The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-15
THE LAFAYETTE STATUE.
Appropriate Inscriptions to Re PIaC
ed on its Shields.

Within few days the work of placing
a suitable inscription upon the monument
to Lafayette and his compatriots, viii be
completed, and persons who do not know,
VIII be able to learn at a glance that this
memorial stands as tribute from the
Government Of the United States to the
distinguished Frenchmen who helped
America gain her independence
The commission having in charge the
erection of the monument decided in 1892
that it should have inscribed upon its
shields the following:
TO General Lafayette and His Com
patriots"
BY the Congress in CommemoratiOn of
the Services Rendered by General Lafay-
cite and His Compatriots During the
Struggle for the Independence Of the
United States" The lettering is now be
ing done in black entaglio upon the sur
face Of the shields
Because there has been no inscription,
on this monument the general public has
gotten a wrong impression concerning the
statue. Many persons believe that it was
a present to the United States from the
French Government The words of the
inscription set that idea at rest, however
The act authorizing the erection Of
memorial to General lafayette and his
compatriots was passed by Congress, on
March 3, 1850. 1t provided for an appro-
priation of $4,000, and the ap-
pointment OF committee, consist
ing of the Secretary Of War, as chair
man; the Chairman Of the Senate Com
mittee on Library, and the Architect OF
the Capitol. The committee, at its first
meeting, decided that the fund should be
divided into two parts, one Of $500 to be
used IN securing models, and one OF 80
900 to defray the expenses of erecting the
statue
1t was decided that the memorial should
be awarded through q competition Of art
lists, and it was finally settled that five
should be allowed to compete The names
settled on were NJ. BaTthOldi, Augustus
St. Gaudens. Daniel c. French, and Lar
kin G. Mead The fifth sculptor in the
competition was to be { Frenchman Sc
lected by the Minister Ct the Interior Of
France 4 letter of advice was sent out
to the sculptors selected, giving them the
details of the competition, stating that the
monument was to be ST bstantialiy sta
tue of General Lafayette, with suitable
embIematic devices, bas relieves, and sub
ordinate figures. From Augustus St eau
de1s q Characteristic reply was received.
He said it was against MS established Gus
tom to compete for any statue. II others
were making models for the Lafayette
memorial he must beg to decline the honor
conferred upon him, but If he could sub
nit model to be accepted OF approved
entirely outside of competition he would
be glad to do so. Mr.. St. Gaudens was
ruIed out OF the competition. II was one
Of the conditions Of the letter Of advice
that all models submitted should belong
&. III. Daniel rFt.h
cepting the opportunity 10 compete, stated
that he considered that any model sub
Initted would still be his proper. Larlzin
&. Mead wrote to the Commission a long
/ letter asking suggestiors on the nature
Of tle statue desired, and was answered
by polite note informing him that il
was the business Of the sculptor TO con-
ceive the design. A favorable reply was
! received from NJ Bartholdi, but the
French Government refused TO designate
the second Frenchman, considering such
an act 10 be outside Of its province
The Commission had received favorable
replies from only three scuIptors, French
Mead, and BarthoIdi 1t was especially
desired to have more FTenchmeu il the
contest, and consequently the Commission
decided that through the United States
Minister to France they would invite the
following French artists to submit de-
signs: Paul Dubois, Antonio Mercie Alex
auder FaIguiere, aud Ernest Barrias-
The models were to have been finished
by November l, 1855. but Tor many rea-
sons there were delays and the committee
was not ready 10 pass Judgment upon
| Those who submitted work were
Bartholdi, BalGuitre, Mead, French,
ana FaIguIeTe and Mercie togeth
er The combination work Of FaI-
EFTi@Ta and AttTIE TCTr-bttt q
There were present when The award
was made Senator HOaT- who was
acting chairman Of the Senate Committee
on LibraTa, Edward Clark, architect of
the Capitol. W. g Endicott, Secretary Of
War; Augustus st GiaudeHS- and r NJ
| Hunt The FaigUiGTe-AierCie model was
SO damaged in coming across the water
that II vas necessary to get draw
iHgS from the scuiptors to assist the Com
mission in judging Mr.. Bartholdi sub
mIL-ed two models one OF which, how
ever was not entered in the competition.
Il was decided 1T later meeting that
the subordinate figures Of the memorial
should be Vice Admiral Count D Estaing,
Lieutenant General Count De GrdSsc, rep
rez=utiug the navy OF France and Lieu
tenant General Count de ROchambrau ana
MarechaI de Champ Chevalie DupJrtal,
representing the army.
According to the specifications these
subordinate figures were to he in bronze,
but the artists as they were completing
their statue thought they would prefer
to have the figures In marble There was
some discussion over the point. but finally
the Commission. decided in favor of the
! bronze.
Daniel French wrote TO the Commission.
quoting his former letter, and asking that
his model be returned TO him His re-
auest was refused. but to II. Ba-thOIdi
the model submitted by him but not
judged in the competition was returned.
The location first decided on for the
statue was in Lafayette Park, facing
Pennsylvania Avenue on the line of the
centre Of Sixteenth Street This decision
was made February Il, 1880. but proved
very unpopular The Lafayette statue
would be an obstruction to the view from
the White House windows, it was urged,
and Furthermore. IL was thought il was
hardly in good taste to allow any statue
to come between Jackson and the WHIT
House. The directors to the location were
successful in getting an act passed by
Congress providing for change Of loca-
ton. The resolution was dated August
Is 1890 The foundation for the statue at
the site selected had been laid at an eN-
pcnse of S5.0o1. and it was necessary 10 Sc
cure an additional appropriation OF 5000
from Congress to put in a new founda-
ton.
INSPECTORS FOR STEAMBOATS,.
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