The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-03
Some Statdary at
the Pdn.HmeriCdn

Art gallery iS situated in BuHalo
is breathing space which might
well be the boast of any city. The
Park Lake is large sheet of water
the banks thickly wooded on some
sides. where the turf is of the green
est and where the shadows are deep
and cool over the quiet park. White
swans float in stately serenity across
where the shore curves beneath the
willows. ana down near the bridge.
sleeping In its rocky castle by day, is
the electric fountain, which by night is
like an Aladdin's palace of jewelled
splendor. just up the gentle slope is
the Art Gallery. 1t is not a thing of
beauty from the outside. 1t might be
an annex to the new state capitol at
Harrisburg, with grayish red brick.
moth-edten in appearance and duh, but
1t is unfinished as to its exterior and
will be far different when occupied per-
manently by the Historical society of
Buffalo, which is its destiny. after the
present period of usefulness is ended
From the lake approach the eques-
trian statue of General sherman, pre-
Ceded by Fame, a lovely figure, first
arrests the attention. Next you see the
great god, Pan, in bronze. lying at full
length on q PEDESTAL which is fire.
quently decorated in black paint to
the everlasting undoine of sentimental
maidens who lean against it while
perusing the legend of Eel Caney" op-
posite. This is undoubtedly the most
pathetic feature of the entire exposi-
tion. As a rule the note of the decor
ations is a joyous one. Pan, with his
pipes, a gladstone figure, is seen on
every side Venus smiles coyly down
from pedestals in glades and pillared
alcoves, but the group marked "El
Caney" is different. Anyone who, can
read the inscription without a mist in
the eye and a thrill in the heart is
either very, very tired or very stupid.
o
The printed words tell you that they
are quoted from Frank Leslie's and
are from the experience of a news
paper correspondent who came upon a
wounded man after the battle of FL
Caney. His lungs were shot through
and his head was split open and the
blood rushing from the frightful
wounds mingled in the gurgling sound
with the feeble gasps of the dying
soldier. He was supported by another.
scarcely more than a boy, who tried
vainly to staunch the fatal flood that
soaked the earth. Soon the gaspng
ceased and softly the dead was laid
back and a handkerchief was spread
over the face growing grey beneath
the baptism of blood. The young man
rose to his feet, dropped his hands
and looked with unseeing eyes across
the hot hillside.
Il asked him. said the cores
pondent, IF he knew the man lying
dead at his feet"
He was my brother, the boy said
simply, and that gaze looked on past
me into the far New England home,
and into the heart of the mother
waiting there alone"
The sculptor has caught the spirit
of this moment-thc figure standing
above the dead man whose face is
hidden by the merciful bit of linen,
the dazed look of anguish in the eyes
of the living brother, the boyish face
suddenly old with awful experience
and the new problems of life and
death the problem of "why is it thus?"
1t is a powerful work, and executed In
plaster or composition as it is will
doubtless live as significant line in
our history. It cannot but make an
impression upon the beholder
Another which has to some degree a
similar effect is the famous Shaw
Memorial the original of which is in
Boston There is the model sent to
the Paris exposition and the one which
perhaps more than any other will add
to the permanent fame Of St. Gaudens.
The history of this group in relief is
SO well known that it scarcely needs
description. The central figure is that
oS the young officer who took out the
first Colored troops into the civil war
and who SO soon lost his life, in an
engagement. The wonderful perspec-
tive of the Africans marching in the
line in front and rear, will interest the
heholder for a longer time than per-
haps anything in the exhibition.
This central gallery is occupied by
statuary, which is not catalosued at
this writing. One likes TO roam about
guessing at the pieces, which have only
recently been placed. One of the off,
cials was giving directions as to the
placing the other day, and was saying
to an attendant: Here. you; this
wolf has got to be moved some way.
Just now a woman ran against the tail
and broke it off. We can't have such
mutilations. Guess she was a sister of
the one who bumped up into that foot"
indicating a group of wrestlers of
heroic size, the foot Of one protruding
beyond the base. "She didn't smash
that, you bet" he added, but she did
bump herself terribly, and she COM
planned to me about it," Thus a pill
grimage about among the statuary at
this time is attended with danger You
are apt to stumble over a little bronze
of Frederic Remington don't fail to
sec his "Broncho Buster" and his
wounded Bunkie;" they are exqusite)
or back up against an insecurely loca ted
bust of some fair lady, or catch your
gown on the spurs of some galloping
general. 1t will be all right in the
Is about completed.
o
Speaking of st. Gaudens, there are
many examples of this celebra ted
sculrtor's work, both in groups of life
size, medallions in bronze and plaster
and bas relief. Nothing Is more dis
iHCtlN fascinating tndn MS Splendld
has relief of Robert Louis Stevenson in
the vestibue room A. II represents the
great author on his couch, the drapery
classic and graceful the figure lifted to
sitting posture and the characteristic
poise of head preserved. About and
above are inscriptions which touch
with emotion the Stevenson enthusiast:
none more than the words which are
placed above his rest in far Samoa
the words of his