The Washington times., 1901-11-03
SOME ARTISTIC FREAKS.
Monumental CuriOsities Found
Around the National Capital.
HcnddreSs of the Goddess &c Liberty.
..ackson's Arrobnt!c Horse-The
Strange Stccd Ridden by General
winfield Scott-Thc Logan Reliefs.

Strange Stecd Ridden by General
WinaeId Scott-Thc Logan Reiiefs.
The Goddess of Liberty. as she ap-
pears uIcn the top of the dome OF the
Capitol, is worthy of close inspection
and has a most interesting history. The
most remarkable feature about the
huge statue is the headdress, which
would bear the study OF that portion OF
the feminine world interested in novel
forms of hats. jefferson Davis
was in the habit of tellint; the story
of the selection of this feature of the
goddess Mr.. Davis was Secretary Of
War at the time that the statue was
made and. to aid in the execution of
the work. he appointed Capt. NJ G.
Meigs superintendent of construction
Several of the most distinguished
American sculptors were invited to ac-
cept orders, among them Hiram Pow
ers, who submitted for the dome CO.
lOssal female figure, on the head OF
which was the liberty cap. To this cap
Mr. Davis objected. because it was
among the Romans the badge of an
emancipated slave: and as the people
Of The United States excepting the
colored population of the time) were
born freemen, he considered it inappro-
pirate to them. Mr.. Powers yielded to
the objection. and designed a head
dress of feathers for the figure, which
was accepted, because feathers seemed
to him. in view of the aboriginal inhab-
itants, appropriate to a statue typical
of America, leaving the question of
taste to the critics. Crawford received
$1,000 for the plaster model of the
statue, now in the National Museum,
and Clarke Mills received $500 for the
casting in bronze. The additional ex-
pense for labor and metal ran the en-
tire expense up to $23, 1862.
Another monumental vagary that ap-
peals as rather odd to the Washington
spectator is the bronze horse bestrode
by the image, in the same metal, of the
redoubtable Gen. Winfield Scott.
The extraordinary attitude and at
tire of the Father of His Country" In
front of the Capitol building have often
been commented on. The proximity of
d
nified significance to Washington's up
raised arm and finger.
The attitude of Jacksons horse. as
depicted in bronze in the centre of La
fayette Square, rather suggests the in.
ference that the noble quadruped was
performing pony, and that perhaps
mistaking the cannon fire at New Or
leans for tho circ,,c nrcbacfra ,,.j+l, %.
liberal accompaniment of big drum. 1t
acted accordingly. The hero Of
that occasion himself appears to have
caught something of the spectacular
traits of his horse; as witness the -four
ish with which he has apparently taken
his hat off, and the remarkable manner
in which he keeps his seat, which would
do honor to the professional rider of
"bucking'' pony. The whole tableau
must have considerably astonished any
of Jackson's friends who may have
been by on the occasion represented, for
"Old Hickory" was ordinarily very pro-
sale in his appearance and movements
The political license INDUCED in in the
reliefs on the PEDESTAL of the Logan |
Monument has aroused controversy
as to the propriety of depicting person |
ages in historical scenes in which they |
never took part. AS the historical |
poem, novel. and play, however, are |
not, according to the precedents set by |
the best masters, obliged to follow fact, |
and their authors are allowed to handle |
historic characters and incidents to suit |
themselves. there is said 10 be no rea-
son why the sculptor should not do like
wise.