Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-27
SCULPTOR WARD TO SUE
FOB MODEL OF GEN. PHIL
SHERIDAN.
Rejected by His Widow, But Praised
by Those Associated With Him
in the Army.

NEW YORK, July GA loving wife's
alleged impossible ideal of her illustrous
husband Is responsible for $4,000 suit
which John Quincy Adams Ward. the
sculptor, has authorized his lawyers to
bring.
Mr.. Ward Is famous throughout the
country for his lifelike statues Of promi-
| mont men. but he has found it impossible
to grasp the conception Of Gen. Philip
Sheridan which Mrs. Sheridan seems to
have. AS result of Mrs. Sheridans OBJ
jectons congressional commission re-
tected Mr.. Wards model for an eques-
trian statue Of the general.
The sculptor knows that his model de-
lighted artists and scores of army officers
who knew Gen. Sheridan intimately, and
he feels that no artist could conscientiously
produce the ideal figure that fills Mrs.
Sheridan's mind, as she recalls her warrior
husband. He consequently brings suit for
the amount he was to have received for the
statue upon which he worked for nearly
fifteen years, feeling that he is not only
entitled to the money. but that it Is also
due his reputation as a sculptor to prove
through the suit that the statue designed
by him is worthy of acceptance.
Trial Sure to Be Interesting.
The suit promises to be a contest be-
tween cold facts regarding Gen. Sheridan's
appearance as recalled by his men friends
and his appearance as it Is now enshrined
in the heart of the widow.
There are features to the case which
neither Mr.. Ward nor his counsel will dis
cuss at this time. Some of the sculptor's
friends declare that the objections to the
statue raised by Mrs. Sheridan We're so
peculiar that they should have been given
no weight by the commission appointed by
Congress to pass upon the model.
The model shows Sheridan In maturity,
with all the characteristics which made
Little PHIL beloved by his soldiers. Mrs.
Sheridan seemingly retained her strongest
memory Of her gallant husband in his
youth, and she kept urging changes to a
point where the sculptor felt he could not
conscientiously follow.
What was Mrs. Sheridans great OBJ
lection to your portrayal of the general?"
Mr.. Ward was asked last evening by
reporter.
II never could exactly find out" he re-
did not her idea of her husbands ap-
pearance differ from that of many others
who knew him well2''
"A woman's ideas are always different
In that respect" was the sculptor's diplo-
matte reply.
"Put My Best Work In" Says Ward.
II do not care to discuss my suit at
this time. although there is no reason for
secrecy Of any kind. simply would prefer
to have my lawyer, Mr.. Dutton of Hurry
& Dutton. do the talking regarding the
legal aspect Of the case. was naturally
greatly disappointed at the action Of the
commission in rejecting the model upon
which l felt that I had put my best work
Every one seemed to app owe Of the model
at first. My friends and feel there was
no just reason for its being rejected
The statue over which the suit will be
brought was first suggested by members
OF the organization. The Army of the
Cumberland" After long discussion it was
decided to have the statue made and set up
in Washington. Mr.. Ward was given the
commission to prepare the model, as his
success with other national figures had
made his reputation country wide.
After Mr.. Ward had been at work several
years, congress made an appropriation for
q statue Of Gen: Sheridan. The army of
gress to have the statue, which they had
planned turned over to the congressional
commission and paid for out of this APP
The members Of the commission, which
was headed by Secretary Taft visited Mr.
Wards studio at No. 10 West sd street.
and at first appeared greatly pleased with
his model. Then some one suggested that
1t would be we'll to get Mrs. Sheridan's
opinion. and from that moment the sculp-
tor found his task almost impossible
one. He made frequent changes, and con-
structed one entirely new model, but moth
Ing met Mrs. Sheridan's IDEAL. and early in
March Of this year the congressional COM
mission finally announced that Mr.. Wards
model had been rejected.
Costly Experience for Sculptor.
Mr.. Dutton, counsel for Mr.. Ward, said
yesterday that the suit would be filed with
in few days and until that time he coould
not discuss the details Of the case, which,
he admitted. might present some unique
features. The original arrangement Of the
Army Of the Cumberland" society with
the sculptor called for $4,000 to be paid
for the statue, but the lawyer said that In
addition to being deprived of this sum for
his fifteen years of effort, Mr.. Ward had
spent large amount Of money In preparing
the model
Mr.. Ward is the dean Of American sculp-
tors He is now seventy-seven years old,
although he looks twenty years younger.
New York contains many monuments to his
genius. among them the statue of Shakes
peare in Central Park, of Washington in
front Of the subtreasury in Wall street and
OF Horace Greeley at the Tribune building
One of his latest works has been the uniyer-
sally praised statue Of Gen. Hancock erect
ed on the city hall plaza In Philadelphia.
Anacostia and Vicinity.