Los Angeles herald., 1908-12-13


ed statue and thestones Model NO X
models offered by Mr.. Stone would
show the Los Angeles mans work to
be far superior-alike in general con-
ception and in the quality of dignity
and artistic restraint-to that of the
San Francisco man; and say that When
we have, resident among us, Il
sculptor of known ability-one who
brings to his skill as a craftsman the
added qualities of a thinker, an Ideal
list and a poet: an artist OF inter-
national reputation who has numbered
prime ministers, viceroys and cardinal
archbishops among his sitters, 1t is
a distinct discredit to Los Angeles
that we should go outside our own art
circles for the only local public monu-
ment that comes along in years They
feel that we ought to- be more loyal to
our own city and it's resident talent
especially in view of the extreme rar-
ity of such an opportunity to encour-
age local art.
The accompanying pictures which
Mr.. stone has permitted The Herald to
reproduce are from small sketch mod
els only and do not pretend to feature
fully the precise detail and finish of
the ultimate life-size figure. This may
be noted in comparing.
Consulted Mr.. Stone
Upon the persistent gossip and more
or less conflicting rumors as to how the
commission for the White monument
came to be awarded out of the city,
the sculptor was asked to shed some
light and although Mr.. Stone is ex-
tremely reluctant to talk about his
work in connection with the statue,
he admits that the committee, after
availing itself very freely as a COM
lnittee Of his assistance and advice-be-
sides as individual members praising
his model-awarded the contract ulti-
mately to sculptor up north, who had
submitted no models at all.
ITS done with now, so what's the
use of talking?" said Mr.. Stone. THAT
is about the way awards are usually
made nowadays. What l was led to
expect is not now worth reviewing"
Eyes; / met the committee in con-
sultation several times. Naturally men
engaged in legal and commercial pur-
suits would not know all--nor much
about sculptural art; and l posted
them on the elements of~the subject
In that connection things were said by
individual members-and I am sure in
good faith at the time-which perhaps
misled me into false hopes. For in
stance, when individual members
praised my models in speculative terms
and said that between two such mag
nifcent' figures-each so fine in it's
respective pose and aspect-the COM
Mnittee would find It hard to chooSe-I
aould not help remembering how an
bther member had long before assured
me that unless someone should show
something far better than L could offer
would doubtless get the contract.
These things were said bona fide. / do
not doubt But probably some para
mount influence had up to then not
delivered it's dictum.
See Way Out of Perplexlty
"However, you will please under
stand this distinctly: The committee,
as committee, guarded itself in an
exemplary manner against making me
any promises In fact, | was told In
full committee meeting that While my
reputation would warrant the commit
fee in expecting something worthy
from my hands, still they must guard
themselves against the possibility of
missing anything which might be bet
q ter. IN that sense, of course, the COM
mittee did not act up to It's prores-
sions when eventually it made the
award elsewhere upon no model at all
and on a pedestal design quite other
than they ultimately used"
Then, with a little laugh, Mr.. Stone
continued "They got over that diff
Guilty about choosing by giving the
commission where there was no model
to perplex them. There was wisdom
of q kind in that, don't you think?"
Consultation fees? No, no; they
paid me for the death mask; that was
all; and, in justice to the committee,
/ must say that never put In any
bill for other service. Perhaps their
never asking me to was not without
it's effect in further encouraging my
hopes. These men do not work pro-
fessionally for nothing, so it would not
occur to me that / was expected to
do so. j am apt to forget sometimes
though don't know how do it-that
Art alone of all the professions is held
by other professions, OF course-to be