The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-09
v|CE-CONsUL WILMER
CABLES MEASUREMENTS
British Government Preparing to
Receive Bronze Statue OF
Washington.
ORIGINAL IS. LIFE sIZ
Stands as Did Washington, Six Feet
Two Inches High, With Dase -Four
Feet Six Inches High-Monumen
Is World Famous.

British Vice Consul a. p. Wilmer re-
S telegram last night from Sir
Ssecii Arthur Spring Rice. British am
dimensions OF the Houdon statue of
George Washington. replica of which
Is To- be presented by the state tate of wir.
were furnished by Mr.. wilmer and
were cabled to England at once. 1t
Is presumed that the information was
desired In selecting a suitable location
Tor the monument to the first Presi-
dent OF the United States, the presen-
tati9n OF which on the part of the
Old Dominion has met with widespread
people.
The Houdon statue. made from life
itol in Richmond in 1896. is made
ire, from , eSae. m e eaken 6y
ton, six feet two inches high. The
base Is four feet six inches I'm height.
ma king the total height ten feet eight
Tho Houdon statue OF Washington is
regarded not only as a lifelike repre-
sentation of the subject. but has been
second most perfect piece of .statuary
In the world. Its commercial value
would be hard to estimate. but has
been roughly placed at 100000. a
small bust By Houdon OF a compare
lively unknown child sold at a recent
art a.t,, au ~ for $1,000.
:. TO PRESENT STATUE
The recent General Assembly pro-
vided for the. gift to Great Britain of
| bronze replica of the monument and
Lieutenant Governor Ellyson, Speaker
Cox and State Senator George Lath-
resentatives of Governor Stuart, TO
present the statue. Formal acceptance
of the gift on the part Of the British
thranDh a n
Channels at @ashinstosn n o''''"'A'''
In l7s4 the virginia Legislature di-
I!ngton be placed in the Capitol at Rich
nond. This was five years before
Washington became President of the
United States. and was in recognition
OF the Continental armies during the
Revolutionary War. Thomas Jefferson
and BENJAMIN Franklin were then. in
the artist. They chose iioudon. of
whom jefferson wrote to the Legis-
lature: He (Houdon) is the first
ton: He comes now for the purpose
OF lending the aid of his art 10 transmit
YT1 DO pos Mani;
SKETCHES FROM LIFE,
Houdon sailed from Paris in 1855. and
arrived at Mt. Vernon October 3. lie
and sketches from life until the fol-
lowing January. when he returned 10
france. The statue was completed in
1855, but was detained in Paris until
| the State Capitol was completed, and
did not reach Richmond until 1896
Houdon received for his work 1000
English guincas, or about s5,250 his
expenses to and from Virginia. and
the cost of his life Insurance for what
was then regarded as a hazardous "trip.
Remhrant Peale. the artist, who knew
Washington and painted his portrait
came TO Richmond in 1856 especially
70 see the Houdon statue. and said of
1t: Now, IL you will stand in the
southeast corner of the .rotunda and
/ look at the statue level with IT.
you may we'll think you are beholding
] Washington himself. That is the man
| sir. exactly" Some critics have com
! planned that the forehead was a shade
| too much depressed, but in every other
respect the statue has won the praise
/ OF critics OF this country and Europe
] 1t is the only statue OF Washington
extant made from life. the statue OF
Washington by Canova. the property
| of the State of North Carolina, having
been destroyed by fire many years ago
= bronze replica was presented by the
State of Virginia some years ago TO the
Republic OF France. and copy has
been erected In the Hall OF Fame a,
Washington. Tho recent session of the
General Assembly made an arrange
ment by which further copies could
| be made and sold. with the consea,
OF the Governor. from forms or moulds
already taken from the original statue