Evening star., 1925-03-03


, no ono else could see within its gray
grandeur
r x X
Nine years OF labor is beginning to
bring to the vision of awed beholders
the mystic Army, headed by the figure
of Gen. Robert E. Lee, 165 feet tall
from his cap to his horses hoof.
There are the other leaders, in pro-
portion, and that carved granite will
last million years, according to tho
sculptor. There march the cavalry
and the artillery as though coming
over the silhouette Of stone-a mile
long and 500 feet high.
The local idea, before calling in the
famous sculptor, was that upon the
granite side Of the mountain might
be carved a head of Gen. Lee; that
was all. Mr.. Borglum declares that
It would have been as impressive as
dime upon the side of stone wall
He alone saw the possibilities, the
vision Of the Lost Cause marching
giganticaliy down the centuries.
He alone has the right to his own
dream, according to his claim and the
arguments of lawyers. For not even
his lawyer opponents allege that he
specifically sold his rights IN the
terms OF his contract. though they
argue. perhaps under the common
law or equity, general claim thereto.
x X x
At the risk OF being misunderstood
as dropping from the sublime to the
ridiculous" 1t is proper to cite the
records and decision of the New York
Court of Appeals as to the ownership
of an art design, as set forth in the
case of Mutt and jeff" Surely IL Is
supererogation to explain that no
similitude lies between the Borglum
-
but there does seem to be a parallel
in the legal aspects of the case.
Harry G. Fisher originated the
Mutt and JEFF" comic cartoons, and
was under contract to supply them
for three years exclusively to a New
York paper. Shortly before the con-
tract expired he entered into a con-
tract (to take effect after the termi-
nation of the original agreementl
whereby a syndicate would sell his
Mutt and JEFF" comics. The news
paper thereupon employed another
cartoonist to initiate the original
Mutt and JEFF" pictures. Fisher was
accorded an Injunction against the
other artist. Gam. Law Reports: An
notated; Vol 19). Annexation: THAT
an artistic or literary conception, IL
put in concrete form, is property. and
as much entitled to protection against
unfair competition as any other prop
erty." Similar rulings have been ap-'
piled in protecting "Billiken" and
Buster Brown"
VIII not the Stone Mountain group
receive the same protection in law as
have the comics?
*% X <
VIII not tho nobility of the great
figures OF the Borglum group have
their influence upon the beholders'
Ph y-o ~ M
Washington Irving depicted in the
Great Stone Face? True, the Great
Stone Face failed to affect the char
acter of Mr.. Gathergold or of Mr.. Old
Blood and-Thunder, or that would-be
President, Mr.. Old Stony Phiz. But
Ernst, who had looked all his life for
the human being who would come as
a prophet, with the likeness of the
kind and benignant Old Stony Face,
and who read the poetry of love for
his fellow men, received as his guest
the wayfarer poet. When he told ths
stranger OF his hopes, Ernst was pro-
claimed to be, himself. the embodi-
ment of the spirit of that Great Stone
Face whose expression of nobility
had unconsciously nodded his char.
acter.
Surely It needs no Washington Ir-
wing to tell that story a hundred
years---a million years-after the
Borglum statues, look down from
Stone Mountain.
But how can that be until the gran
ite which yet encases the dream shall
be cut away? Even Michelangelos
angels were powerless until he had
finished his carving away of the en-
casing stone, for the tormentfng Pope
dared not call another to complete
the releasing of the Masters dream.
He recalled the discharged and fiee-
ing Master.
lCoDyrixht. 1875. By Pau Z. CoHiAsSa