The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-13
ADOPTION OF THE FORM
Of the Proposed Memorial to the Women Of the Confederac

the conclusion that the time has come for
us to decide the form our memorial
should assume. Many suggestions have
been made to me from time to time, and
l have considered all of them. Personally,
1 would prefer college, hospital, or
some useful institution emblematic of
women's work, but the fact that such an
institution would require a large endow-
ment renders this in my judgment I'M
practicable. Tho plan suggested by Gen.
C. Irvine Walker, and mentioned in Ex-
hibit f. filed with his report, appears
to me as being most attractive, and for
my part I recommend that this plan, or
something similar. be adopted
Gen. C. Irvine Walkers Recommended
ton as to Form.
AS a necessary part of the report of
the committee, the following extract from
ker Is given, viz:
ITO reconcile the conflicting interests
and wishes, to give each state its monu-
ment and make them all the universal
tribute of the entire south, and do this
by giving each state the highest and
most brilliant design of high art, the
following plan is suggested: Let the COM
mittee invite the artists of the world
to compete and submit magnificent and
dTIlSblC QeSlSI IFS 1OI d oldluc vi 6IOup
of statues in bronze, emblematic of the
heroism of our women, and from these
select the most appropriate and pur-
chase the model. The amount raised by
the combined effort of the south would
enable the committee to offer enough, say
$25, 900, to secure truly great design.
No local or state movement is apt to be
able to do this. The cost of such work
is the value of the artistic conception,
not the mere bronze casting from the
model, which is mechanical. Having Sc
cured this great model, from 1t could be
made, at a paratfvely trifiing cost,
sufficient casts in bronze to enable the
committee to furnish at least one to
each OF the Confederate states. In maxi
ing such castings any size may be made
from the model. Life size, If to be placed
upon low pedestal, and heroic size to
be placed upon a lofty one. Then in each
of the Confederate states the committee
could place one of these grand and high
ly artistic statues upon a pedestal in
the state capital or such other city with
in it's borders may be determined
There would be no single original cast
and copies therefrom, but all would be
from the same model and all the equal
in artistic value and originality. There
would not be an original in Atlanta and
a copy inN Montgomery, but both cities
would have originals.
"The variation IN the pedestals would
make variety sufficient to relieve anv of
the monotony of similarity. But the very
similarity would embody the admirable
idea, that It would clearly demonstrate
that the whole south. together as a whole
not separate communities, united in pay
ing this grand tribute to its glorious
women-not to the women of any one
state-but to those of the entire Confed-
eracy. 1t is right that this should be
hot. 1nxfifae tan
not confined to the men of their own
state. Virginia women nursed Mississippi
men, Georgia women soothed the dying
horrs of the Texans.
such a plan would insure the very
highest art and the distribution of the
statues would enable our entire people.
from the Potomac to the Rio Grande, to
have an equal chance to see, admire and
learn from them. All generations of our
entire southland could equally imbibe
the sacred lessons of the splendid hero
ism. and the grand lesson would also
be taught that tho south, by common
effort, and in a united outpourng of it's
noblest feelings, thus evinced its appre-
citation of the Godlike heroism of the
women of the Southern Confederacy
by the above plan it would be pro-
posed to give each state one statue or
group in bronze, which would presum-
ably be placed at the capital. But If
other cities in the state wanted casts
they could be had at the bare cost of
the cast, without paying any part of the
cost OF the model. For example, il the
Georgia monument wa located at the
capital, Atlanta, and the city of Macon
wanted one it could obtain at the same
time, one at the cost of the cast, say for
$500. bronze statue worth $4,000"
Your committee. at the outset. entered
upon its duties with deep and serious
appreciation of the gravity of the sub
jecs entrusted to it. The proposed me-
mortal TO the women of the Confederacy
as a specific task was projected by the