The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-05
HORSE 0 PATIENTLY
SERVES AS MODEL
Once Lame, He Now Watches
Sculptor's Work on
Monument.
STUDIO IN CHESTERFIELD
Mr.. Sievers Tells How He Is
Fighting to Secure Worthy
Effort.

In a big studio in the woods of
Chesterfield county. which might from
It's surroundings be hundred miles
instead of only few blocks from
the limits of great city, the monu-
ment which Virginia will erect to her
sons who fought at Gettysburg is
growing in the hands OF the sculptor.
FOR months past the artist has fought
J MS way through many discoura ge-
ments. moulding the plaster which
| which holds and yet hides the thing
which he seeks-a conception Of a
work worthy of the event 1t will com
memorate.
f. William Sievers. the sculptor
| from New York. who has the con-
tract to execute the monument. has
punt studio which amply houses u
Heterogeneous collection OF rough
tables and piles of lumber and lhe
| patient horse which is serving as the
model for Traveller, which, with cen
cral Lee on his back, will surmount
the work,
! Horse on job.
y big skylight catches the coveted
northern light under which the sculp-
tor labors each day and under which
the steed munches his hay and wa tches
Mr.. Sierers build ard rebuild, model
and destroy, examine and criticise.
The horse. be- 1t known, is entirely
unappreciative of his position. He
does not realize the glory that is his
IN posing TO represent the member OF
his race who carried the South's idol.
ana whose representation Is to play
such leading part In this states
most protentious memorial tot he heroe .
OF the war Between the states Also
ms temper Is not OF the best He
chafes at the confinement and alto
gether is not model as to charac-
ter even if he is a model as 10 size
and general proportions
You see" began Mr. S!evers YES
terday, as he pushed the little Mas
Ter model back and forth under the
skylisht for The Times Dispatch re-
porter 10 see, this is the most diff
cult part of MY task II have made
model after model Tor TrayeIer all
seeing something which does not am
pear to be just the conception / am
after. tear the thing to pieces n,
may be the arch of the neck. or. the
poise of the head, or the thickness OF
the withcrs. or anything which nit,nt
not seem to matter. But it does mat
ter, and try again
Animal Was Lame.
FOR instance. when secured mo
horse, he was lame. This made him
rest large part or his weight on one
OF the rear legs, and actually threw
MS whole appearance out of propor-
tioh. SO had 10 doctor him until the
lameness disappeared
II have the correct proportions ar
the horses figure. although the model
would perhaps seem TO make him
small in front. Any increase in his
breadth OF chest would make a
dray horse out of him / think the
animal should appear at rest. or ~
least quiet, for those who knew Gea-
eral Lee tell me that was the constant
position of the horse and rider. even
under circumstances which would have
caused wild excitement in other men.
The nostrils and ears and position
Of the head indicate enough action for
a watch over the battle scene
VIII Have Help.
Il hope continued the artist, as ne
lovingly showed the model and lis
support into another light. ito have
this part of the work done in another
month. very nearly have cverythini,
ibout the horse Just as want t..
Later shall have assistants Mea
will come from New York TO help me
make the group which Will go at the
base of the monument Then the
work will proceed at much greater
speed.
Those names of commands which
took part In the battle should. think,
ne placed on panels about the group.
rather than have billboard effect
on one big blank side of the shaft. =
he said. rapidly tracing what he meant
with pencil on the TANKS of The
plaster Traveller.
Mr.. Sievers is under contract to
deliver the monument complete to ihs
Gettysburg Monument Commission i.y
July, 1912, Its advent on the field or
the battle as the first memorial to be
placed there by any Southern State
will undoubtedly be marked by i'm
posing ceremonies. at which nil Of
official Virginia. with veterans OF the
war, Will be present. IT Will be placed
on West Confederate Avenue. on the
spot where General Lee watched
pickle tts immortal charge
p The members of the Gettysburg
Monument Commission. having the
work in charge are: The Governor en-
ofHcio; Colonel Thomas r. Smith Of
Warrenton: Major II. "A. Edmondson.
of Halifax; Captain Stephan P. Read
of Mecklenburg. and Colonel W. Cor
don McCabe. of Richmond.
The monument will cost approx
mately $4,000. for which aDpropria-
ton has already been made.