Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-12
LOCAL SCULPTOR
ACHIEVES SUCCESS
Eugene Hannah to Witness
dwelling of Statue of
Able de l'Epee.

Early in 1885, when Washington was
Just beginning to shed its reputation as
a city of magnificent distances and I'M
slightly ruts, Eugene Elmer Hannah, 10
years OLD, was sauntering the streets
of his native city with far look in his
eyes.
The privilege to hear was not his,
and the uncertainty of learned speech
to him, but little Eugene'S restless
hands were itching for action, and in
his mind were many ideas. Eugene
wanted to be a sculptor.
This coming August. Eugene Elmer
Hannah, SIS. product of the Kendall
School for the Deaf and a former stu
dent of Gallaudet College, will see his
dreams realized. With the sign language
virtually the predOminating mode OF
expression, in the presence of dignitaries
from the French embassy and some
1000 deaf delegates expected to assem-
bic in Buffalo during the third worlds
congress of the deaf, will be unveiled
the statue of Able de lEpee, one of the
most celebrated benefactors of the deaf,
sculptured in 1929 in Paris by Eugene
Elmer Hannah.
Statue Bespeaks Success.
This statue bespeaks Humans great
est success as a sculptor. Into this
masterpiece he poured forth his whole
heart and soul, and in Buffalo, where
the worlds congress will be sponsored
by the National Association of the
Deaf celebrating its golden jubilee, the
story will be told of how Hannah out
distanced his eight other distinguished
European deaf sculptorS. including those
from Bulgaria, Spain, Russia and
France, in a competitive bid for the
nrootfn1 of the efof11a nf
Able de lEpee.
It was no easy job to perfect this
statue for owing to the excessive mod
esty and Self-effacement OF the dis
tinguished Able, no likeness of him
could be found. Mindful OF RembraEdtS
propensity to use himself as a model in
perturbation of prototypes of an artist,
Eugene Hannah was inspired to hit
upon an ingenious device. He contriyed
to pattern the looks of Able de lEpee
after his own, with, however, certain
deviationS where the principle of art
demanded classical physiognomy. This
Hannah accomplished by watching his
face in the mirror while his chisel was
magically Transforming crude marble
into a finished product.
Son of a we'll known local plumbing
contractor in the late eighties, Eugene
Hannah enrolled at the Kendall School
in 1884, going 10 years later to the
LIE Couteulx Institution for the Deaf in
Buffalo. on which grounds the statue OF
Able de lEpee will be erected. Twelve
months afterward Eugene was trans
ferred to the St. Johns Institute in
Milwaukee, where he first learned the
art of wood carving.
From Milwaukee Hannah came here
10 Gallaudet, where he remained for
one year. Eugene attended Corcoran
Art School for three years.
Chicago School Lures Him.
The art school in Chicago next lured
the rising deaf mute. Two years there
suficed for Mr.. Hannah, who next
Joined the Art Student League of New
York City. From this day he was to
encounter many famous artists and
sculptors. At different times he was
employed by Gutzon Borglum, Herman
MacNeil and Richard E. Brooks, and
he was also associated with Leo Fried
lander. noted for his exterior sculptural
embellishments on the United States
Chamber of Commerce Building.
Then Hannah sailed for Europe,
studying and sculpturing in Spain,
Portugal. Italy and France. When he
returned home he was offered a posi-
ton with the National Museum and de-
tailed on special exhibits, charging Of
models of statues, medallions and busts.
Later he was identified with Richard
Brooks in his studio, first in Washing
ton and later in Boston.
There is one particular thing over
which the sculptor delights to REM
inisce, and that is that DR.. Edward
Miner Gallaudet, founder of the only
college for the deaf in the world, Who.
while refusing to pose for any one else.
succumbed to the wiles of Sculptor
Hannah. Five times for one hour each
did DR.. Gallaudet agree to sit for Han
nan while the latter toiled over the
statuette now to be found in Chapel
Hall at Gallaudet.
It was Eugene Humans rare good
fortune to be employed by Gutzon Bor-
glum during the latter's sculpturing of
the statue of Gen. Philip Sheridan.
found today in the Enclosure of the
circle in this city named after the IL
lustrious Civil War strategist.
While in Spain Hannah was intro
duced to two famous deaf Madrid
brother portrait painters, the De Zubi-
arres. One of them was pleased by
Humans appearance, and this admira-
ton eliminated in the painting in oil
of a Hannah portrait, said to be worth
$4,000. This portrait still hangs in the
Hannah home on Adams Mill road.
While abroad Hannah came more
greatly to appreciate the romantic story
of Able de l'Epee and his altruistic &C
NlflIlSS III DClldl1 VI LllC dCdI. IlC dDDC
obtained Just celebrity throughout the
world for founding out of his own
means the first school for the deaf in
France. To this shrine Thomas Hop
kins Gallaudet, the American educator
and investigator, 80 years later wendell
his way to procure new ideas and in
formation.
Successor Proves HospitabIe.
When Gallaudet arrived the venera-
bic able was not living, but in keeping
with the tradition of benevolence set by
Able de l'Epee, his equally distinguished
successor, Able Sicard, gave the Ameri-
can visitor cordial welcome and new
ideas and information connected with
the education of the deaf.
In addition to putting at the disposal
of Dr. Gallaudet the method of in
structing the deaf developed and per-
fected by Able de lEpee, the Ameri-
can was allowed to take back with him
the most brilliant deaf pupil of the
Paris institution, Laurent Clerc. This
young man for years was most valued
asset to the pioneer Hartford School
and taught his pupils at the Hartford
School as few ever have before and
after.
Able Charles Michel de TEpee was
born at Versailles, France, in 1712. He
started to study for priesthood, but
when ready to take his orders was dis
qualified because of his JanSeniSt opin-
ions, reputedly heretical to strict Cath
olicity. He went to live in retirement in
Paris, and having few years previous
~ been admitted to the bar became an
attorney.
About 1765 an important episode took
place which changed the destiny OF
the deaf race A tiny incident prompt
ed De rEpee to return to a life of an
ecclesiast1c. He became a priest and