The Bolivar County Democrat. (Rosedale, Miss.) 1887-1969, 1903-10-03
COLOSSAL STATUE
OF king COTTON. "
Mississippi VIII Have 4 Unique and
Artistic Feature at the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition.

A colossal statue of King Cotton will
be the most striking feature of Missis-
sippi's exhibit in the Palace of Agricul-
ture at the Worlds Fair at st. Louis.
1t will be the largest statue in the
Exposition, and will tower so feet above
the heads of visitors. His majesty is
seated on All immense throne, and if the
breath of life were to animate the gigGr-
tic statue, and he were to arise to his
feet, he would be compelled to stoop to
prevent his head striking the rnfters Of
the great building, the cornice line Of
which is 65 feet above the foundation.
No modern monarch has sufficiently
dignified appearance, say the Mississip-
| plans in charge Of the feature, to ade-
quatelyrepresent SO important subject
as their great southern states cotton
crop, so Mr.. X. H. Henry, the director
of exhibits, caused the artist to choose
for his subject a venerable king of the
10th Century.
King Cotton's face, hands and feet will
be of wax, and cotton will form the
remainder of his makeup. A space fifty
feet square has been allotted by the
Exposition management as King Cot
tons domain. His will be an exclusive
monarchy and no passports will be hon
ored. A strong railing will define the
boundaries of his kingdom and Jefferson
Guards will prevent trespassing. All
visitors may see the King and pay hom-
age, but they may not tread on his do
main, nor pick him, or his subjects OF.
his kingdom to pieces for souvenirs.
His majesty sits with dignified nien
on great throne completely covered
with raw cotton, as white as snow.
The throne will rest on a pedestal six
feet high, built entirely of cotton bales.
The draperies about the throne will be
made from lint from the cotton gin, daz-
zling il, whiteness, and as fine in texture
as spiders web. His crown and scep-
ter are of cotton, and his giant limbs
aud colossal body are Of the sane
| hiulSi Iati. i HS SHlitS iHSuo'tt 10 SoSCiCN
with carpet made ofpurc white cotton.
| Real cotton plarts will he installed and
characteristic group ofstatuary will
occupy space before the throne. This
group will consist of a family Of negroes
! picking cotton--thc father, mother, son
and daughter. and little piclaninny,
too small to toddlc, will lie on his back
on the downy carpet just as he does on
his native heath in sunny south. These
figures will be life size, and everything
else i'll King Cotton's domain will be
made of Mississippi most staple product
except their heads, hands and feet.
These, like his majesty's, will be fash
ionic in wax.
| This King Cotton feature OF Mississ!p-
pi's exhibit is All artistic creation by a
leading Mexican wax-worker and was
designed mainly to attract attention to
the states display. In the universal
cotton exhibit, under the came roof, the
state commission will llinstal other exhib-
it's of absorbing interest. A practical
cotton gin will be in operation, looms
will be working and cotton i'll all its
phases will shown. Machinery will be
in motion and cotton will be put through
all processes and converted into fabrics
in plain view of visitors.