The Washington herald., 1909-08-01
STATUES ARE EXILED
Strange Destiny of Effises that Have Fallen Into
Disavor.
BY Ex-ATTAoHE.


Emperor Wiliaus exile OF the statue
OF the poet Heine from the terraces or
Achineion, the fairy-llke palace in Corfu,
erected. regardless OF cost by the late
Empress Elizabeth and purchased by him
from her estate. has many precedents,
and suggests the inquiry as to what be-
comes OF all these marble efigies that
have ceased TO please their owners or
that have fallen into popular disfavor.
OF the fale OF Heine's representation In
stone we are aware. for Hamburg pub
Usher has purchased the memorial. which
IS a beautiful piece Of sculpture. from the
Kaiser for $500. and has secured permIs-
lsion from the city fathers OF that ancient
Hanseatic seaport 10 erect the monument
on one Of the public squares Of what was,
after all. the native town OF the bard and
the home OF his boyhood.
The motives which led Emperor Will
lam to thus Danish the statue OF Heine
from the sunny shores Of the Mediter-
ranean 10 the storm-beaten coast Of the
North Sea are too well known 70 need
more than passing reference here. While
they may not be of nature to commend
themselves TO the admirers OF the poet.
one can readily understand that the mon
barch. when seeking repose, peace. and
agreeable leisure IN his lovely southern
lretreat, did not relish the idea OF having
lconstanty before his eyes the plastic
portrayal OF a man who had used his un-
ideniable gifts 10 revile the Hohenzollerns
and 20 ridicule German patriotism.
There are some who imagined that
genius atones FOR everything and relieves
f1ts pOsscssOr from the observance Of all
laws, human and divine. They hold that
smen such as Verlalne for instance. and
the author OF Lady Windermeres Fan"
should not be judged by ordinary stand
ards Of conduct. Germans Emperor does
mot approve OF these views and can find
no use for a poet who misuses his talents
Ito give expression TO sentiments that are
repellant 20 ones sense OF patriotism and
propriety. That Is why he Is as strongly
prejudiced against Heine as he is against
Vcrlaine.
When King Edward came TO the throne
one OF the first things that he did was
10 order the exile OF the several statues
Of John Brown. who had served Queen
Victoria for so many years as her gillle
When Brown died some fifteen or sixteen
years ago the aged Queen mourned so
deeply the loss OF her trusted retainer.
who had been a member OF her house
hold and In constant attendance upon her
for nearly half a century, that she set
up statues Of him at Balmoral, at Os-
borne. and at Windsor There was also a
silver statuette Of him at Buckingham
Palace.
Now. while King Edward thoroughly
appreciated Browns devotion TO his
rHn Ia
lied thar his services had been OF a
mental character. with nothing in their
nature 20 call for commcmoration in the
form or sculpture Hc was able TO under
stand that pcsthumous honors bestowed
for such purely personal attendance on
the sovereign. were calculated 10 create
popular criticism OF the neglect TO COM
memOrate In a similar manner great
services 10 the nation and grand deeds
OF heroism.
That is why with his keen knowledge
Of public sentiment, he removed the
statues OF John Brown out Of sight.
while showing himself most kind and
generous In his treatment OF the old
Hghlander's family. What has become
of these efigies Of the late Queens gill
Iey The silver statuette and those OF
bronze have undoubtedly found their
way into the melting pot. But what has
become OF those which were OF marbleY
Napoleon III occupied the throne or
France for eighteen years. Before his
reign had been brought TO a close many
hundreds Of llfe-size statues, some OF
them equestrian. as well as thousands OF
busts, had been produced.
All the big cities had their marble
efigy Of the Emperor and every prefec-
tUre and su5-pVefecture. his bust Copies
OF the latter likewise figured In the Of
fees Of all the principal officials Of the
government administration. in the cham
bers OF every judge and magistrate. or
each provincial treasurer and inspector
of internal revenue, Of town and village
mayors. and In the official quarters OF
French ambassadors. ministers. and con-
sular agents abroad
What has become OF all these statues
and bucts? To-day no public ehigy OF
Napoleon IT remains IN existence IN
France. The only one that I know OF is
that az Milan which was recently erect
ed by the municipality Of that city IN
order TO commemorate The role which he
played I'm restoring 20 the Lombards their
liberty and I'm bringing about Their eman-
cipation from Austrian rule. Indeed. Il
was the crushing defeat Of the Austrians
by the French army. under Napoleon III
at the battle OF Solferino, that rendered
necessary the Peace OF Viafranca. bv
the terms OF which Austria surrended an
her provinces IN Northern Italy 10 Ma
poleon. who turned them over 10 Victor
Emmanuel to be Incorporated in his
kingdom OF united italy.
Milan. therefore. enjoys the distinction
OF having the only public statue OF Ma
poleon III In existence, and although
France owes to him eighteen years OF
unparalleled prosperity, and OF national
prestige so great that In his day Paris
was the center Of the political gravity OF
the world. yet no record IN bronze or IN
marble remains Of his personality.
Adolph z. Theirs, the first president OF
the present and third French republic,
was an extremely vain little man. and
as soon as ever he was elected to the
Office or chief magistrate. proceeded 10
fiood the country with his busts. with
which he insisted that every government
Office should be provided He undoubt-
edly expected to remain at the head OF
affairs IN France for the rest OF his DAYS.
But bis tenure Of power was relatively
brief and he was succeeded by Marshal
MacMahon, who had 10 be represented
IN uniform When, however. he. in turn.
was followed az the Elysee by President
Grovy. the government, Influenced, per
haps, by the thrift for which its new
executive was so celebrated. decided 10
turn the thousands Of busts OF Adolph
ThieTs 20 account and to graft the head
Of Grevy on 20 the shoulders Of Theirs.
ln fact the art Of statue grating de- !
veloped from an art into an industry |
To-day every one Of the busts Of the /