Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-23
"MEN ON HORSEBACK"
Equestrian Statuary in the National
Capital.
mem ORIALS OF FOUR WARS
A More Brilliant Future Predicted
for American Art.
STATUES TO BE ERECTED

STATUES TO BE E r ECTE ED
The following paper was read by Mr. 8.
II Kaufman before the Columbia His
toricaI Society on the evening of March IL,
1901:
In compliance with the request of your
committee 1t was the original expectation
that there should be presented this evening
some account of equestrian statuary In
the United States. 1t may be questioned
whether or not a paper so comprehensive
in its scope as that and covering so wide
an cxpanse of territory. would come strict
IL within the purview of a society pre-
sumed to be rather local in it's researches
and general range; but, quite aside from
that consideration it soon became appar-
ent that to do that subject even scant JUS
tiCe in a single paper to be read in one
evening would be too great tax upon the
patience If not upon the physical endur-
Rncc. of any audience. Accordingly, the
observations offered at this time will be
restricted to the monumental structures of
Tho class referred to which have been set
up within the limits of the National Cap
itaI,-with. however, some preliminary ref
ercnCe to two samples In other localities.
Introduced for the purpose of establishing
the historical sequence, or rather, perhaps,
the order of precedence in works of that
class on the western hemisphere, and
which 1 trust. may be excused for that
reason.
The first monument of this order put up
and now existing within the limits of the
United States-though not the first erected
on this continent.-was unveiled and still
int ci- Put still etaD d
ing. which antedates this one. set up
il "a neighboring country, and in honor Of
European monarch who did absolutely
nothing to deserve such great distinction.
il is an effigy, almost colossal in size. rep
resenting Charles " of Spain, in the City
Of Mexico. This group was modelled by a
citizen of that city. though born in SPAIN
Don Manuel Tolsa. by name. and was cast
In bronze in a single piece. by another res
ident Mexican, Don Salvador de la Vega
The date of it's inauguration was the 9th
DAY of December, 1903, when, after many
vicissitudes of fortune. which well nigh
resulted in its complete destruction, it was
unveiled with q eat ceremony.
Yet even that early example had a pred
ecessor of its class on this side of the At
lantic although the pioneer group no longer
exists. This. the first equestrian statue
cluded in the United States, or indeed any
where on the western hemisphere was one
of George III of England, which formerly
stood in the reservation called Bowling
Green. near what was then known as Fort
George, at the foot of Broadway, in the
city of New York. There it was dedicated
with suitable ceremony on the 21st day of
August, 17T0,-that date having been
chosen. it was stated. because it was the
birthday of his majesty's father, Frederick
Prince of Wales
y ChrOnicler of the times gives a rather
quaint account of the inaugural proceed
ings attending the unwilling Of this statue
in the following words:
ION this occasion the members of his Ma
jestys Council, the City Corporation, the
Corporation of the Chamber of Commerce
III" Corporation of the Marine Society and
most of the gentlemen of the City and
Army waited on his Honor. the Lieutenant
Governor Golden. in the Fort, at his re-
quest; where his Majestys and other loyal
healths were drunk under a discharge of
thirty-two pieces of cannon, from the Bat
terry, accompanied by band of music"
Another writer of the period records the
fact that this was the first equestrian
Statue ever made of His Majesty, the third
George. and adds that it was 1.-The work
manship of that celebrated statuary, Mr..
Wilton of London"
This group was composed of lead but
was said to have been so richly gilded as
to present somewhat the appearance Of
gold An old print of the statue, in my
possession, shows the king clothed in his
royal robes. wearing his crown, and seated
upon rather clumsy looking charger
which is represented in the act of rearing
the equipoise of the group being MAIN
tained by the long tail of the horse, which
rested firmly on the PEDESTAL
The statue stood in it's appointed place
for nearly six years, or until the 9th day
OF July, 1II6, when it was destroyed by the
soldiers and patriotic populace of the city
The group had probably been subjected to
some indignities before that time, for we
find that the 9Th of February. 1773.
there was passed an act entitled AN act
ito prevent the defacing of statues which
are erected in the City of New York :"
But however that may be, the effigy in
question met its appropriate fate as above
stated shortly after the signing of the
Declaration of Independence and in recoR-
milton OF that momentous event
In regard to this affair the father Of our
country appears to have entertained a
view which somewhat reminds one of that
held by the New England gentleman who
declared himself lin favor of the Maine
liquor law. but opposed to its enforce
ment: for Washington. while undoubtedly
favoring the results Of the iconoclastic
Demonstration. thought proper to place
himself officially on record an Directing to
the precise method or agency employed to
Secure the end in view. In the book of
general orders issued by the commander
in-chief. one under date Of July TO- lT76.
appears, in which the following diplomat
tcally wOrded approbatory censure was pro-
mulgated. 1t reads:
Though the general doubts not the per-
sons who pulled down and mutilated In
broadway the statue of King George last
night. acted In the public cause yet it has
so much the appearance Of riot and want
or order in the army that he dfsapproyes
of The nd 49,