The Washington herald., 1921-04-29

"Christus de Profundis" movement
one is certain that there are sculp.
tors. artists in carving, "unhonored
unknown and unsung."
Mr.. Kelly is stopping at the
Powhatan and when interviewed
there told the story of the Christ
face" that has commanded the ad,
miration of all who have seen it,
particularly of connoisseurs in the
art of carving. 1t is a story that
reads more like a romance-thai
thrills the blood of the hearer.
MARVELLOUS CARVING
MADE ON A BEAN,
"Christus de Profundis"-Christ
out of the depths, to render 1t in
the vernacular. is carved on a bean
and yet in many ways is the most
captivating of any of the repre-
sentations of the lowk Nazarene.
But strangest of all, as Mr.. Kelly
explained. this carving of the Son
Of Man, who died on the Cross. was
made by one who died on the
gaHows.
Who was the artist and for what
crime did he lose his life?" the re-
porter asked Mr.. Kelly.
The name of the man Is un-
known" replied Mr.. Kelly. "All
that we know is that in 1895 a man
awaited the death punishment in
the cell Of prison of Guatemala.
This man was to pay for a crime
unknown-if there was a crime.
AS far as is known. this man had
never been anything except an ev-
cry day, ordinary person.
His days in prison gave no ev,-
dence that he was doing anything
else than awaiting his doom. How
ever before being led to execution,
ne presented the carving to his
family"
GAVE 1T As LAST MESSAGE
ON WAY TO GALLOws.
Didn't he make any statement at
the time?" Mr.. Kelly was asked
Yes, 1t consisted of two brief
sentences. As he handed the pack
age containing the bean, he re-
marked. I have nothing to saw.
rhis, pointing to the package, is
my last message
How is it," asked the reporter.
tnat It took twenty-five years
oefore this masterpiece was re-
Vealed to the world?"
The reason is simple" REPLIED
Mr.. Kelly. The family of the dead
prisoner. unversed in art values
kept the carving more as a treas
ured memoir than as a work of art
The family were in need of lifting
the debt from their home when they
onered 1t 70 the man who held the
mortgage on their home.
The carving changed hands sew
era times without the general pub
Tic becoming informed of its exist
ence. 1t finally came into the DOS
session OF Miss Nordstrom of New
YORK, who was herself then in A.
nancial difficulties.
USED TO TIDE OVER
FINANCIAL CRISIS.
She felt intuitiveIy that II was
OF sufficient commercial value to
procure loan which would remedy
her financial troubles. At the same
time she held her treasure far too
dear to risk the possible chance of
parting with it permanently. And
it was in this way. she turned to
her most intimate friend, Mrs. H.
Willis McFadden, of New York
City"
Was this Mrs. McFadden an art
ist?"
NO" replied Mr.. Kelly. But the
face of Christ as depicted by the in
spired fingers and mind of the un-
known creator caught the eyes of
Mrs. McFadden only to grip them
as no other. painter, carver, or
sculptor of human face had ever
done previously. Mrs. McFadden
broke three engagements that after
noon in her quest of some one
versed in art who might give an
authoritative verdict on the carving.
Finally she showed it to the late
Bishop Burch."
who named it?" Mr.. Kelly was
asked.
BEST HEAD OF CHRIST
WORLD EVER KNEW
1T was Bishop Burch himself
He declared it the most satisfying
portrayal of Christ's face that the
world had ever known. 'Christus
de Profundis,' he christened it; and
because It shows, as nothing has
ever done before, Christ from out
of the Depths, the name has clung
and will ever remain"
Have any sculptors seen it?"
"Certainly. The statement Of
Frederic MacMonnies, the noted
hn toll r
average of their general verdicts.
The little head is God-like and in
fnitely tender and appealing in its
agony Macmonnies declared. The
master sculptor who made 1t must
have come through a life drenched
in sorrow, to be able to carve this
soul of suffering"
To the question as to what dis
position would be made Of the mas
terpiece, Mr.. Kelly declared that
hundreds have suggested the
Auilding of a beautiful shrine to,
house 1t, so that 1t can be kept on
permanent exhibition for the benefit
of all mankind. This 1t is planned
to do. Three New York architects
have already submitted suggestions
as to the type of shrine which
would be appropriate for housing
'Christus de Profundis.'
This Is my last message OBJ
served the man. treading his way to
the gallows. 1t bids fair to remain
a message that will inspire the chill
dren of men as long as civilization
shall not have completely vanished
from among them"
Patent Reform Bill
Comes Up Next Week