Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-07-10
THE CAPITOL STATUE
Heroic Figure That SurmomtS
the Dome In Washington.
THE MODEL WAS CHANGED.

]
inal 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 ,apitu,
| is by Ia" the most symbolic uf all the
statues In Washington. Beautiful and
| rcposcful, yet with nm air of vigilance.
| it Is perhaps the least appreciated of
! the city's statues, possibly because ~
/ it's being placed ut such an altilTdr
/ that II cannot easily be studied The
original plans of the capitol called for
/ IL statue TO Surmount the dome, but no
title was then given II, and compare.
/ lively few people know the real name
of the statue,
| Seeking this information, II Post rr.
, porter mtcrruEated number of pCr
sons whose daily occupations keep
! them almost constantly beneath tho
! shadow of the great statue, To the
, questions what Is tine name of the
statue above the dome of this build
I ing?" came these widely different opu-
ions:
J THE name of that statue? Why. it's
/ the Goddess of Freedom"
YES; | can tell you the name. 1t is
the Goddess of Liberty"
Several declared II To bc the statue
! of Independence. Others said. at Is an
| Indian woman"
! at Is the God of Justice and Free
dom" declared portly man in IL touo
! that dciicd questioning.
! eft rpprpSpnts ~ Amprh.nn woman
but am not sure of her name"
| well, now, | never inquired what
lady that statue commentaries" re.
marked II politician from II not very
| distant state but 1t is n fine work Of
art"
at Is statue of the god of war.
! Mars
"Can you tell me something about
| that statue above the dome?' WAS
asked Il man whose knowledge is well
| known.
! "Why, certainly. 1t is woman of
! colonial days. Can't you see the trim
ming around the mantle and the curfS
I about the face? And the features are
delicately nodded You see, | have
! studied the model ut the museum. II
! surely is woman. | think you can
safely say it is an American woman"
one who always tries his best to
| help others said: "Now. all statues. as
you know, bear the names of the pco-
! pie they represent, and II you will just
step over to the library of congress |
! think you can easily find some book
ON statues that will tell you all You
want TO know. 1t is woman. | am
sure. so look for the female statues"
A younger member of the house rr-
piled to the question about the statue
most suavely and confdingly. at is
| the god of progress; you know his
| name" Several Of the colorcd men In
| the various parts of the building were
nearly all quite sure 1t was the God
| dess of Freedom. One of them knew
| the year. 1868. when ii was 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 minute, and
! will get it for you first hand" And
n most accommodating guide passed
| into the senate chamber. Directly he
| returned.
THAT is statue of Pocahontas."
Every one had a 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 +. Marion Crawford. 1t was cast
at Maryland foundry. jefferson Ia,
Wis was secretary of war when the
model was first presented in the war
| department. The statue then wore a
| liberty cap and carried bundle Of
| rods. Davis objected to the liberty
cap as being emblematic of the
emancipated slaves. while Americans
| were. freeborn. He also thought the
bundle of rods. suggesting the func-
| lions 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 l4,9S5 pounds 1t was put
in place on Dec. 3 1868. The head is
| thrown back and adorned with eagles
beak and plumes. The right band rests
on a sword, and the left holds an olive
branch and a shield. The mantle is
| gracefully draped and is held by
| brooch bearing "U. s." on its face The
! helmet is encircled with stars. The
supporting globe bears the legend "E
/ Pluribus Unum."- Washington Post.