Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-10-21


ton. The. early risers and pedestrians
about town were amazed, when they drew
near, to see what appeared at a distance
like schoolbOYs work turned to statue
of such exquisite contour and grace of
form, with such delicate mouldlngs and
dmplngs in detail as to suggest the use
Of chisel and that only in a master
hand. There was a serious face, rounded
arms. neck and bust and waving drapery.
II was noble conception; the young
sculptor had evidently endeavored to en-
| body the serious thought which visits ny
while we look backward and forward from
the line which separates a closing and a
dying year. The passing schoolboy was
awed for once, as he viewed the result on
adept handling of the elements with which
he was so roughly familiar, and the
thought of snowbaling so beautiful an
object could never have dwelt in his
mind. 1t is related that the village sim
pleton was frightened and ran away and
one eccentric citizen, who rarely doigned
to bow to his fellowmen or women either,
lifted his hat in respect after he had
gazed moment upon Meads work
protected by the cold weather and
the respect generally accorded to genius.
the image stood on the street until the
usual January thaw set in. to which it
naturally succumbed. During the fort
night, however many people came from
surrounding towns and some even from
distant cities to visit It, The New York
Tribune and the Springfield Republican
had interesting descriptions of the twice
seven-days' wonder and the exploit was
considered worthy of notice even in the
newspapers of foreign lands One of the
city papers said of It: AS a first work
and in the highest point-the genius
to conceive and the art to express the
spirit Of the recording angel this is a
success The record of the year is made
up, is finished, and the angel seems lost
in meditation
THE foundation of fame was laid for
Larkin G. Mead. For two years previous
to this striking home evidence of genius.
Mead had been studing in New York
with Sculptor Henry *. Brown a native
Of Leyden, Mass. but his return home,
with his work on the snow image was
probably necessary to thoroughly satisfy
his fellow townspeople that Mead was
cut out for something more than a mer-
camille man, for such he was before he
went to New York to study.
But the fame Of Moads snow and ice
work spreading far and wide, attracted
the attention Of Nicholas I.ougworth OF
Cincinnati, who wrote at once, inQurng
about Meads character and prospects.
He then gave him a commission to exc
cute the statue of the Recording Angel
in marble and this was followed by a
private family order from another party
for the bust of a relative. Mr.. Longworth
generously ordered the bust Recording
Angel, to be sold for the benefit Of the
sculptor. he having previously furnished
the funds with which Mead should do the
work The statue now stands in the ro-
tunda of the capitol at Washington"
When Mr.. Mead went to Italy after his
Civil war experience he received a cordial
welcome from the famous sculptor Hiram
Powers also Nermonter and long es-
tablished in Florence, where every Amer-
can tourist Of note dropped in to see him
as a matter Of course. Few names figure
more conspicuously in American travel
notes of the period. Very likely the ex-
ample and precept Of Powers did much to
confirm the younger man in the inten-
ton Of making Italy his home. Venice
was not perhaps the best city for a sculp-
tor but he remained there three years.
his artistic feeling constantly expanding
in that rich atmosphere Yet it was nat
ural that he should make his permanent
home in Florence where he had many con-
genial friends. In 1879 he was appointed
to a profesSorehip in the academy Of fine
arts in that CITY.
The story Of his marriage was roman
tic enough to match his exceptional ca
reer While left in charge Of the United
States consulate at Venice during the we'd
ding trip Of Mr.. Howells to America the
young sculptor saw on the piazza OF San
Marco beautiful Italian girl with whom
he fell in love at first sight. without
knowing who she was Mr. Howells while
in America accepted an editorial position
on the Atlantic monthly. and a new
consul was appointed. Mr. Mead returned
to Florence, where he had for some time
been living, but he could not forget the
beautiful young Venetian and returned
to search for her. Through the services
OF the new consul meeting was arranged.
and the young woman was found to be all
that could be asked In family and I'm
culture. Neither, so the story went. could
speak word of others language. co
that the lovemaking had to be carried on
through an interpreter. This seems
strange considering Mead's somewhat eX-
tended residence in Italy, but at all events
the beautiful Marietta Mobile Benvenuti
had no English. But she was almost as
prompt as her admirer to fall in love. and
civil marriage was arranged. the reli-
gious ceremony being impossible because
the bride was n Roman Catholic and Mr.
Mead Protestant. The pope was an
pealed to in vain for a dlspensation of
their favor
Among the sculptor's works not already
referred to may be noted THE Return of
Proserpine from the Realms of Pluto"
which stood over the main entrance to the
agricultural building at the Chicago ex-
position Of 1893, a large group represent
ing the Stanford family for Leland
Stanford, 1r., university, Ia Contadinel-
Ia" high relief busts of Henry James,
w. D. Howells and John Hay, and a
colossal statue in marble symbolizing the
Mississippi river as a river god, which
was cut from a block Weighing A tons
and erected in Minneapolis a few years
ago. In his early days he made some ink
sketches of a noted Morgan horse and
although number of copies were ma de
Mr.. Mead later was unable to find one
The Mead family home in Brattleboro
stood between the Dowley and Whitney
residences on Main street II now stands a :