Evening star., 1941-02-16

February 3, 1876, The Star called at
tention to this legislation and sug-
gested that it was eminently proper
to make every recurring 22d of Feb
ruary day to be generally observed
by the American people.
But it was not until 1879 that
Congress made February % a legal
holiday in the District of Columbia,
and even then it was not to begin
until the following year, 1880.
Notable Tribute.
Following the celebration of 1900,
recorded by Mrs. Thornton, as before
referred to, the next notable tribute
extended to the memory of this great
man, in this city, was the bringing
here, in 1841, of the statue of Gen.
Washington, the work of Horatio
Greenough of Massachusetts.
The statue was provided for by an
act of Congress, passed July 4, 1882,
and the contract given to Green
ough, then but q years of age. He
was the son of a Well-to-do mer-
chant in Boston, where he was born
September 6, 1905, and his father
gave him good education, conclud-
ing with a course at Harvard Uni
verSity. However, it does not appear
that there was ever any formal ac-
ceptance of this statue, or any serv-
ices conducted in connection with 1t
the year it arrived here or subse-
quently.
Today this statue rests in the
chapel, or west end, of the Smithso-
nian Institution, to which building
it was brought in 1908. AS to the
sculptor, we are told that he had
natural talents and early began to
carve figures in chalk without pre-
vious instruction. Soon, however,
Solomon Ward of Boston gave him
some instruction in modelling in
clay, and Alpheus Cary, stone
cutter, gave him an idea in the
carving of marble, and his artistic
skill was further developed by a
French sculptor named Binon, then
residing in Boston. In 1927 Green
ough took up his residence in Flor
ence, and there the statue was made,
and with much difficulty taken to
Leghorn for shipment to this coun-
try.
At this time it was of considerable
bulk, being 10 feet 6 inches in length
and 10 feet 6 inches in height, 6
feet in width and weighing nearly
20 tons. Conveying 1t from Flor
ence to Leghorn, where it was put
aboard the ship Sea, Capt. Delano
Ca familiar name nowadays had
his difficulties, for much damage
was done to the trees along the
highway between the two places, for
which an allowance in money was
made.
Moved by Boat.
However, it finally arrived in this
country, where further problem in
handling the great bulk of 20 tons
had to be met. 1t was brought by
boat up the Eastern Branch to the
mouth of the city canal, thence
along that waterway to Maryland
avenue, and, placed on a platform,
was drawn by means of capstans
to the Capitol In due time it was
placed in the rotunda, where it re-
ceived all sorts of adverse criticisms,
such as "the distinguished citizen
without shirt" "the Father of His
Country about to take BATH" ''the
Roman George Washington" etc.
Indeed, it received little favorable
comment, and in 1874 Congress
directed that it be removed to the
grounds to the east front of the
Capitol with the proviso that it be
inclosed in a temporary building.
1t had cost the Government up to
the time it was placed in the Capitol
$4,000, which included sculptor's
work, freight removals and at
tendant expenses. OF this, $4,000
was for transportation from the
Washington Navy Yard to the ro-
tunda in the Capitol, about l mile.
In 1847 the temporary structure sur
rounding it was removed and an
iron railing installed at further
cost of $1,000, and it is in this con-
dition that 1t is recalled by the early
Washingtonian
The next memorial erected to the