Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-15
PAINTER OF WAR PICTURES
N0NFW|TH FRENCH ARMY
Completion of Confederate Memorial
Institute May Be Greatly
Delayed.
OPEN DURING NEXT REUNION
Confederate Veterans Who Come
Here in Nlny Will Inspect Great
Battle Abbey, Though Not Fully
Ready for Public Use.

stayed the completion OF the great
work OF art designed by the people of
the new South to commemorate the
deeds OF their fathers, who fought four
long years for the Lost Cause" While
Charles fioffbauor. the noted French
painter Is fighting under the tri-color.
the final stages OF tho work on the
Confederate Memorial Institute-bet-
ter known as the Battle Abbey can,
not he completed, and the handsome
building remains closed to tito public.
In the Confederate Memorial Insti-
tute. Richmond will have another at
traction which will not only he the
pride Of Its citizens, but will be the
Mecca of thousands of visitors. from
both the North and the South. The
building has been fully completed, and
the grounds around 1t are already tho
best example Of the art OF tho land
scape gardener to be found In this
section, but tho great mural paintings
by which the deeds OF the brave
Confederate soldier are to be immor-
talized-lnust walt the end of the IT,
tanic struggle now under way, and
should bullet find It's marle In rho
brush to take UP the sword, the whole
OF the work. which has already taken
more than year, will go for naught
No other man could carry out the de-
signs. which. though uncomplcted. are
things OF beauty now.
Will WI NE READY FON lSE
FOR MORE THAN a YEAR
There is no possibility that tho
building Will be ready for the use Of
visitors for more than a year at the
least, but It has been decided to throw
II open for the inspection OF the pub
lie during tho Confederate reunion
next May. The invaluable relics will
not be on display. but general idea
OF the immennity of the undertaking
Will be given. Every effort. too, will
be made to get the grounds fully com :
plcted. and the shrubbery all planted
and in bloom for the public inspec-
tion.
The conception OF this memorial
building had Its origin In the big brain
and larger heart OF Charles Broadway
Rouss, who for four years was a pri-
yate In one OF the noted cavalry rcgi-
ments OF the Army of Northern Vir-
Gtnia. In 1906, at the annual Confed
crate Reunion at Houston, Texas, that
he made his first formal proposal to
give 100000 for euch structure, pro-
vidins the people of the South con-
tribu,ed like amount "A committee
of fourteen was appointed to take up
The matter. hut many announcements
were met with. and. for several years
the proposition drifted aimfcssly. None
of the original committeeman Is now
living.
Finally. however. the necessary
money was raised. the city of Richmond
contributing $4,000. and, after much
discussion. Richmond, the capital. of
the Confcderacy. waB designated as the
location for the memorial 1t was
recognized as the logical place or'the
building. but more trouble was ca-
-perienced In selecting a suitable site.
AT last q proposal was made that tho
building be erected on a part OF the
properly of II, L. Lee Camp. Soldiers
Hons owned by the State OF Virginia.
and the suggestion met with approval
OF SIMPLE. BUT
IMPOSING, ARCHITECTURE
Designs for the building were finally
agreed upon, and the construction work
began. The institute is built of Indiana
sandstone. and sits on a ten-foot ter
race, In the centre OF nve and one
half.acre plot. The building is Of
simple, but imposing. architecture. the
whole idea leaning toward an impress
sive simplicity. The structure faces
on the Boulevard The front. whichSfs
of extremely severe design. is relieved
by n mammoth entrance faced by four
marble columns. There are narrow
loophole windows on either side of the
entrance. for ornamental purposes
only, as the lighting comes from big
skylights on the roof. There are heavy
bronze doors for the entrance Around
the front and on either side Of the
with an artistic guard Of the same ma
terIal. Steps lead up to it from the
base Of the terrace.
The Interior will be most attractive.
The south wing will be known as
Memorial Hall. On it's walls will be
the handsome mural paintings by NIT.
Honbauer, which depict the various
branches OF the Confederate service.
A number OF panels will also be deco
rated with paintings illustrating
scenes. in the Confederate navy.
Among the various designs Will APP
near figures of the most INDUSTRIOUS
general and leaders in the Lost
Cause"
PAINTINGS Donated BY
THOMAS r. RYAN
The cost OF these paintings is to be
borne by Thomas Fortune Ryan. and
will BIO in addition to the 100000 con-
tributed for the building. The contract
was let to Mr.. Hofbauer In competition
with some of the most noted artists IN
the world. The work was started near
~ two years ago. but the designer
was taken III In the summer OF 1913,
and for nearly two months has been
in the armies Of France.
In the north wing Of the building,
which is designed as a library. will be
the choicest collection of literary mat
ter concerning the South to be found
anywhere. Tho library has been COM
pleted, and many rare volumes now
occupy the shelves. Handsome cases
of quartercd oak have been installed,
and It is really the only part of the
building ready for inspection. 1t Is, the
aim Of the Confederate Memorial In
stitute committee to make this the
most valuable reference library on
Confederate and Southern history in
the country. /.
Much time and money has been spent
81 t,.1.N ,nf,fu
ing. The association proposes to make
the grounds a part Of the. memorial,
and to this end have already spent
more than $4,000, and 1t is now the
most beautiful park In the city.
GROUNDS ARE TO BE
MADE PROMINENT FEATURE
Thousands Of plants and flowers. i'm
ported from France and other coun-
tries, have been set out One of the
biggest features of the park is the
Court of Honor, In the rear Of the
building Walks and concrete drive