The Washington times., 1901-12-22

a rlore heroic bearing In her statue. Be
cause" she answered. Il never saw him
look that way. He was always very sad. 2"
The artist always added, when telling
Of this incident in later life. that her most
vivid mental picture Of Lincoln was OF
tall, brave figure. the face wearing per-
haps a courageous smile, but always laps
ing into melancholy.
Her Statue of Lincoln.
Mrs. Hoxie used to tell of her sensa-
tions upon receiving the news Of Lin
coins assassination. The dread tidings.
which came to her in the night. carried
with them the sense OF great personal
loss.
But she had the now completed bust of
the dead President. and when L was sug-
gested that she should compete with the
great artists OF the day In a design for
a statue, she consented in fear and
trembling. Her design was chosen as the
best and strongest likeness OF Abraham
Lincoln offered in competition, and Winnie
Ream, the child OF fifteen years. was
awarded the contract for the statue of
the War President. to be placed in the
Statuary Hall of the Capitol.
There was some opposition to giving
such a contract to a child. One Senator
write the 'Iliad of Homer" or to lead
an army as to execute satisfactorily a
work Of such difficulty.
In equipping herself for her task, Miss
Ream went to Paris, Munich. and Rome,
studying the works of the great masters
of sculpture. and advising with the dis
tinguished artists OF the day. In Rome
her studio adjoined that of the artist
Healy. and besides the benefit of his
friendship and advice she had also that
of the sculptor Story.
The statue was chiseled at Carrara
quarries from the completed clay model.
When the workmen reached the face.
Miss Ream insisted upon herself chisel-
ing this, fearing that the mechanical
workers would miss something OF the
likeness she vas so anxious to preserve.
Cardinal AntoneIIi's Present.
During Miss Ream's stay in Rome she
was made much OF. and famous person
ages visited her studio. She wears al
ways medallion locket upon which is
one Of the finest cameo heads OF Christ
extant. 1t is set in Etruscan gold and
was given her at this time by Cardinal
Antonelli
Great must have been the triumph OF
the young artist when. upon her return to
America, the statue was formally IN
yeiled. Mrs. HoXie. however. was not
wont to talk of her successes, nor to
glorify the talent that has been so wide
ly acknowledged. The simplicity OF her
statue OF Lincoln is In admirable harmony
with the character OF the man. and never.
perhaps, has portrait been executed
with surer fidelity and taste.
1t was specified IN the contract that
Miss Ream was to receive $4,000 FOR the
statue. but an additional appropriation
was afterward voted her In honor Of its
being the first statue by q woman ever
purchased by the United States Govern
ment. The artist. in an address delivered
some years afterTard. said of her work
on the statue
The Committee on Mines and Mining |
rendered me their room in the Capitol |
because II was next to the one occupied |
by Judge David Davis. and he could daily |
aid me by his advice and criticism In my |
sacred task. | had approached 1t with |
reverence. and with trembling hands had |
AIKEN the proportions OF the figure from
he blood stained garments President LIN
coln had worn on that fearful night
The Farragut statue.
The other great work which Miss Ream
was commissioned to do for the American
Government was the Fairagut statue.
which has handsome and promipant To-
alton. Miss Reaiu realized that Farragut
was the embodiment OF American cool
hess In naval warfare. character unpre-
cntious. but dominant.
The propositions submitted includec the