TO SOUTHERN VALOR

Design for Confederate Monument is Displayed.

ELICITS MUCH ADMIRATION

Work of J. Wellington Ruckstuhl of New York – To Be Erected By Daughters of the Confederacy.

At a specially called meeting of the Maryland Daughters of the Confederacy held yesterday afternoon at the Central Hall of the Young Men’s Christian Association, lantern-slide views were displayed of the design selected – subject to the approval of the Municipal Art Commission – for the Confederate monument for which the Daughters have labored so long and so faithfully.

The design was modeled by J. Wellington Ruchstuhl, of New York, and represents, as the accompanying illustration indicates, a young Confederate standard bearer, wounded unto death, but still clinging to his torn and shattered banner. He is sinking on a battlefield when Glory, descending from above and alighting beside him, supports him with her might right arm, while with her left hand she checks those who would advance to crush him by raising aloft the laurel wreath with which History will yet crown him.

Work Of The Ladies.

The design was selected by a special committee consisting of Mrs. D. Giraud Wright. president of the Maryland Daughters of the Confederacy; Mrs. John P. Poe and Mrs. Thomas Baxter Gresham, of the board of managers, who were appointed from the general committee selected by the Daughters, and made up of the members of the executive board of the society, with Mrs. G. Smith Norris representing the county chapters. The membership of the general committee was as follows:

Mrs. D. Giraud Wright, president of the Maryland Daughters of the Confederacy: Mrs. Clara Mar-shall, first vice-president; Mrs. John P. Poe, second vice-president; Mrs. E. S. Beall, treasurer; Mrs. J. Francis Dammann, registrar; Mrs. Hugh H. Lee, recording secretary; Mrs. Sam’IC. Chew, corresponding secretary. Managers-Mrs. Thomas Baxter Gresham, Mrs. B. Jones Taylor, Mrs. S. J. Hough, Mrs. McHenry Howard and Miss J. M. Cary. Representing County Chapters–Mrs. G. Smith Norris.

Design Much Admired.

Great enthusiasm was manifested by the Daughters when the different views of the model were thrown upon the screen, and a standing vote of thanks was given to the committee to whom the society has intrusted the selection of the design. A vote of thanks was given also to Mr. J. Plumer Bigham, who made the lantern slides from the artist’s photographs, for his assistance In enabling the committee to display the enlarged design to the Daughters.

Mrs. Wright called attention to the broken musket in the hands of the hero in the design, and said it was the Intention of the committee to have the artist substitute a shattered battle flag for the musket. She spoke of the modeling of the figures, and said that it is difficult to exaggerate the impression which the sight of the model itself makes, bringing out as it does with wonderful power the contrast between the face and figure of the dying young standard-bearer, with his worn clothing, broken boots and the unruffled grandeur of the figure of Glory.

The sculptor, M. F. Wellington Ruckstuhl, now has a studio in New York, but comes from Missouri. He is a warm sympathizer with the South, and said of his group to the committee:

“It is an apotheosis of the Confederacy— its valor, Its suffering and its sublime patience. It also suggests the splendid role of the Southern woman, who, by her Spartan spirit, nerved her sons to the last measure of devotion!”

To this Mrs. Wright added: “It is the most poetic glorification of the South ever made in sculpture, and the ladies may congratulate themselves on a full reward for their long and arduous labors, and will merit the gratitude of their native city for adding to its works of art one of which It may well be proud.”

The Sculptor.

Mr. Ruckstuhl studied for eight years in Paris. He has received an “honorable mention” In the Salon and a grand medal at the Chicago Exposition. He was one of the organizers of the National Sculpture Society, was a member of the “jury on fine arts”‘ at the Atlanta Exposition. He is slated for the directorship of sculpture for the St. Louis World’s Fair, is a member of the National Arts Club and of the National Institute of Arts and Letters, and vice-president of the New York Municipal Art Society.

Plans For Erection.

Mr. Ruckstuhl is to come over from New York within a few days to consult with the committee of the Daughters and with the Municipal Art Commission in regard to matters connected with the erection of the monument.

The Daughters now have on hand in their monument fund about $16,000. This includes $10,075 raised by the bazar held last December and $1,000 raised at a large bazar held about four years ago, and the remainder collected by special committees organized for that purpose.

The triangular lot In front of the Mount Royal entrance to Druid Hill Park was selected by the City Council as the site for the monument.

Conference As To Site.

Several members of the Daughters of the Confederacy appeared before the Municipal Art Commission yesterday morning and discussed with them the plans for the monument. There was some talk of changIng the site from the triangle at North and Mount Royal avenues, which Is off to one side from the squares, to a place at the end of the northernmost square. No action was taken on the proposition, however. The delegation was composed of Mrs. D. Giraud Wright, Mrs. Hugh H. Lee, Mrs. Samuel C. Chew, Mrs. B. J. Taylor, Mrs. McHenry Howard, Mrs. Samuel Hough and Mrs. Francis Dammann.

The members of the Art Commission present were Mayor Hayes, Messrs. Mendes Cohen, Thomas R. Clendinen, Joseph M. Cushing and J. B. Noel Wyatt.