Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-05-20

The story of the creation of the Re
cording Angel" is told by Charles F. War
ner in Picturesque Brattleboro as fol-
lows "Brattleboro people tell an almost
idyllic story, when reference is made to
Larkin c. Mead, the distinguished sculp-
tor, who was brought up in their village,
and who, one bright winter morning,
startled them with unique evidence Of his
genius.
1T was the last night of December,
1856, when young Mead and two friends
set about the construction of a snow
image in the centre of the town. The
friends had been enthusiastic believers
in what they believed to be the hidden
talent of their companion, lead, and
after much persuasion he had al last con-
scented to try to see what he could do
in the way of moulding a statute from
snow and ice. No ordinary boys snow
man was this to be-no roughly moulded
figure of soft snow, clumsily stuck to-
gether, like a scarecrow, with pieces of
wood and sticks carelessly inserted for
eyes, nose and mouth. The young men
were in earnest in their purpose to
achieve something worthy of note.
The conception was Mead's. He
chose his ideal of the Recording Angel,
closing the record of the year, and it was
decided to locate the statue at the unc-
ton of North Main and Asylum streets.
Here, close by what was then the old
John Burnham foundry. Mead and his
companions labored for hours, in a snow
drift, that last bitterly cold night of the
dying year. Mead's friends were Edward
and Henry Burnham, and while Henry
kept hot fire burning in the old foundry
and supplied inspiration with sweet cider
his brother Edward assisted Mead in
moulding the image. Occasional trips in
doors and seat by the blazing fire en-
abled them to render more plastic the most
expressive portion of the statute, and
joining these to the rough figure out
DOORS the hands and fingers of the youth
full genius kneaded and moulded them I'M
til they hardened and his assistant oc-
casionally poured on water, which almost
instantly froze and finally gave the whole
an almost adamantine covering.
THE frontispiece of this book shows
Mead surveying his finished work, with
the aid of lantern light. Solemn, ma
jestic and beautiful stood this snow work
in the dim artificial light, yet passing
visitor, on his way home, after careless
glance from the sidewalk made up his
mind that it was only the rough work
Of a schoolboy, who designed to give
other boys an object for SNOWFALL pelting
the next morning.
But New Years day dawned bright
and clear, and not long after the sun cast
its dazzling rays over the mountains, in
habitants of the village discovered the
magic light of genius flashing from the
ice-sheeted image. Transcendently beau
tiful stood the Snow Angel, in the pris-
matte glow of the morning SUMS refec-
ton The early risers and pedestrians
about town were amazed. when they drew
near, to see what appeared at a distance
like a schoolboy's work turned to a statue
of such exquisite contour and grace OF
form, with such delicate mouldings and
dimplings in detail as to suggest the use
of a chisel, and that only in a master
hand There was serious face, rounded
arms, neck and bust and waving drapery