The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-17
Edward Wilder Says Ceres
Should BE a Kansas Girl.
No Need to Go Abroad For a
Type.
SELECTED BY "A BOARD.
Says Photographs Should Be
Received From Each County.
Prominent Club Women Also
Approve the Plan.
Now Let the Executive Council
Take 1t Up.
SELECTED BY A BOARI

THAT a Kansas girl should be taken
as model for the statue of Ceres that is
to be placed on the state house dome is
eminently proper" declared Edward
Wilder to a State Journal reporter this
morning. THE girl who stands up
there and overloolxs the grand vista of
this state should certainly be a home
girl There is no need to go abroad
for a type for a Kansas girl She is
here to be selected for her own artistic
and intellectual worth.
I do not think it essential that the
model for Ceres shall be some one of
state renOWn, some one who has done
some notable thing for Kansas. The
selection should be made from the ar
tistic point Of view. / do not say that
the artist shall be a Kansan. We are
art lovers, but we are perhaps too new
in the practice of art, to furnish the
skill TO mould the image of the Kansas
girl to the degree of perfection desired.
But the model for it should be a Kan
sas girl by all means.
Who shall Ceres be2 That can be
readily determined I think by a con
test 1t is something in which the
whole state Will be interested as a mat
ter of local pride would suggest that
each county send in to a board of
judges a photograph of it's fairest kan
sas girl The photo should be taken,
prefera bly, in a flowing robe, as near
as possible like the drapery that is to
adorn Ceres. It would assist the Sc
lection materially. There is ample time,
I think, to have this done thoroughly.
The newspa pers will aid and help carry
it on, know, for everybody will be in
terested.
Il should not envy the man who is
to make the selection, of course. But
think We can rise above that and con-
duct the contest in all fairness to find
the typical Kansas girl for the model
of Ceres. Some way can be devised 10
both take it off the executive councils
hands, if they wish it, and not let the
responsibility devolve on one man eth
er, but place the matter in the hands
of a board of judges"
Other leaders of opinion unhesitat-
ingly pronounce that the statue of Ce-
res shall actually represent a Kansas
girl. Broad sentiment and pride create
interest in the proposition. Club wo-
men IN Topeka show decided interest.
7 have thought of possible criticism
that could arise before 1 am willing to
say that it is a proper idea was the
celebrating view taken by Mrs Mar
garet Hill McCarter. T am not famil-
lar with the details Of the plans for
placing the tue of Ceres on the
dome.' she said. But it is evident
that, fguratively speaking, she will be
a Kansas girl from her position. I do
not seen now where criticism could at
tach and / should be pleased to see it
carried out"
Mrs. a. IT. Thompson. president Of
the federated clubs of the city, favors
the project She said: This is an in
teresting idea and certainly the proper
one. Ceres ought to be just as much of
a Kansas girl as she can be made. I
think the project to select a Kansas
girl for Ceres model Will be a very
popular one There are so many pretty
girls in Kansas to select from that the
task may be difficult. It is not a diff
Guilty that cannot be surmounted how
ever. I should like to see the project
carried through. The clubs will be
greatly interested I know. And know
half a dozen girls without taking a
second thought any one of whom would
make a charming Ceres