New-York tribune., 1902-01-05
MUTII.ATED BY VANDALS.
BRONZE DOORS OF THE CAPITOL,
MEMORIAL SLABS IN WASHINGTON
MONUMENT AND MOUNT YER
NON CARVINGS De
SPOILED.

Washington, Jan. At has been said of
those who reared the public edifces of this
great capital that they builded like giants and
carved like jewellers. 1t is to be regretted
however, that their carving was left within easy
reach. Souvenir stores are as plenty saloons
In Washington, but the visiting relic hunter
seems to prefer a small part of the original to
, picture or a miniature of the whole. and as a
result 1t Is only the closest watching the
part of the guards at the several buildings that
prevents the committing of many more dia-
bolical deeds of vandalism.
There has not been much of this work of late
years, but last week a sword in the hand of a
figure on the famous bronze door that leads into
the rotunda of the Capitol discovered bent
and twisted almost off Probably the ap-
proach Of a Capitol policeman or guide pre-
sented its disappearance The door was de
Aligned in Rome in 1858 by Randolph Rogers,
Who received $1,000 for the plaster model. 1t
fas cast in Munich in 1861 by Won Muller for
The sum of ST 900 in gold 1t is nineteen feet
high and weighs ten tons. The door is divided.
including the transom, into seventeen panels.
each containing a scene in alto-relevO of
event in the life of Columbus and the discovery
of America. The bent sword is the first mutila-
ton of this door that has taken place, because.
probably of the conspicuous place ii occupies
at the entrance from the central portico.
By no means we'll, however has the door 10
the Senate wing Jared. The portrayals thereon
are still recognizable. but in one panel Wash
ingtons soldiers have not a bayonet left on their
guns L another a pioneer, defending his
crouching wife and babe. has lost his hand and
pistol. and the woman has lost the muzzle off
the gun she was loading for the man. This
door, designed by Thomas Crawford and cast
by J. T. Ames, OF ChicOpee, Mass. cost for their
work $4,000. and for the fourteen tons of
bronze used in it nearly $1,000. 1t represents
nh one side and the other peace Strange
10 say, there are no delicate instruments on the
peace side to fall into the hands OF vandals.
It was in the interior OF the Washington
Monument that vandalism fourished in it's day.
The monuments long staircase Is lighted only
by weak incandescent lamps here and there.
There is elevator in the place but many
prefer to climb the steps, and while their
journeys mutilate the beautifully sculptured
slabs that adorn the walls. These slabs are set
In diagonal between the plain stones and
form veritable checker board. There are more
than one hundred and fifty OF them. presented
1t the time Of the monuments erection by the
Btates Of the Union and various institutions
and organizations throughout the country.
Many are in a disgraceful condition of mutlla-
ton. The absence of heads. arms. legs and
drapery from the figures on the slabs bears con-
spicuous testimony TO the appreciation of visit
ors. Most of the slabs presented by the States
bear simply names and dates in bold letters
that defy umbrellas and the like, and these re-
main untouched, except by pencils that mark
their owners initials. which only remain until
the next cleaning day. But of the delicate
carving there is little left. The handsomest
slab, though OF the smallest, measuring
3x5 feet. is that which was presented by the
American Medical Association. representing a
group OF the fathers of medicine. 1t is about
midway up the monument, about where climb