The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-12

John Donahue, the sculptor who shot him
self week ago near New Haven. had
changed so much in the last few years OK
his life that he was scarcely recognizable
to the persons who remembered him as
he looked ten years ago when he returned
from Europe. He had grown thin and
gray, and although only AZ, he looked at
least ten years older
He never recovered from the disappoint-
ment caused by his failure to persuade
the Government to pay for the transporta-
ton to this country Of his enormous statue
"The Spirit Half Of it was brought here
and stored in a Brooklyn stoneyard. 1t
was broken into pieces several years ago.
The rest of the work remained in Rome.
This work was intended by Donahue to
be the great est effort OF his career, and the
Government promised TO bring the statue
here on board the Const citation, The yes
sci arrived in Europe four weeks ahead
OF time and had to leave without the statue,
which was not completed
Private enterprise brought half of 1t here.
but that part got no nearer the World g
Fair, for which Il was intended, than Brook
lynn After several years it was broken
UP and sold to pay the storage charges.
Donahue worked for New York architects,
and several large office buildings are ofna-
mented by specimens Of his skill; but the
failure of his greatest scheme had embit-
tered him and his ambition was gone. he
began to give serious study TO psyohloal
subjects and was at work, when he killed
himself, on book TO be- called THE New
Religion"
Donahue's career began with great
promise. He was born in Chicago, studied
In a local atelier and then went TO Paris,
where he was pupil Of Falguiere.
He was petted by the wealthy people OF
Chicago during the years Of his stay. there
and took advantage Of this popularity, as
witty and handsome young men are likely
to do. When Oscar Wilde went TO Chicago
to lecture he fattered young Donahue by
his attention.
When the apostle of @stheticism de-
parted from Chicago he left an enthusiasts
began 70 rig himself out in pale green
kimonos lined with pink silk and SINH
lar garments equally foreign to the
modes that prevail in Chicago. Dona-
hue succeeded in making himself rather
ridiculous and alienated the sympathy OF
his friends before he sailed for Paris to
make his first So - studies;
His talent SHOW ell itself Immediately
and in 1884 he exhibited In the Salon a
"Phedre.' which found purchaser. He
then went to Rome and did the Infant
Sophocles." which gained great praise from
foreign critics and was regarded as an uti-
commonly fine work. Il Is said to be IN
the possession Of wealthy American col,
lector now.
Many replioas Of the work were made
The skill with which these statues were
done proved that Donahue had unusua
ability and he returned here to take ad-
vantage OF the vogue his successes hao
created
He settled in Boston. made influential
friends there and got some commissions
TO do busts But there was little field fol
, a sculptor's ability there, and Donahue
returned to Rome to do some large, serious
work that should attract the attention 81
his countrymen. The date Of the Worlds
Fair was approaching, He set to work OF
1The Spirit and got from the United States
Government and the directors OF the Ex'
position the promise to exhibit the wori
there.
That scheme failed and Donahue never
recovered from the disappointment. Hc
made some efforts TO find work, hut witt
fatalis,ic lack Of confidence seemed to fee
that his career was ended,