Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-01

the statue was a favorite pastime With
a piece of wood from the size of
broomStick UP and Irvine or rope
'ginpole" would be rugged and a plaster
statue or ornament would be raised and
swung by them. each taking turn In
the manipulations. Boys in other parts
learned from the Capitol Hill boys, and
for year or two "ginpole'' was fea-
ture in the pastimes of the Juveniles.
The rotunda was then of the same
height as diameter, ninety-siN feet to the
commencement of the curve. and but
four OF the eight panels on the sides filled
by paintings. When the statue had
been placed there it's location was the
first to evoke criticism and the prevail
ing opinion that even in so large room
it was out OF proportion: and, beside. the
surroundings were such that so large n
work. while dwarting other figures in
statuarv and painting. gave spectators the
impression that 1t was of plaster. not
stone. The younger people at the first
view on entering the east door We're
sometimes struck dumb. amazed. In hut
a short time only a few favored the To-
cation.
The work itself, of a character not in
accord with the tastes of the masses Of
the people but q small number having
a knowledge of art, was perhaps the sub
ject of more criticism than the work OF
any artist The nudity of the figure was
the main objection by laymen. and tho
higher educated class found other reasons
to condemn il. In Congress IL was freely
criticised. some members ridlcuing 1t.
Mr.. Greenough's Defense.
In the midst Of the discussions on the
merits and dement's Of the work Mr..
Greenough wrote of 1t as follows:
1T is the birth of my thought. l have
sacrificed to 1t the flower of my days
and the freshness of my strength: Its
every lineament has been moistened with
the sweat OF my toll and the tears of
my exile. l would not barter away its
association with my name for the proud
est fortune avarice ever dreamed Of
I'm giving it up to the nation. which
has dore me the honor to order IL at
my hands. I respectfully claim for II
that protection which 1t is the boast of
civilization to afford to art, and which
generous enemy has more than once
been seen to extend to the monuments
of his own defeat.
1t was from the writing of the following
by foreigner that it was called the
Jupiter Washington, at one time the pop
ular name for IL:
Nothing can be more human and at
the same time more godlike than this
colossal statue of Washington IT is a
sort Of domestic Jupiter. The sublime re-
pose and simplicity of the whole figure.
united as II is with exceeding energy ana
expression, is perfectly classical, without
the slightest abstract imitation. so that
there is no mistaking the pure lineage
of this statue
sBeing intended to fill the central posi-
ton Of the Capitol of the United States
he has addressed his statue of Washing
ton to a distinct posterity and made 1t
rather a poetical abstract of his whole
career than the chronicler of any one
deed or any one leading feature of his
life"
And to this published with a description
Of the statue. was added: 1T may be
doubted whether the figure Of Washing
ton half naked is calculated to suit the
taste of the people of this or any age
Mr.. Greenough himself was not pleased
with the location in the rotunda, after 1t
was on view. and recommended its re-
moval. BY act OF March 3. 1Si3, there
was appropriated $1,000 for the removal
of the statue and permanently placing
the same on proper pedestal ana COW
ering 1t temporarily In the inclosed and
cultivated public grounds east of the
Capitol, as suggested in the report of the
library committee and letter or Mr..
Greenough and under his supervision.
Capt. Easily performed this work Hero
1t was placed near the east gate of the
then Capitol square, protected from the
weather by frame structure thirty feet
or more In height. well lighted by win
dows. This was permanent for some
years, and after it had stood in the open
surrounded by an iron railing one or
two years temporary portable structure
to cover 1t during the wintry seasons
was used:s tsss r-s dog ..s
object Of the greatest interest. evoking
both praise and criticism. Mr.. Edward
Everett was theswarm admirer. He wrote
of TT; .-a-.. es..
I'VE regard Mr. Greenough's Washing
ton as one of the greatest works OF
sculpture of modern times We do not
know the work that can justly be COM
pared to it, whether We consider the
purity Of the taste the loftiness of the
conception the truth of character or
what we are less calculated to judge of,
accuracy of anatomical study and me-
chanical skill.
Worthy of Great Artists.
He further wrote that it would have
been deemed worthy of Canova. Chantry
or Thorswalden, and had 1t been a statute
of julius Caesar or Alexander the Great.
or had been dug up in the baths of Titus
or ruins of Adrian and set UP in the Vat
team or tribune ii would have been DEEM
ed as fine a piece of sculpture as any
there
There were others who were unstinted
in the praise of the work as ii stood In
this position In the park who had criti-
cised it in the Capitol. and with many
appreciation increased as they became ac-
customed to Its sight. Especially Ii was
observed there were fewer comments on
the nudity Of the figure, though still some
were wont to assert that II had been
placed in the park to keep it from the
SlSHl OF the ldSlluiouS- II "do Hol, IoW-
ever. to remain there, but to take the most
prominent position in the grounds.
When in the seventies the plans OF
Frederick Law Olmstead for the enlarge
ment and Improvement of the grounds
were adopted the site on the east side Of
the plaza opposite the door of the main
entrance to the rotunda was designated
for the statue and here it was placed
and has rested since. Facing the Capt.
toll with an uplifted arm and extend
ing sword while evoking both praise
and censure for the artist, 1t has evil
denced the veneration of mankind for the
character and achievements of one whose
fame will outlast all earthly mementos.
Many years ago there was said that il
the statue could speak ii would say My
clothes are I'm the patent office; You can
take my sword" the figure being nearly
naked and his uniform being in the mu-
scum then in the patent office. ut Is an
inspiration" visitor was heard to re-
mark Ito see Gen. Washington sitting
undressed and bareheaded outdoors, for
one is reminded of the fortitude displayed
during the rigorous winter at Valley
Forge by him and his soldiers"
When this work shall have been placed
in the National Museum it will be unaf-
fected by the weather and will endure for
ages and despite all criticism of the
work itself to thousands it will be an in
centive to patriotism even IL 1t is Viewed
as in its proper place In collection OF
curiosities. JAMES CROGGON.
Greek Rite Makes English Laugh.
When Baroness Vera Mechin. a wealthy
Russian, and Lieut.. Godfrey Brooke Of