The Washington times., 1902-06-22

he called to see him by request And
when the man preferred it as his dying
request that he would tell him what IL
was his statue lacked. why" said
Angelo. Il meant that the only thing IL
lacked was specch," II this ever could
have been said of any statue It certainly
may be said OF this Houdon.
Scott and stanard. in their sketch On
the Houdon statue. remark:
1T is the only cast Of Washington
extant. the splendid statue of him by
Canova. the property of North Carolina.
having been destroyed by f.e MANY
years since. This gem OF ours ought to
te placed in some freproof building "a
soon as possible, before it meets the
| same fate
Robert Winthrop said:
ut is not only the most precious, but
one among the most priceless pieces Of
marble in the world"
As work of art not merely the truth
full image Of the physique has % Dc ccn-
sidered. but also the entire group OF
accessories of dress and symbols. The
taste and skill in the selection and
arrangement Of these command unauali-
fed admiration of their simplicity, orig
inality, fitness, and comprehensiyeness
Artists adjudge the execution of the
tout ensemble as superb.
1t was quite a state question how
this statue should be dressed, and for
tunately the good. common sense of the
hour decided on having it clothed in
the customary garb of the civilized
American citizen, who was first in war.
first IL peace, and first in the hearts
of his countrymen." and not like the
heathenish monstrosity, Greenough's
half-clad Roman Washington, subse-
quently placed on the East Capitol
grounds IN this city at cost of SAC. 900.
Washington was consulted about the
costume. but with characteristic mod
esty wrote Mr.. Jefferson:
Il shall be perfectly satisfied with
whatever may be judged decent and
proper. I should even scarcely have
ventured to suggest that perhaps SER
vile adherence to the garb of antiquity
might not be altogether so expedient
as some little deviation in favor Of the
modern costume, If had not heard from
Colonel Humphreys that this was a cir
cumstance hinted in conversation by Mr..
West to Mr. Houdon''
Mr.. jefferson replied:
'I was happy to find - that the
modern dress for your statue meets your
appreciation. I found it strongly the
sentiment Of West. Copely, Trumbull.
and Brown. in London, after which it
would be ridiculous to add that it was
my own. think modern in an antique
dress as just an object of ridicule as
Hercules or Narius with a periwig and
chapeau bras
1t should be remarked that the aszo-
ciated symbols are intensely significant,
and also befitting accessories. The erect
column of thirteen rods. ore fer each
If the original States, has his cI1ak
brown over il, and his left hand rests
hereon. while the column Itself stard5
IN the moldboard Of plow Tho
Roman fasces was bundle CT rods Win
IN ak in its midst, carried r. the hctor3
n front OF the chief magistrate as svn-
,olizing the administrative power OF the
state. Doubtless this was the sG;-
,estive symbol before the I-iEd CT tie
trtist- The sword hangs On this column,
low laid aside after having maze
conquest of the indcCeldsncc of The
states. whose united power was nav in
'eace to be benefcially administered.