The Washington times., 1921-10-30
Farm Boy, MachiniSt-
Tramp, Wins PlauditS
OF European Critics
by Rema arkable
Achievements i'm
Marble and Bronze.
By VICTOR FLAMBEAU.
(Copyright)


F" limitation OF armaments
convenes In Washington on
Armistice Day, the ambassadors
from the ends OF the earth hurry to
Uncle Sans national city. each In
tent upon delivering his particular
communication to the great peace
parley. there will arrive also from
the Far West an American with .
momentous message.
But his will not be an address.
though he is an accomplished speaker
and writer. No, this American, .
sculptor. whose work is known In q
dozen galleries in Europe. will en-
ploy the silent, though eloquent. me-
dunn of his craft-clay. marble.
bronze.
And David Edstrom's message VIII
be one that may endure long after
the empty echoes Of mere words are
still.
"Man Triumphant" is the subject
of the dramatic sculpturh compost
ton to be then exhibited in Wash
ington for the first time-three IT,
tanic human figures grappled In .
life-and-death encounter with an i'm
mense and writhing serpent, which
the struggling men will at last over
come, though 1t seeks to strangle
and devour them.
RAN AWAY
FROM HOME.
This plastic group typifies the pro-
gress Of mankind throughout the
ages. every mans individual effort
to overcome the elemental forces OF
nature, forces within as well as
without, forces Of evil that seek to
hold him back in his age-long effort
to rise--a combat typical Of this very
sculptor. who has produced the strik-
ing work, and who has through the
greatest difficulties and sacrifices
risen from obscurity to worldwide
recognition.
For David Edstrom. who has the
past year been so actively identified
with the new movement for the city
beautiful In Los Angeles, and with
art interests throughout California,
began in poverty in the middle
West, where at twenty-one he was
workingman in a packing plant.
He ran away and started on the
art career which has led him by
such strange pathways to Man
Triumphant" humanity's fight for
ideals, the spirit Of world disarma-
ment.
The scene Is Ottumwa, Iowa, and
the time is a summer evening some
what more than twenty years ago.
The actors are David Edstrom, mis-
mother, and Ed, a professional
tramp.
Come on, Dave! All ready calls
Ed, the tramp, with a low whistle.
"Oh, David, how can let you go!"
the voice of David Edstrom's
mother, who stood by the gate wnere
q family consultation was being held.
Gee! l wish she wouldn't feel
that way. I'll come back an artist,
this time, sure" the resolve Of
Young Edstrom, as in the guise Of a
tramp he was about to run away
from Ottumwa. Iowa, with his
errant pal, Ed Smith, the he>se'er-do-
well.
David was bound for Stockholm,
via New York, to study at the Royal
Academy there, and become
sculptor. He was twenty-one and
already in his hometown had at
tanned a certain notoriety by his ad-
ventures and prowess.
DECLARED HIMSELF
FREE FROM DRUDGERY.
"Since my thirteenth year 1 had
worked almost every day. said
Edstrom, in telling the story. THE
despotism of the o'clock whistle
had so entered my soul that such a
thing as a day l could call my own
did not exist in my consciousness"
Now, as he faced the future
after his awful declaration Of free
dom, the thought uppermost in his
mind was not fear of specific
things he had to meet. But be-
hind there had always been the
protecting arms of the factory. the
slaughter house. the railway, what
ever 1t might be to which he for
the time belonged. And then there
were his father and mother, the lit
tie home to fly to for comfort and
words OF cheer. Now 1t was fear
of the unknown.
The boy David had made the de.
cision and nothing could turn him
hack. but he quaked with a new
and more appalling fear than any
he had ever yet felt. Once before,
ri. m offactIonate married sister had