Evening star., 1926-11-04
FREEDOM STATUES;
HISTORY RELATED
John CIagett Proctor Tells
Oldest Inhabitants of
Capitol Dome Work.

The story of the statue of Freedom
which surmounts the Capitol dome
was heard by members of the AsSo-
citation OF Oldest Inhabitants last
night when John Clagett Proctor,
member. read Il paper AT the meeting
in the old fiiphouSe. Nineteenth and
II streets. J. Elliott Wright, secre-
tary, also read a paper on Civil War
day "reminiscences. in which he de-
Scribed the stampede of Union sol
tiiers" into Washington and Of the
Tear residents al that time had OF
Stonewall jackson. the Confederate
general.
According to Mr. Proctors paper,
the statue of Freedom was designed
by Thomas Crawford. who made some
changes in his original creation to
conform with the suggestions made by
Jefferson Davis. at that time Secre-
tary of War and later President of
the Confederate States. Crawford
originally had. the figure Of his
Armed Liberty" wearing a cap, but
Alr. Davis suggested q helmet OF
this he wrote to capt. Montgomery c.
Afeigs:
Why should not armed Liberty
wear a helmet? Her conflict being
over. her cause triumphant, as shown
hr the other emblcms Of the statue,
the visor would be up so as to per-
NIT. as in the photograph, the dis
play of ii circle Of stars-eXpresSivc
Of endless existence and of heavenly
BIRTH
Change Modelled In.
crawford, ii appeared, was enthu-
SiaStic over Mr.. Davis suggestion and
promptly modelled in the changes.
When at last the plaster models were
completed, NJ. Proctor told his fellow
members, they were transported to
the foundry of Clark Mills near
Bladensburg, where they were cast in
bronze. Crawford. however. did not
live to see his finished creation. for
lie died in London in 1851, six years
before the statue was placed upon
the dome of the Capitol.
Mr.. Proctor told the association that
III the National Museum is displayed
;tS AN exhibit the plaster model from
which the bronze was cast. In re-
tntation of the doubt that the plaster
and the bronze on the dome are identi-
cal, he showed photographs of the
two figures which reveal them to be
exactly alike. The plaster figure was
at one time displayed in the Capitol
and later taken apart and stored in the
basement Of that Building. In 1890 ii
WAS removed to the museum, at which
time several projecting parts were
broken off. These, however, We're
easily remodeled by II sculptor, 50 that
q complete and acurate restoration OF
the original was made.
While Crawford first called his
creation ARMED Liberty" it later
became known as Freedom" it's
present title, and records show that as
carly as 1860. Mr.. Proctor said. the
Government officials. referred to il by
Its present name.
Mr.. Wright told Of his boyhood
during the civil War. and recalled
many interesting Incidents of that
period. He recalled the review of
Gen. BurnsideS troops in Is street,
near Fourth and Fifth streets, and the
encampmcnt of that outfit in Ecking-
ton.
Rare Volume Presented.
tGienry l.. Bryan. vice president,
presented the association with little
volume of the. -hfoesediififgas! 1Df the
City's aldermen in 1920 and 1921, in
which was noted the passage of "an
act for the relief of Francis $. Key
for his services to his Government as
Its representative.
-"rhc Marble Saloon" located at
Pennsylvania avenue and G street.
was recalled by Washington Topham
ana also 10y Mr.. Bryan. both of whom
declared that during the city's flood
period, ii was popular to judge the
extent of the flood by the waters
height on the walls Of the basement
saloon.
Theodore w. Noyes, president of the
association. presided over the meeting
last night for the first time since his
return from recent travel in Europe
At the request of Mr.. Bryan to say
a few words. Mr.. Noyes declared
that the strongest impression upon
the average American in Europe lis
one Of great JOY that conditions that
ere there are not duplicated here"
Mr.. Moves declared that such joy
should not be expressed in "a holier
than thou spirit. but in a spirit of
profound. devout and grateful thank
fulneSs. lie said, TOO. ;hat he was inn
pressed with the fight Europe is MAX
Ing ITO eXtricate itself from the mire
of war
During The brief business session
four new members We're unanimously
elected. They are Charles Moore.
Frederick l.. lIarries, Mason DuVall
bnd Samuel Altman.
Bike-Airplane Perfected.