Evening star., 1920-02-01
Notes of Art and Artists

Two new statues of notable char
acter and interest are to be erected
in Washington before many months
One is a portrait statue OF AleXan-
der Hamilton. by James f. Fraser
the other is an equestrian statue OF
Asbury. the great Methodist circuit
rider by Augustus Lukeman.
The Hamilton is to be erected
south of the Treasury. most MT
ting site for the great financier.
The Asbury is to be placed in tri-
angular reservation at the junction
of 18th and Mount Pleasant streets.
. Neither Mr. Fraser nor Mr.. Luke
man is represented IN ashlngton'
to note that both of these statues
are of civilians
The Asbury represe nts the pioneer
preacher. in cloak and hat. hrmiy
seated upon the horse. whlch mas
not only carried him many miles.
but is his true companion. and there
is a suggestion of this relationship
between man and beast in the attl-
tude of the horse and the rider
Though quite Different in character,
the sketch model of the Asoury
brings TO mind Saint-Ga udens statue
of the Puritan. in Springfield. whlcn
is a monument not to an indlNidoai
but to character and to a type OF
manhood from which some OF our
best American traits have been de-
rived: it is. indeed, a monument TO
nrinciple. The circuit rider. like
wise. had his place in the making
Of American history. and it is Well
that he should be tittingly MEMORIAL
lied here at our National Capital
The Hamilton, being a simple por-
trait statue has less picturesque pos
sibilities. but Mr.. Fraser, ike VT.
Nacmonnies and Mr.. Saint nt-Gaudehs
and Mr.. French. has been able 10 m
1erpret masculine attire in such man
ner that one forgets its homeliness
The fine, outstanding figure of liam
iIton carries with il an impression
of youth. vitality and Hgor ana
shows what manner or man II was
that helped to formulate the SOUND
financial policies of our great re-
public in it's infancy. There is some
thing stirring in this statue Whlch
appeals to patriotism and ampltlon
and which promises memorial
which shall prove an Inspiration 10
future generations.
Mr. Fraser was the sculptor chosen
tv the Commission of Fine Arts TO
model the victory medal. He has
lately completed a work in sculpture
memoriaIizing the aviator, which has
been pronounced of extraordinary
merit, and he has made portrait busts
and medallion likenesses of chiidren
Of both charm and unusual artistic
worth.
Canada has recently appropriated
an enormous sum for the erection OF
memorials on French battlehelds In
honor of the Canadians who gave
their lives in the great war. SO Tar
no definite steps have been taken by
our country to erect national war
memorials either in this country or
on the fields of honor in France. There
is, of course, ample time and every
reason why decision should not De
FASTENED, but ii should not be forgot
ten and ii will not be.
Many of the cities and towns as
well as organizations and institutions
throughout the United states have
memorials IT is reported that over
500 of these will be community houses
of one sort or another. Many more
will take the form of bronze tablets.
In a few instances fiagstaffs have been
chosen as a worthy type of memorial
So far but few ambitious memorials
of a monumental type have apparently
been determined upon.
The American Federation OF arts
nearly year ago appointed special
committee on war memorials, with
Charles Moore. chairman of the Fed
eraI Commission of Fine Arts, as Its
chairman. This committee issued a
circular of suggestions, supplemented
hy two special issues of the American
Magazine of Art, devoted to the sub
ject of war memorials. These have
been widely distributed throughout
the country and hundreds of letters
from those desiring to erect memo
rials have come to the main office
asking counsel. Regional committees