The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-27

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fplete. boxed ready for shipment, base
included. was to be $4,000, of which
$1,000 was to he reserved by the as
ISOLATION to pay for shipment and
direction.
Sir Moses was informed that at the
time of the contract only about $16,-
600 was on hand. He replied that
his heart was In this memorial: he
desired to make 1t the browning work
of his life. and Ii the Daughters
agreed to pay. he. would trust them
to fulfill their contract. The agree
ment was reported to the Daughters
at their session in Little Rock In 1910.
They enthusiastically Endorsed the
action Of the committee. and raised
the price to $4,000. The monument
at Arlington, they declared. must be
worth that sum.
This action of the Daughters was
reported to the artist, who thereupon
enlarged the plan of the work, agree
ing that he should receive $4,000
the committee was to reserve $4,000
for expenses OF transportation, cree
ton. etc. Since that date, the artist
has been zeaious,y engaged in the
performance OF the great task he has
undertaken. He writes that he Is de-
voting his whole time to 1t. and dur
ing the past summer took not a day
off. The progress he is making shows
that he will complete the work we'll
within the contract time. He sends,
from time to time, photos of the fig
ures as they are completed.
If l could only convey to those who
may read these words on adequate
| idea OF the grandeur ana beauty OF
the great work, as 1t now appears to
| me and to others who have seen the
pictures of these designs, T am sure
there would be no difficulty In raising
at once all the money that will be
needed by the Daughters to make
prompt payment under their contract:
but we have agreed with Sir Moses
Ezekiel not to publish any pictures
or detailed description of the work
while 1t Ia unfinished, for 4 reason
that all artists will appreciate, but
which perhaps should be explained
| to the public.
| The thought Is In the minds Of
many that, with an artist who is a
genius, imagination bodies forth the
| forms of things unseen" absolutely
complete and perfected before he
| touches hand to the work. This Is
not true of a statue. which IL to rep
! resent an idea, any more than 1t is
of a poem or any other finished work
of genius 1t was great and long
continued labor for Milton to write
his Paradise Lost" and that won
| derfuily beautiful poem, "Gray's
| Elegy," short as 1t Is. was the work
/ Of years. So, the artist Ia designing
! a statue. which Is FIRST to be in clay.
! builds it up. day after day, part at
| a. tfn,s., cha ping ana Hodcithg. and Re.
shaping and perfected. the statue
| grows He always, therefore. re-
serves to himself the right to change
| and retouch until. at last. the clay
bodies forth his perfected design.
! Our sculptor has built himself a
| house. or large detached room. es-
| pecially for this work. and only such
!, artists and friends as he ID willing to
! admit are permitted to see the work
| as II progr esaes.
| may say that the chief piece in
! tho design - the heroic figure ut u
woman to represent the South: and
/ that figure which now seems to- De
completed and photo OF which In
before me. bodies forth. to my mind.
all the high purpose, the devotion,
1 tenderness. frmness and beauty Of
| the typical Southern woman. In her
right hand this figure holds laurel
wreath or crown. Tier left rests upon
la plow stock. Around the top OF
! the circular base on which this nsure
| stands are the seals OF the Conted.
| eraey. and Of the several states, each
| an elaborate work OF art. Beneath
! these and standing out In full and
| perfect relief, are some 15 figures,
men. women, children and soldiers.
all allegorical and typical. every one
designed to be in itself n perfect work
| OF art. At present. these are two
! thirds, and will be enlarged to full
| life size. / have Just received photos
| OF these figures. and do not hesitate
! to express my belief that we are u
have. next to tho Washington monu-
| ment, the most artistic and striking
| memorial that can DO found In or near
| this capital city.
The artist. IN undertaking this
| work, has not, az he has always told
us. had in view any profit 10 him
self. I am in receipt OF . letter from
him. dated November 80, ia which
| he says:
| AS you vii rec. it n an enormous
work arm undertaking. and do not
| think that the amount &1n TO re-
ceive In full will do more than psy
| for the material cost Of the whole
monument. which apart from the
lower base end the STONE, shall mako
entirely In bronze. 30 DO hepe the
Daughters Of the Confederacy vii
ind no dih1culty n relieving ur your
suSGestinf1*
;s HI IA IL Is sSs Il; 81