The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-04-12
H0NORING
CIVIL WAR;
HERO Of
THE SOUTH


Of this 'city II represents Lieuten.
ant Ge.seral Stephen Din Lee. G. 8. a..
as he stood At a critical moment Of
the siege Of Vlcksburg In the event
ful summer Of 1853.
The figure is Of colossal size. stand
Ing nine feet high. The attitude Is
one OF expectancy of momentary rest
before decisive action. The left les
Is raised and thrown forward. and
the unsheathed sword, held IN bota
hands. rests upon Il, the scabbard
hanging naturally BY the side.
The accontremeais are the TAMIL
lar ones OF tie wearers Of the grey,
The insignia Of rank appear on tho
collar. The buttons. 10 high relief
bear the eagle and II stars, The soul
ptor has been especially attentive 10
the textures. showing Enthusiastically
the quality Of feE In the hat, the
smoothness OF the leather on che
sides OF the boots where they rub
against saddle or horse, the char
acter OF the b%roadelotl Of the mill
tary coat, and Of the heavy leather
gauntletR beneath which the strongly
modelled hands IRE felt.
These and other details have been
executed carefully, but with an evil
dent intent not to detpct from the
main purpose Of the work, which aims
10 create 2 felthful likeness Of ono
OF the best beloved OF generals on
either side az the late unpleasant.
ness. The modelling Is distinguished
BY a great deal OF color; advantage
is taken Of deep masses OF shadow
TO emphasize important forms IN the
light and half light,
In his preliminary studies for This
work. which will be OF exceptional ~.
tefost 10 the whole south, Nj. Kits0n
has not only had access 10 various
documents aud relics OF greatest val
uo but hN has been helped By Inn
pressions Ahmed during O personal
%friendehin VIZ Gnn<fHI f4zzsextenhv
ing over several years before bis
death IN 1908. He had charge Of The
erection Of the Massachusetts State
Monument for Vieksburg. one OF tho
earliest to be consigned 10 the new
national park, Mr.. Ktson practical.
~ took charge Of the preliminary
| dedication arrangement which brough
the Massachusetts governor and other
officials down to the Mississippi city,
gave them the time Of their lives,
and did perhaps as much as any one
event IN many years 10 promote a
feeling Of amity between the states
A close intimacy was FORMED at that
time between General Lee who was
a member OF the Park commissions
ami the energetic northern sculptor
Besides the large statue which has
Just been completed Mr. Kiisan has
practically finished at his studio In
Quincy a model Of a bust Of General
Lee III which two copies are 20 be
cast III bronze, III for the Agrlcul
tural aud Mechanical college OF Mis-.
slsslppl u which the ox.Coufederate
leader was president for many years
the other for the city OF Columbus,
Mississippi, which was his home town
This work represents The general as
thousands OF Americans have known
and admired him IN his later career
The larger model is Just about 70
be- sent 10 q bronze founders in New
York where il viii be cas- n accord
ance with the best present day prae-
lice. II will be ready barring acct
dents which are unlikely. IN time for
the dedication on June II, Il Of the
days when the United Confederate
Veterans will be in session 1t Mem
phis. Tenn, making a special excur-
sion to Vickgburg. lts location Will
be on Confederate Avenue, near the
railroad redoubt and opposite the
Iowa State Memorial, an appropriate
placing since It vas the boys from
Iowa who assaulted the fort which
General Lee defended with great skill
and bravery during tho siege.
The first monument OF 4 leader Of
the Lost Cause 10 be Installed at the
National military park Representa- con
trlbutlons from many sources, north
and south. Il was made possible
largely through the devoted energy
and initiative Of Captain William II.
RlKby. chairman Of the National Nil.
itary park commission. Thn as an
Iowa Soldier fought against General
Lee In 'e8 and who as All associate
In The work Of the commission be.
came one OF his wafmest friends aud
admirers. No man 10 The whole
south Will be hApplef than Captain
Rlgby when the Memorial ii In place.
This Is the third important COM
mission which mr.. kilson has done
Tor Vicksburg. the preceding ones
having been monuments for the states
OF Massachusetts and lows. He has
also Recently finished ftf dedication
at padnnah. Ky. on Mas u a full
ibuegh Atasuc Of General LlUYd Tiie T.
MAN whu Wns Killed ~ \ eannun bah
al Champions EliIl during the VIcksl
burg campaign. The sculptor Is an
EnglisamHn by birth who eame 70
this country when twelve years old
and vino after the usual difficulties
and prlsatluhs af the art student be-
came one 81 the foremost Of AmefI.
can seHlptcrs. lie holds The decofa.
iIun Of the Royal Order n Bene Mer
emil ffrm the King ul Roumanla med
ais from lhe expeditions 1t Paris.
1889, cIlepso. 1881. Paris 1900, and