The Coolidge examiner., 1934-09-28


ing into the Slnd as whlte-xaiied vessels skip
along over the blue waves os the Atlantic
Time vas when the art of carving ships figure.
heads gave employment 10 many skilled work
men In Boston alone there were no less than
sir firms engaged almost exclusively In supplying
such emblsms That was In the old days Of the
great windiammers. when the swift Yankee clip.
per shlps were the Ereyhoands OF the ocean In
those days elaboFately carved and EaIly painted
figures OF angels and cherubs beautiful women
In flowing robes. generals In uniform. Indians 10
feathered warbonneiS and fringed garb. stern
statesmen. kings and queens and gods and god.
desSes were set beneath the bowSprin en-
blems of tradition that bad endured since nrst
men went down 10 the sea 10 ships
But when steam and steel replaced wind and
wood they took away much OF the romance OF
the old seafaring days and with II the traditional
nEurehead. To-day they are 60 iempora, o
moresF) "landlubbers" in that you are more
likely to end them In museums or set up on ped.
estals on private estates or In public parks than
you are TO and them in their proper place &, the
bow OF sea-golng vessel. They are also "eol.
leciors Items" in that they represent examples
OF so-called American primtlves" or American
folk art" sharing that distinction with such
things as cigar store Indians and cast iron deer
and dogs FOR lawn ornaments. incidentally.
when those artisans who carved ships figure
heads were thrown out OF work af the end Of
the clipper era. they turned their talents TO carv.
ing wooden Indians for the traditional sign of
the tobacco store and this helped keep their art
alive for many years) As collectors items they
frequently have a value attached TO them greater
than their makers ever could have dreamed they
would have. and as relies some OF them have
had more romantic histories than ever they had
while they were voyaglng on the waters OF the
world.
One OF the most romantic Is that OF the figure
OF Andrew Jackson which once adorned the bow
OF the U. s. s Constitution. the frigate arec.
tionaiely known TO all Americans as "Old Iron
sides" and IL was just hundred years ago. In
1884 that this hgurehead was the center OF q
bitter political row. "Old IronsldeS- had no less
than six different hgureheads during her long
and honorable career. but the Jackson figure
had by far the most interesting history.
Built in 1891. the Constitution bore nrst bust
OF Hercules. typIfylng the strength OF union and
the power OF the nation and carved by the
Skillings brothers OF Boston. renowned makers OF
ships hgureheads. But when. under the com
mand OF Commodore Richard Preble. ~old Iron
sides" sailed into the harbor OF Tripon TO at
tempt the conquest OF the Barbary pirates. the
figure OF Hercules suffered severely from the
effect OF hostile shots and II replaced by g
figure OF Neptune. said TO have been taken from
During the second administration OF Andrew
Jackson the Constitution sent 10 the
Charles Town navy yard near Boston TO be re
built and recondtioned. At that time the dis
pute over the United States bank was at It's
height and when the solid men OF Boston" heard
that Jackson had signed the order for removing
its deposits 10 s;ate banks they were furious
Their anger was increased when they learned
that l. : Beecher. famous Boston carver had
been commissioned 10 make full.length statue
OF Jackson as a hgurehead for -Old Ironsides.'
They tried to get Beecher To cease work on the
figure but he refused and feeling became SC
intense that his half-carved block OF wood wa:
removed 10 the navy yard where he finished his
work under the protection OF a guard OF marines
The Wings raised a terrific uproar over the
matter saying that no living man save perhaps
James Madison, the father OF the United States
Constitution. should be accorded the honor oil
having his image adorn the ship named for that
document and some OF the sailors around Boston
declared that placing an erigy OF lands,nan or