The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-30
THE HIAWATHA STATUE
If Minneapolis Rejects It a Place
- Will Be Found for It.
ditor of The Journal:

To the Editor of The Journal:
Upon my return from Alaska, I was sur
prised to learn of the decision of the So
called art commission anent the .Hia-
watha statue.
have also been the recipient of many
communications as to what is to become
Of the fund in my possession. Some OF
these inquiries have come through the
columns of r h u n a and I there
fore make bold to request space for just
one more reply to all inquiries.
I do not know what fault the art COM
mission found with the statue, but 1t
really does not matter, in the least. 1t
to create a work Of art that could be free
from all criticism. The critics tried to
sink Michelangelo in oblivion but he lived
to see even the ashes Of his critics for
gotten and his own name written at the
top of the ladder of fame
This statue was admitted without ques-
ton to the Chicago exposition and I have
to it's artistic worth. The choice of sub
ject might have been bettered, but that
must always be left to the artist himself
In sending out bids for this work quite
a number Of subjects were presented as
can be seen from the following reprint:
Take, for instance, the lines 'There the wrin-
kled, old Nokomis nursed the little Hiawatha,' -
man, read that, ''From his lodge went Hia-
| watha dressed for travel, armed for hunting
And further on in the story, after his long
fast where we read he Game again and Wres
| tied with Mondamin.' Then later his meeting
with Minenhaha, where we are told ''she softly
took the seat beside him." saying, 81 will follow
you, my husband '.'
! Again imagination pictures an exquisite grour
| where "Hand and hand they went together
| through the woodland" etc, and with that mem
DRY comes another where "over wild and rushing
| rivers, in his arms he bore the maiden
| Then again, take the scene where Hiawaths
| comes home with the deer over his shoulder, the
| poet says, cat the feet OF Laughing Water
down he threw his lifeless burden"
he ''saw his lovely Mfnnehaha lying cold and dead
before him." and che sat down still and speech
less at the feet of Laughing Water"
| Another pretty thought comes where the palt
face intrldes upon his possessions. "Then Tho
generous Hiawatha led the stranger to his wig
| wam.''
In short, the story is replete with charming
suggestions for the sculptor and the painter.
| The committee selected the statuette
that seemed to please most and that was
within the reach Of their means financial
ly. So much for the critics.
At the last meeting Of the wOman's aux
iliary board to the Worlds Fair Commits
sion motion was made placing the com
pletion Of the work of the Hiawatha stat
ue in my hands. For ten years I have
given much or my Tune lana not d HtIle
| of my money! to an earnest endeavor tc
carry out the original plans regarding this
| statue.
| The money in my possession will never
| be available for any other purpose, and
| am still working for the completion of the
statue as originally planned, and If it can
not find a resting place in Minnehahs
park + am quite certain there are other
places in this big state where it will b.
! received with open arms. have made
arrangements for placing facsimile o.
this group upon aluminium trays, calen'
dars, ETC., the revenue from which will bt
added to the fund. .$
In conclusion would say that any sub
| scriptior1, great or small, that the friends
| of the artist or his beautiful work, wish
to make will be thankfully received.
Time is dealing badly with the plastic
| cast, and If the beautiful lines Of the orig
| inal are to be preserved there is no time
to lose in having the bronze cast made
even if we have to walt a few years fo
| the base.
In reply to all interested inquiries sa.
emphatically, 1.-THE beautiful work Of art
! will not be allowed to fall to pieces. I
Will not be abandoned because two O
three people have seen fit to vote it bat
Lart Sincerely yours, 5000 IS. So
| W.: Mrs. Il. P. Hunt.
Mankato, MINI. s.E.. ~