Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-01-30
" 7 He SPIRTT OF THE
AMERICAN DOUGHBO Y"
AMEkCUS MAN
DESIGNS MODEL.
FOR STATUE
Work Of Viquesney
Would Immortalize
i. S. Fighters

One of the most notable war
statues recently designed has Just
been completed by E. M. Viquesney,
Americ0s man. whose work has al
ready won for him commendation
among large number If artists, not
only III Georgia, but throughout the
nation The statue is entitled "The
Spirit of the American Doughboy,"
and a reproduction of the design is
printed herewith. 1t is said that the
statue has been pronounced one of
the most authentic and perfectly mod
elIed statues Of World War soldier
yet produced.
Mr. Vlquesney, creator of the sta
tue, has been a resident of Americas
during Is years and is among the
best known residents of this com
munity. He comes from line Of
French artists, his father having been
craftsman and designer of reputa-
ton, as was also his grandfather, in
France. Only in recent years has the
creator of this statue entered the
ranks OF statuary designers, and The
Spirit OF the American Doughboy"
stamps hilA as being an artist Of abil-
ity, worthy TO rank with other artists
III his line in the. United States.
+ is the plan Of Viquesney to adj
Vertise "Fhe Spirit of The American
Doughboy2 nationally and introduce
it into every county in the United
States as the only absolutely perfect
ly equipped and historically correct
example Of what the United States
infantry soldier was, and stood for,
in the world war He IS now engag
ed in establishing a connection with
a leading American bronze manufac-
turer to manufacture these statues,
and it is planned to furnish small
models Of a size suitable for home
or Offices The idea is to place one
Ut theGe cmaller models III every
school, soldiers home and meeting
place Of the American Legion in the
United States. The statue, decora-
tive and attractive in every position
in -wh1oh aC may be viewed, would be
an unique addition to any school. in
that it would be q constant object
lesson, accurately showing the meth
DDS Of warfare, and the exact equip
ment used during the World War.
Describing the creati0n of the sta
tue, Mr.. Viquesney says that at first
the right hand carried the gun and
the left hand was empty, but that
further thought and study convinced
him that in order to show to future
generations what the American
doUghboy was up against, this should
be changed He then changed the
gun to the left hand and placed in
the raised right hand hand grenade.
The complete statute was shown by
its creator to a returned soldier who
had been wounded three time in 60
ing lover the top" for his approval
before any of his sketches were made
public. This soldier returned the
design to Mr.. ViQuesney, accompan-
led with a photograph of himself in
full equipment, this serving to show
some final details which had been
overlooked by the artist. When these
details had been inserted in the dc
sign, the statue was finally approved,
being pronounced by its early critics
the "most perfectly and automatically
equipped soldier statue ever seen"
Discussing his qualification at the
reception given his work of art, Mr..
Viquesney said yesterday:
Altogether, l have devoted time
from two years work to this statue,
and l want to say that it has been
one of the most interesting studies
l have ever undertaken. If l have
succeeded in giving to the nation
something that will typify to future
generations what the soldiers of the |
World War represented, then | shall
not have worked in vain. The work