas
urer, Charles G. Dawes: secretary, Robert
J. Thompson. Frank Thomson died in June
1899, and was replaced by Edwin A. Potter
VINO later succeeded MI Dawes as treasurer
of the commission.
Immediately after organization action was
begun looking to the enlistment of the pu-
piIs of the schools of the United States, in
Guiding Alaska and Hawaii, in support OF
the monument project. The movement was
commended by President Mckinley in a
public letter addressed to Vice President
Revell of the commission. Six weeks after
the organization of the commission between
4GOOUO0 and 5O0V0OO Of school children
contributed their pennies to the amount OF
S4;,S53.30, thus giving splendid beginning
I, ti,,,xN
were being carried on with the French au
thorities referring to the acceptance Of the
monument and the site to be awarded it in
the city of Paris These negotiations were
most friendly throughout and ended most
happily The choicest site in Paris, the
court of the Louvre, was offered to the
commission, and the monument itself ac-
cepted with pleasure and gratitude by the
French government
One of the Largest of It's Kind.
1t was at first the idea that the monu
ment might be completed and made ready
for dedication United States day" at the
Paris exposition, July last. 1t was impos-
sible to do more by that date, however,
than dedicate staff reproduction. The
statue will be one Of the largest figures OF
its kind in the world, as well one of the
richest 1t is the opinion that the sum OF
100000 will cover the entire cost or the
monument and the artists remuneration.
For the purpose of aiding in defraying the
cost Of the pedestal Congress, March 81,
1899. made an appropriation of $4,000. and
the souvenir Lafayette dollar was struck
by this government
Paul Bartlett. who was selected the
sculptor of the Lafayette monument by an
expert council Tfof, the highest authorities
in America in art, Is a native of Boston,
Mass. He has resided in France for
number of years, and his present home is
at the pleasant village Of st. Lieu. He Is
ho eminent DuDil of the IN
Fremiet, and his name is in Frances Legion
of Honor. His Mchael Angelo and his Co
lumbus may be, seen here in Washington.
and are considered 70 be two of the finest
pieces of sculpture eyer seen in America.
n.dored LIZ Com mi lOners.