The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-03-03
THE MERCER MONUMENT.
MODEL INSPECTED AND Rc-
CEPTED.

Itis q Magnificent Piece Of Work
Statue Will be OF Bronze, Ten Feet
Hieh Pedestal OF Granite, Fifteen
Feet High, etc.
f The COMMITTEES that went 10 Richmond
Monday 10 inspect and pass on me mouei
fof The monument 10 Gen. hueh mercer
made by r. y. Valentine, the Distinguish
ed sculptor. had most sAtisisctoT! trlp.
The committee was cordislly received ~
Nv Valentine AZ his studio and the
model was closely srrutinized 10y every
member. ~ well az 10y Congressman ".
4 ZONES. who came down from Wash
iugton. and accompanied the committee.
The statue will be of bronze, tea icet IN
height. on a granite pedestal titet ieei
high. 10 represents Gen. Mercer ~ the
moment when be extricates himself from
his horse. which had fallen. and iumedi
ately after he geis up aud defes his an
tagouists. He II thrown on hlsrll M leg
10 the act OF advancing with bis lrit, and
his right arm r. thrown back with
sword IN hand ready for 8ttack. HE
left hand clutches his coat, " hich j last
ened by one button aud pulled down on
one side in hi attitude Of trmnts- and
determination He wears the coutinen-
ia Uniform, with boots and spurs, and
the sword Il An exact represer iati0n
from photograph of the sword used 10y
Gen. Mercer. The artist has given hrm.
defiant expression 20 the face. aid the
long. dishevellei hair aud the oPea col
IL. q l.. Il Tho
sculptor and give 10 the work da-h
and spirit admirably suited 10 the char
scter II represents.
ten Mercer was born fighter. tie
fought not only the British. but Indians
and had no fear of wild animals 81 the
fields and woods. There have been few
good portraits of Gen. Mercer. but Mr..
Valentine has produced in this model q
magnificent work al art. lie has be
slowed a great amount oil tine an0
pains taking care and labor upon IT,
and the monument will no doubt be hi-
masterpiece Experts who have been
permitted 10 ZEE The model pronounce II
superb 10 every respect. Alter thorough
Is examining the model the con mitite
viewed other specimens Of art ia the
studios. and thea accompanied 10y MI
Valentine went 20 Capitol square 70
determine the height for the pelestal.
Through the courtesy 81 Col Richardson.
who has charge Of The capitol grounds,
the committee was admitted within the
enclosure of the Washington Monument
and after measuring the pedestals OF
come Of the figures of that splendid group
of statues. officially accepted unanimous-
ly the model a. submitted hy Mr. allen
tine and decided on fifteen feet ~ thu
height for the pedestal.
Ii will be remembered that tunErtss
has already appropriated So. OOO Tor
the erection OF the Mercer Monument IN
this city. and il is 10 be completed by
Mr.. Valentine within three years from
the time the model j. accepted
The site chosen for Do j. on
Washington Avenue at the point, here
Fsuauier street intersects with u
Those composing the party were May or
n. q Willis. Capt. I Mctrscken, Col +
F 4. Cole. Councilmen Geo. ". Nroten and
Ms Chancellor. Mesrrs -. GEO K
Ftzhugh. n II Wallace, GeO. W shep-
herd Z. J smith. 4. i. Rowe. OF thir
city. and Congrerrmsn ". a. Jones.
After the business IN connection with
the Monument was concluded. the party
visited the Capitol called on Governor
Montague and a number Of Legisls-
tors. ana incidentally put in lew hcks
10 behalf Of fredericksburg for the new
Normal school