The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-07
William Ordway Partridge's
Conception Of Pocal1ontas: as
the Artist Tells 1t.
POCAHONTAS ASSOCIATION
History Of the Beautiful Statue
to Be Unveiled at Historic
Jamestown.

The May Circle contains as its most
feature q reproduction of the
bronze statue Of Pocahontas, n picture
of William Ordway Partridge. of New
York, the sculptor for the statue, ind an
article written by Mr.. Partridge explain
ing his idea of the character Of the
Indian princess, and the conception he
has expressed of her in bronze.
Tho statue is to be erected at James
Association, of Warrington. D. c., the
officers Of which are Miss McLain, presi-
dent: Miss Matoaca Gay, honorary prcsi-
dent: Miss Jane Randolph Codwise. vice
president; Miss Mary Desha, recording
secretary; Miss Louise Harrison, CORE
spending secretary; Mr.. G.. c. Glover,
treasurer; Mrs. J. r. GARRISON. assistant
treasurer; Mr.. G. G. Calhoun, legal COM
sci; Miss Ella Lorraine Dorsey, historian;
Mrs. A. Campbell Pryor, chairman men,
bership committees: Miss Mary Lee Cod
dard, chairman of appointment committee.
Mrs Lawrence II. Querilo is the re-
gent for the District Of Columbia.
Mrs. Thomas S. Bocock Is the regent
Of the Virginia Chapter. recently formed
in Richmond; Mrs. D. T. Williams, Mrs.
NJ. a. Chambers and Mrs Warner Moore,
vice-regents; Mrs. George A. Lyon, re-
cording secretary; Mrs. a. f. Hunt, COR
responding secretary, and Mrs. Willard
Craig treasurer.
Mr. Partridge says in part in his ar
| ticle:
"All praise is due to the women OF
America, the Pocnhontas Assoca ton ut
| Washington and the Daughters OF the
| Revolution, who with untiring effort
have carried this project to success
full issue. and have raised the thousands
of dollars 1t has taken to create and
| execute this statue in bronze. The site
the committee has chosen for the statue
is the very spot upon which the old
church stood in which Pocahontas was
baptized and admitted into the Chris
tian Churcll-the first convert from the
ranks Of the red men. She stands now
in bronze upon the very place where
she once walked, and overlooks the
scenes she once loved and made lovely.
"a particular incident that has in
terested the author of this brief tale
and the sculptor Of the statue that is
here reproduced, is the one that de-
picts the girl as she creeps from her
fathers tent. through the dark anc
dangerous woods. to warn the little
colony that her father, the Chief Pow.
hatan, intends to eXterminate them
and so settle at once and forever the
question of the whito mans right t.
live In the red mans country. II !
had not been for tho heorism and de-
votion of Pocahontas, the plan Of muir
der would certainly have been success
full
"Pocahontas acted with unhcsitatini
decision and determination. The dra
matte moment the sculptor has seizet
upon Is that which represents Pocn
hontas as she stands before Captain
John Smith and his heroic band, and
with outstretched hands and trembling
lips bids them save themselves iron
the danger which threatens She ha
come at tho risk of her own life. hay
ing put aside all personal consldera
e lions Of safety, and with sublim
courage far beyond her years, to war
tho white man OF his impending doom
wrapping her mantle Of skin abou
her, she has sped through tho silenc
and monacing shadows Of the fores
II with what terror ut her heart we ca
s only conjecture. She stands there J
If her supple and unconscious grace, an
speaks the message which Is 10 say
- the infant colonies
e Captain John smith, whom she hi
Is learned to love because he first taug
- her the faith Of the disciples OF Chris
: offers her many gifts -as she finishes n
~ message; but she refuses them. az
T. l., slips away again, like some woodlar
~ spirit, into the vast solitudes
~ "Such Is tho picture Wncn INC scu'Pt
- has cndeavored to place before the MI
and ego OF the behodcr who visits
o. quiet and lovely surroundings OF Jane
~ town, 1t is not difficult In looking up
r. this statue to go back 200, years. q
ae with the hclp OF the imagination
81 understand the history Of. that ear
N colony, which. at tho cost of life al
ca all that life holds most dear establish
IN footing amid hostile surroundings up
X tho western continent. 1t Is q satisfn
'h ton to feel that this brave girl at 10
u. has como into her own, ana that !
IN memory is to be nttingly and perm
y ncntly honored in enduring bronze.
OF wrhis 1.-the and light-footcd child
" the forest linhampcrcd by the trappin
VI of civilization, affords tho artist an 6
~, portunty for a representation In scu
in ture which Is at once real and ide
TX Although II child Of the forest, we M
US not forget that Pocahontas was
20 daughter of Il great king; her bearl
w. and attitude beSpeak this fact, ana
WY freedom OF her action shows what
natural woman was when lnSpoilcd
tho harness OF civilization. On her pr
noe We must look for the pOrtent OF u gr'
en- message, and In her eyes we see
hia loyel look ~ courage which was G,
en- slant.
on III is u difficult problem for tho art
INC and especially tho sculptor. without
VII aid OF painted scenery and surroundih
m to depict In one figure the history o.
for race and the record Of II great drnmi
'est moment, Looking at this statue one NJ
the feel the gloom and speaking silence
ocs echoes Of her swift steps as she spe
ga I ..tt IN G.,u II