The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-10-28
n the earliest opportunltr.

at the earliest opportunity.
: We were also to examine and re-
port such facts as we might deem
material to enable the Legislature
J to take definite action at its next
: session in relation to the whole SUBJ
ject. This we have construed as ex-
tending to some correspondence
with the artists most likely to be
employed with a view to elicit the
terms upon which they would be
willing to execute the order of the
State for such works as should be
finally decided upon by the Legfsla-
ture. We have assumed that 1t would
be the pleasure of our State to en-
ploy Vermont artists, If any such
there were of known skill. Forum
ately the name of Hiram Powers is
widely known in both hemispheres,
and his many fine busts of American
statesmen, his statue of the Greek
Slaves and other works of high art,
leave no one in doubt as to the pro-
priety and duty of employing him, IL
the State should feel willing to pay
the prices an artist of his known cell
ebrity readily commands, and 1t
should be remembered that what
would be proper economy for an in
dividual, limited to a few years of
life, might be parsimony for State
destined to last for ages. Larkin
G.. Mead, Jr., of Brattleboro, though
young, Is not unknown to our State,
and is an artist of much promise.
He has executed one state of Ethan
Allen, and that not unworthily, even
before he had been schooled or train
ed. Since then, having resided some
years in Italy, he has advanced
greatly in the knowledge of his pro-
! fession enjoying the patronage of
gentlemen of wealth and taste and
would now, 1t is fair to presume,
+, produce statue of Allen of such an
order Of merit as not only to more
fully satisfy his own ideal standard
but so as to pass the ordeal of crit
icism. His recent works, lately ex-
hibited In New York, evince enthu-
siasm for his art, careful study, and
also rare beauty of conception and
much grace and delicacy of finish.
| Both of these sculptors are ma
tives of Vermont and the State is
naturally proud of them. II they
| VIZ IN hn sod ma
orials, we should at the same time,
with our hero and statesman, pre-
sent two of our living and worthiest
artists. Every artist, who may be
thus employed by any State, know.
ing that this work will form but
small part of what will ultimately
be placed in the National Hall of
Statuary, will strive for a produe-
ton that may rank among those of
the highest order of merit The
keenest rivalry and emulation will
operate upon all, and the result
should be collection of statuary
unsurpassed by any in the world.
I 1t may be queried whether other
! States Will take action upon the
subject so as to carry out the plan
proposed by Congress. The mover
of such a doubt is blind to the fact
that such men as Washington and
| Jefferson, Hamilton and Madison,
| Otis and Adams, Webster and Clay,
LOwndes and Hayne, Clinton and
| Jay, Jackson and Benton, Cass and
Scott and Stark, Decatur and Perry,
have lived and had homes. There is
no State which is without it's cata-
I logue of notables. The picked rep
Iresentatives of these, brought into
one hall, will be new bond of
union, binding together all sections
i and parts of common country,
whose common renown will in
crease with all the increasing ages,
and which no, State will Willingly
let die" To be unrepresented here
would be a confession of imbecility
and poverty such as the pride of no
State could long endure. We have
not full information as to the action
of all the States, but we know the
, plan of Congress has been received
everywhere with marked favor, and
there cannot be- doubt that it will
, be speedily and fully carried out by
every State. More memorials ra-
Their than less than are called fol
: will be likely to be ultimately tend
2 cred, and the United States in due
, time may be expected to contribute
those of all the Presidents. The Hal
n is one of the mGst beautiful in the
o world, and, since the extension O
h the capitol, it must remain an un
s appropriated waste, as the main ac
h cess to the new Hall of the House
g of Representatives requires an opel
L thorough-fare through the centre o
q the old hall, and 1t cannot be other
q wise used at all, or at least in an,
= manner so appropriately. Gov. Bull
l. lock, of Massachusetts, in mis- mes
O sage of February, 1866, upon thf
l. subject, said:
"The project suggested and en-
IS couraged by Congress is as attrac
n, tive as it is unique. When the tim
,r shall come in which the represen