The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-15
HALF AMILLION IN MARBLE
American Artists Are Busy With an
Elaborate Scheme.
[By Henry g. Woods.l


For the sculptural ornamentation of
the Worlds fair grounds and buildings
an appropriation of a half million dol
lars has been made. The total number
of pieces represented by this outlay viii
be over thousand. Mr.. Karl Francis
Theodore Bitter, chief of sculpture, has
searched out every sculptor of note in
the United States to be represented in
the work The general scheme of sculp-
tural ornamentation was passed upon
and approved by an advisory commit
tee, composed of the three foremost
sculptors of this country, Augustus ST.
Gaudens. Daniel Chester French and ].
Q. A Ward.
The scheme itself is a poetic concep-
ton embracing in its working out the
history. local color and allegory of the
louisiana territory, dividing the figures
and groups into four classes The wild
animals; the original owners of the soil;
the pioneers who Wrested the soil from
the red men; and the more highly civil
lied men of France, Spain and the
United States, the principal actors in its
development. The jubilant character of
the centennial celebration has been
struck in the decoration of the cascades
and stairways with sportive groups of
human and animal forms, nymphs.
cupids, horses, dragons and other myth
zeal forms.
On the topmost height of Art Hill
stands Art palace, Immediately in front
of it Festival hall. Much of the sculp-
ture on the former will be permanent
work in marble and bronze. The main
entrance will be fanked with two
pieces in marble, representing "Sculp-
ture, by French. and Painting" by
St Gaudens. Further on in two inches
will be statues of Truth" by Crafty,
and Nature" by Philip Martiny. A
large bronze composition, representing
inspiration, by Andrew O'Connor, viii
surmount them. Other figures repre-
nting various art periods, as follows:
Classic" Renaissance, Oriental"
and Gothic" will ornament the build
ing.
Festival hall, the exact center of the
picture" will be crowned with a large
group representing Apollo and the
Muses.. The sculpture for the center
cascade win be by H. A. Mcneil. The
fountain from which viii issue the wa
tiers of this cascade will be known as
The Fountain Of Liberty" Twelve CO.
lossal groups surround its waters
springing from niche surmounted by
figures of Liberty. Truth and Justice.
The sculpture of the side cascades will
be done by IsidOre Konu
The colonnade of states consists of
fourteen seated colossal sized statues of
the states and territories embraced in
the purchase territory.
At the end of the central lagoon, fac
ing Art Hill viii stand the Louisiana
Purchase monument, with its shaft 100
feet high, surmounted by a figure of
four figures representing the east, west,
north and south.
At the end of the grand court and
near the main entrance of the EXPOSE
ton will be monument typifying
1.-THE ApotheOsis of ST Louis by Chas-
H. Niehaus. On massive architectural
base is a heroic equestrian figure Of
Louis * of France, the patron saint
of the city, attired in the armor of the
thirteenth century In front of this
figure are four youthful heralds holding
aloft the crown and cross of the sainted
king. At the foot of the equestrian
statute, seated among proper accessor-
les, is a figure typifying the city of ST.
Louis welcoming her guests
Beyond the ST Louis monument, and
in front of the buildings that flank the
court, viii be two colossal equestrian
statutes, one of Louis Joliet. by Phin-
lister Proctor, and another of De Soto,
by H. c. Potter. At the east and west
courts. on Indian mounds, viii be sta
tues of Sioux chief, by Cyrus E Dali
lin. and a Cherokee chief, by Frazier,
a pupil of St Gaudens The broad
stairvavs Of these courts will be
thanked by portrait statues Of the men
who figured in the history of the Pur
chase Territory. Among them viii be
a seated figure of Jefferson. by Ward,
and a similar figure of Napoleon, by
French
will be marked by colossal groups by
Frederic Remington, at the entrance to
that street of gayeties- This group, 70
be known as -Four Cowboys on
Tear" will consist Of four cattle
punchers, dressed in the costume OF the
plains, and mounted on the wiI-y
bronchos Of the western country. Their
steeds are at q. swift gallop, and the
riders are 50 close to each other that
their boots touch Each man holds a