The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-10-27
Immigrant Artist .DevOtes His
Whole Career to Hero Who
Captures His Love and Chal-
lenged His Skill in 1898

New York, Oct. 27.-(NEA)-
Young and impressionable but re-
solved to chisel himself a niche in
Americas Hall of Fame was Vim
cenzo Misercndino, immigrant Ital-
ian sculptor. when he arrived in
New York from the land of his
birth.
He cast a critical eye over pos
sible subject matter for his artis-
try, and decided at once to hitch
his wagon to star. The star Wa
Theodore Roosevelt, then in COM
mand Of the Rough Rider,
Back From Cuba
When "Teddy" returned. in tri-
umph from Cuba the young sculp-
tor was one of the 1iuzya.ling thou
sands who acclaimed him.
Miserendino felt an artists ex-
altation. II knew" he replied, Il
had found subject that would ever
challenge my skill. ! knew, too.
He has been doing sculptures of
and my love never would wane."
He has been doing sculptures Of
Roosevelt ever since.
One image after anot..e. of the
man who captured his imagination
has been fashioned by the artist.
Every time he completes new
one, he feels he has come a little
closer to his final goal. That goal
is to create q statue Of Roosevelt
that will be as perfect in sculptural
attainment as the Venus de Milo
or the Winged Victory one that
portrays to the fullests all the
Roosevelt fineness of character,
personality. courage, and vital
force.
And Only Then!
If it ever is achieved, Miscren-
dino will consider his work finished.
Through the years his love for
Roosevelt has been as a whip and
spur, ever urging him to loftier
heights.
"For Roosevelt" said. Misercn-
dino, II have now and have always
had a spiritual love - passion
that is all-consuming. They call
him dead, but for me he lives on
and on.
"What a wonderful face to por-
tray! The greatness of the man
consisted in centralized philosophic
genius, big enough to absorb the
painful vibrations of his inferior
forces. The.ein lay his might.
"When Roosevelt spoke OH SUBJ
jects vitality important to him -
his home, his people, his country
he became totally oblivious of all
external influences. He was as a
human dynamo.
At Carnegie Hall
II recall q speech that he made
one night at Carnegie Hall, in
New York. A previous speaker had
made =. brief address which con-
tained several passages the Colonel
thought detrimental to American
ideals.
"By Jove! How he tore into
that gentleman when he took the
floor! Fire flashed from his eyes;
his voice doomed to the innermost
recesses Of the hall. And. finally,
to emphasize his point, the Colonel
strobe over to the other speaker
and shook his fist in his face" ;.
1t is q strange circumstance of
this idealistic friendship that Mis-
erendino never sought to shake
Roosevelt's hand or talk to him.
Never Asked Pose
ITO see him from afar and to
hear him was sufficient" explained
the sculptor, simply. II never felt
could ask him to pose for me.
did not want 70 monopolize his
time even for an instant. It was
too. valuable"
During Roosevelt's life, Miseren-
dino lost no opportunity to see
him in action. He studied his
facial expressions under divers cir
On one occasion when
the Colonel delivered an address in
Madison Square Garden, the sculp-
tor, who was within q few feet Of
the orator, stuffed him so intently
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