The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-10
PRAISE FOR ZOLNAY
MRS. JEFFERSON DAVIS EXALTs
ACCURACY OF HIS sCULPTERs.
M'LAWS AND BARLOW BUSTS.
TO BE THE WORK of THIS tai
ENTED HUNGARIAN ARTIST.

Widow of President of the COnfed-
eracy Writes "A TypicalIy Sympa-
thctic Letter to the Monument
Committee-AlIudeS TenderIy to
Mr.. ZOInay's Treatment of the
Busts of Her husband and Daugh-
and Intimate Friend and She Vol
unteers TO Assist the Sculptor i'm
Making the Likeness.
Mrs. Varina jefferson Davis, widow Of
che revered president of the Confederacy,
has written to Capt ID. G. Purse an in
teresting letter relative to the statues of
Gen. McLaws and Gen. Barlow, which
are to adorn, in the near future, the Bull
street entrance to Forsyth Park.
1t was the purpose Of the committee.
in writing to Mrs. DAVIS, to secure from
her some expression OF opinion as to
the artistic excellence of the work of Mr..
zolnay, the sculptor who has been prac-
tically chosen to execute the bronze busts
of the two Southern leaders. In his let
ter. asking this courtesy Of Mrs. Davis,
Capt Purse said:
1.-THE committee is extremely anxious 70
have the busts exact likenesses of the
distinguished soldiers and citizens, whose
services they are designed to embalm, as
daily reminders and ensamples for our
children to remotest generations, of men
who. in the perilous days for constltu-
tional liberty. were quick to recognize
their duty and fearless in its discharge,
even to death, upon ensanguined fields,
or who, in the sack-cloth and ashes OF
defeat, Joined with their people in that
lofty resignation in disaster, whose su-
blimity has robbed the victor of his lau-
rels and made immortal the names OF
Davis, Lee, McLaws and Barlow. whose
inches IN the Temple OF Fame will be as
signed them by heavens own selecting,
not by human censorship.
I'm crystalizing this conception of our
braves who have crossed the river and
rest in its shade now with peerless Jack
son, it is not only our duty but our
most earnest desire, to secure the best
skill obtainable, within our means for ex-
ecuting our sacred trust.
''Mr. Zolnay has had your confidence
in fashioning memorials for your treas
ured dead, the late Confederacy's, as well
Our committee, therefore, would appreci-
ate your estimate of the artistic ability
of Sculptor zolnay before they make any
award upon the bids before them"
The reply of Mrs. Davis was forwarded
at once. 1t ds typical of her, and certain
by contains a tribute as eloquently tender
as its subject could wish to abe sympa-
thetic fidelity of the work done by Mr.
ZOlnay, when his subjects were those
whom she held nearest and dearest. The
letter il as follows:
"Hotel Gerard, 123 West Forty-fourth
street, New York, March 8. 190l.-Dear Mr..
Purse: You letter of inquiry has just
been received and hasten TO answer so
that you may not be embarrassed by de-
lay.
'Mr. George Julian Zolnay made for us
the statue Of my husband. and II II noble
in pose, and striking likeness. Tie had
never seen him and therefore Mr.. Zol-
nays signal success was the more re-
markable. The work Is characterized by
holiness and deiicaey OF execution and
touch. We are as a family delighted by
the work He also created the Angel OF
Grief, which Is seated by my daughter
grave, and / think there IL little n any
room for criticism OF this exquisite work
He also made her tablet which was placed
in 81. PauFs Church, Richmond. and cy-
cry one has been touched with the pafhos
and grouping Of the embleus which tell
lie story " Der intellectually active and
meek Christian nfe. / feei very grateful
10 him f0r toe pleasure h. has given uH
"lfis busta. u which 4 hays aesn > spod