The Lambertville record., 1909-07-07
THE CAPITOL STATUE
Heroic Figure That SurmountS
the Dome In Washington.
THE MODEL WAS CHANGED.
jefferson Davis Objected to tho Orig
inaI as Designed by Crawford, and It
Was Altered to Symbolic ARMED
Liberty" as It Now Stands.

Jefferson Davis Objected to tho Orig
inaI as Designed by Crawford, and It
Was Altered to Symbolic ARMED
Liberty" as It Now Stands.
Armed Liberty the splendid statue
that crowns the Come of the capitol,
Is by far the most symbolic of all the
statues In Washington. Beautiful and
reposeful, yet with an air of vigilance,
it Is perhaps the least appreciated of
the city's statues, possibly because of
its being placed at such an altitude
that 1t cannot easily be studied. The
original plans of the capitol called for
q statue TO surmount the dome, but no
title was then given 1t, and compara-
lively few people know the real name
of the statue.
Seeking this information, Post re
porter interrogated a number of per
sons whose daily occupations keep
them almost constantly beneath The
shadow Of the great statue. To The
question What is the name of the
statue above the dome Of this build
tnr| came these widely different opin-
ions:
.eIhe name Of that statHe2 Why, It's
the Goddess Of Freedom
Yes; can tell you the name. II Is
the Goddess q Liberty
Several declared Il 10 lie the statue
Of independents. Others said, at Is an
Indian wainal.
at j. The God of Justice and Free
dom. declared peftly man in a Tone
that deded questioning.
at represents al American WOMAN.
but an noi sure Of her name
We'll. now. never inquired what
lady that statue commentaries. re.
marked a politician from q Bot very
distant state. but il Is q fine work Of
art
Il, Is statue Of the god Of war
Mars"
Can you tel ne something about
that statue above the damese was
asked nan whose knowledge Is weil
known.
why. certainly. il is WOMAN q
colonial days. Can't you see the trim.
ming around the mantle aud he enrls
about the face. And the features are
delleately nodded. You see, have
studied the model a. The museum 4
surely IS d woman ] think yoi can
safely say Il is an American woman
One who always tries his best To
help others said Vow. all statues. as
yea know. bear the names Of the peo-
pie they represent, and II you VII just
step over to the library Of congress !
think you can easily ind some book
on statues that viii tell you all yea
want - know. II IS woman. / am
sure, 90 look for the female statues"
younger member OF The house re
piled 10 the question about the statue
most suavely and conGdlngly. II Is
the god Of progress; you know his
name" Several OF the coiored men IN
the various parts Of the building were
nearly all quite sure 1t was the Cod
dess OF Freedom. One OF them knew
the year. 1868. when it WIS placed
above the dome, and he affirmed, 1T
is the Goddess Of American Liberty
Before the War"
You want to know the name of that
statue? Well. just wait a minute and
/ Will get 1t for you first hand" And
q most accommodating guide passed
into the senate chamber Directly lac
returned
THAT Is statue of Pocahontas."
Every one had different name for
the statue. not one giving the real
name, ARMED Liberty"
The statue was modelled by Thomas
Crawford. father of the novelist the
late II. Marion Crawford. 1t was cast
at a Maryland foundry Jefferson Da-
Wis was secretary of war when the
model was lrst presented in the war
department The statue then wore n
liberty cap and carried bundle of
rods. Davis objected 10 the liberty
cap as being embematie of the
emaneipated slaves, while Americans
were freeborn He also thought the
bundle of rods, suggesting the func
tions of the Roman lictor, had lost its
symbolic character because of these
criticisms of Secretary Davis the mod
el was changed. and ARMED Liberty.
was evolved.
The statue is nine feet six inches tall
and weighs 1885 pounds. 1t was put
In place on Dec .. 1868. The head is
thrown back and adorned With eagles
beak and plnmes The right hand rests
on a sword, and the left holds an olive
branch and shield. The mantle Is
gracefully draped and is held by a
brooch bearing "u. s." on its face The
helmet is encircled with stars, The
supporting globe bears the legend "E
Pluribus Unum. Washington Post.