The Wichita daily eagle., 1904-02-14

| bronze figures OF students. typifying the
reader and the writer.
The bronze door in the east entrance
/ of the capitol is famous throughout the
world 1t was designed and modelled by
the American artist. Rudolph Rogers in
! Rome. IS years ago. and was cast by Eon
Miller at Munich. In the -'transom arch"
is a striking portrait Of the discoverer.
The door itself contains eight panels in
which are represented, in high relief scenes
Illustrating the career Of Columbus In
one he appears before the council Of
Salamancha, in another he departs from
the convent Of La Rabida. in a third he
has audience before Ferdinand and Isa-
bella, in a fourth he is sailing from Paios,
in the fifth he is standing at San Saliva
dor. in others he is enCountering the In
dians, entering triumphanty into BARGE
lonia and the last is the deathhed scene.
On the panel borders, in papal robes,
royal crowns and suits of mail are the
personages who played their parts in the
drama OF the Discovery-POpe Alexander,
the Sixth. Ferdinand and Isabella, Charles
the Eighth Of Franee, Henry, the Seventh
Of England John. the Second OF Portugal
Cardinal Mendoza, Lady 5eatriz de Bo-
bad;la and the prior of La Rabida Juan
Parez de Marchena. Also the portraits Of
Pinzon. bartholomew. Ojeda, Vespucci,
Cortez, Balboa and Pizarro.
The frames OF the panels show portraits
of Prescott. Irving and other historians
and the decorative scheme Of the border is
Of anchors, rudders, casqUes and armor
Four figures represent types of the con-
tinents-Europe, Asia, Africa and Amer
lea.
Thomas Crawford's bronze door opening
into the senate chamber is another won
derful piece Of art 1t is fourteen and
one-half feet high and nine and one-half
feet wide and weighs fourteen thousand
pounds On it in bold relief are such his
torical scenes as the battles of Bunker
Hill. Monmouth and Yorktown; Hessian
soldier in death struggle with an Ameri-
can; an alegory on the blessings Of peace;
the ovation to Washington at Trenton;
the first Inauguration of Washington and
the laying of the cornerstone of the capi-
toll
The senate bronze stairway. by the same
artist. and the beautiful bronze clock in
the house representing the fight Of time,
are worthy of much more than l can
give them at this late hour.
The bronze Fountain of Bartholdi, the
celebrated French artist, in the Botanical
gardens is a noble piece of art and was
one of the great attractions at the Cen
tennial Exposition at Philadelphia where
many OF the readers of the Eagle no
doubt saw it. 1t is now out of repair and
looks at its worst. but Washington is
promised that it viii go into active serv-
ice again in the spring. at which time We
Il see it 10 better advantage.
The bronze statues are numerous and
there are bronze monuments Of beautiful
design at Arlington. Possibly the finest
bronze monument in Washington city
proper is that recently erected to COM
memorate the heroic martial deeds Of
Sherman. It fianks the Treasury on the
south and has the finest permanent loca-
ton in Washington. The other statues,
so far as can remember them now are:
Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Dupont,
Admiral David Farragut, James ~ Gar
field. General Nathanial Greene. DR.. sam
ueI D. Gross. Wifeld Scott Hancock Pro-
fessor Joseph Henry. General Andrew
Jackson. General Lafayette. Abraham
Lincoln. John Marshall. Albert Pike, Jean
Baptiste Donation de Nemeure Compte
de Rochembeau. General Rawlins, General
Scott. General Thomas General Washing
ton on a horse modelled after a wild
pony captured in Kansas, Webster. These
statues are all in the opea air-in parks
triangles and circles-ard there are many
more uuenumerated which are in the de-
partments and in Statuary Hall in the
capitol building
The bronze art of Washington probably
cost more than ten million dollars. and
no visitor 10 the capital should fail to see
1t all-and study it all. IN detail if possible.
DAVID d. LEATIY.