Evening star., 1909-06-26


Ills life sized statue in the Place des
Etats-Tnis Was completed In marble only
shortly before his death. A third is even
greater Il has never been set Up any
where Il has never been exhibited.
scarcely ever reproduced IN photograph.
This unknown Lafayette statue Nine.
Bartholdi is gcinE 10 offer as free gilt
to the United States.
I learned the fact and photographed
the bust and statue in the widows beau
tiful home OF the rue d AsSas. There
some eighteen years ago Barthold!, after
vainly seeking to buy the noble old pri-
vate mansion fronting on the l-uxem-
bourg Gardens. finally took IL on a thirty
year lease and proceeded to tear ou: and
fit up an ideal wealthy artists residence.
There now a Sweet-faced aged lady,
very slender, very arisiocratic, very pale.
dressed all In black and creamy lace.
pres each piece Of furniture and
bric-a-brac. each sketch. each painting.
statue statuette and clay model as Bar
Inoldi left 1t.
The place. with its portico cloister round
an old-world garden. contains magnificent
old Alsatian carved wood cabinets, ward
robes, desks. presses, clocks and tables
The walls of the dining room are literally
covered with family porcelain.
Family portraits cover the walls of the
two library salons. The Bartholdis. whose
name was originally Berthold, counted
members of the sovereign council of Al
SAGE i'll the seventeenth century, and
long line of judges. administrators. coun-
cilors and princely advisers down to the
French revolution BY that time it had
begun marrying OH the edge of the higher
nobility.
During the French revolution the fam
lily refuged on Lake Como. whence the
Italianized Bartholdi. But Bartholdi him
self was born at Colmar, to which his
grandfather had returned late in life.
There are two studios proper. two spa
cious library salons great billiard and
smoking rooms and a long music room.
where Nine. Bartnoldi had received me.
II have not touched my violin since
Bartholdi died. she told me, as if
knew all about it. There is where he
sat. We liked Bach and Beethoven. His
mother played the flute, the violin and
he the piano accompaniment. Helas. IL
IS long ago. Do YOU think that America
would care to accept the Lafayette
Nine. Bartholdi is rich. Her heart is
half the time in New York harbor where
his Liberty Enlightenng the World
constitutes her husbands grandiose mon
ument.
'Bartholdfs name is linked with that
of Lafayette as friend of America, each
in his century. she said. His Wash
ington and Lafayette. in the Place des
in Paris. / would like this other to re-
call it to Americans at home"
Any America city would be proud TO
be its guardian. Bartholdi considered II
one of his greatest inspirations. Lafay-
cite stands at the summit in an attitude
of final triumph In his uplifted hand
he brandishes a sheaf of captured British
and Hessian flags 1t is presumabl after
Yorktown.
He has uncovered his head, in token OF
personal humility, and his left hand holds
his cooked hat. Doves of peace hutter al
his feet.
An American revolutionary group in
high relief decorates each OF the four
sides of the pedestal."to give others
their share and not to have too much
Lafayette explained madame.
Finally four life-sized figures. All In
dian. trapper. a woman spinning and
a farmer. sit al rest upon low pilons be-
tween circIing marble steps that lead TO
the upper platform round the pedestal.
All the figures are hcroic-Inore than HE
size The ten steps mounting TO the
platform reach the height of an average
mans head. Behind tie trapper, the In
dian. the woman spinning and the farm
er there is room for a hundred persons