The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-05
MRS. ROHL-SMITH HERE
Comes From Denmark to Settle Her
Late Husbands Estate.
Pays Visit to the Quarters Where
His Last Work on the sherman
Had MISREPRESENTATION TO the
Completion of the Monument.

Mrs. Carl Rohl-Smith, the widow of the
cut short his work on the General Shet-
man statue has returned from Denmark.
&c arrange the affairs Of the artist She
was accompanied by her nephew, Herr
Schern, and they are stopping at the Rohl-
Smith residence until some disposition OF
the estate can be made. The will of the
sculptor was filed for probate yesterday. 1t
was dated June 25. 1895, and disposes OF
considerable property. The widow, Sarah
Bergithe Christine Rohl-Smith, is made the
sole beneficiary.
Mrs. Rohl-Smith spent yesterday after
noon at the atelier erected by the late
sculptor, on the White Lot, just south OF
the Treasury, near Fifteenth Street and
Pennsylvania, where the monument is to
be erected. The place was in the same
condition as when the artist left 1t early
in the spring, to go abroad because o. tall
ing health. For four years he had worked
there on models for the statue that b.,
meant to be his masterpiece. II was crowd
ed everywhere with tools and souvenirs of
the workman. His pipe still lay on the
table where he had left it. and climbing
flowers that he had fostered were clinglng
around his desk. Portraits and studies OF
Cen William Tecumseh Sherman were
thrust in every nook and corner Of the
place Mr.. Rohl-Smith had been an in
defatigable student of the great warriors
life, and he lived in an atmosphere redo
lent of his personality. The sculptor died,
however, with his work still incomplete.
The centre Of it was TO be vast bronze
figure Of General Sherman, mounted upon
his favorite charger. The four groups of
categorical figures representing soldiers On
guard at the foot of the statue had been
finished in plaster, but the chef d'oeavrs
OF the monument was still inchoaJe The
framework for the horse a mass of scant-
ling and beams, on which the plaster was
to have been laid, occupied workbench
in the middle OF the atelier. Nothing had
yet been done. however, toward modelling
the figure OF General Sherman. The like
ness had given Mr.. Rohl-Smith an infinite
amount of thought. He had changed his
designs repeatedly and each time he had
brought the tiny working models nearer
TO his ideal Early this year he had al
most completed conception of the war
rior, that promised TO be completely salts
factory. 1t was never carried out, how
ever. for in the spring ne left for Denmark
on the trip that ended in his death.
Mrs Rohl-Smith after her visit to the
ateiier yesterday, was not able TO make
any positive statement as 10 what would
be done toward carrying forward the mon
ument. She announced that it was her de-
sire TO put the existing work in as COM
plete order as possible to submit il to the
commission which is in charge. The future
Of the monument, however, will largely lie
with the commission Itself. That body in
cludes Secretary Root Lieutenant General
Miles, and the comnlander-in chief Of the
Army Of the Tennessee. They are expect
ed to meet early this fall Meanwhile moth
ing will be done.
1t is deemed likely that should the COM
mission so decide 1t Will be possible &c
carry out the statue along the lines COM
meneed by Mr. Rohl-Smith. The pedestal
for the aliegorical figures have been lin
ished and q start has been made on the
horse. Mr. Rohl-Snith had expected to
have the statue ready for unwilling in
about year and half. He had already
arranged with a big New York house for
the bronze castings.
One difficulty presents itself in complet-
ing the work. The total appropriations for
it were about $4,000. Mr. Rohl-Smi
took the contract for erecting the 1nonu-
ment. He had already drawn close TO $780,
600 from the Government on account Of his
contract and balance of about $50, 900 re-
mains unexpended. II is not yet possible
to say whether that sum viii prove suffi-
Gent to complete the models, purchase the
castings, and Install them in place. OFF
eials Of the Government, however. say that
Mr.. Bohl-Smlth was bonded to carry out
his agreement, and in any event the bonds
men can be expected TO furnish the funds
Tor finishing the work