Asst. Surgeon William Longshaw, Jr., U.S. Steam Frigate Minnesota. Asst. Surgeon Henry Sylvanus Plympton, U.S.N. Asst. Engineer John M. Whittemore, U.S. Steam Sloop Mohican. Charles F. Brown, U.S.N. George Bacon, U.S.N. THE STATUE ON THE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT. THE Messrs. COвв published the explanation that follows in the Cambridge newspapers of August 27, 1870. It is inserted here as an appropriate accompaniment of the architect's description of the Monument. Although supplementary to that, it may be regarded, of itself, as a description of one of the most important and beautiful features of the structure. A CARD. HAVING been requested by several citizens to explain, through the Cambridge journals, our conception as embodied in the statue on the Soldiers' Monument, we cheerfully do so, although we had intended that the statue should, in the course of time, explain itself. Our aim was to produce a statue which should be typical of the citizen soldier, who left his home to do battle for the Union, realizing the solemnity of the conflict in which he was to engage. He has met the fortunes of war with a spirit actuated by one thought, the salvation of his country. Victory has not excited him to undue exultation, nor has defeat for a moment served to depress him. He has witnessed the slaughter of the foe with pity, and yet has been a terrible antagonist. While unmindful of his own sufferings, he has ever been deeply moved by the sufferings of his comrades. He has shrunk from no carnage, nor has he plunged into danger regardless of the object to be attained. The Rebellion suppressed, he stands in the uniform, not of the North, but of the Union he has helped to preserve, meditating on the fearful strife through which he has passed, the awful baptism by which his country has been purified, and with a spirit ready to march again to the front to fight for Liberty at a moment's warning. And then thoughts of his fallen comrades sweep through his mind, and with a tighter clasp of the gun on which he rests, and which has been his inseparable companion during those years of bloodshed, he uncovers his head, and with folded arms contemplates, with a mingling of solemnity, sternness, and tender memory, the scenes which these thoughts conjure before his mental eye. Having embodied these ideas in our small model, we tested them satisfactorily by the best military experience and critical ability. The soldier is not at "parade rest," as many unacquainted with military tactics have supposed. He is at ease, taking such position as suits him best; and the beholder is at liberty to place him where his fancies may dictate. Regarding the question in an artistic point of view, it is only necessary to remark, that were the cap now held in the left hand - placed on the head, the visor would cast a shadow in a manner to render the face comparatively expressionless, as seen from the ground. - With respect to the arcade, we would state that this was designed by us to serve somewhat as a temple; and in it we originally drew a sitting statue of the Genius of America, as representing that which ere long will again be universally loved and honored, North and South. It represents that for which those soldiers died to whose memory the Monument has been erected. We would, however, recommend a few years' delay in the placing of what must necessarily remain the central idea of the entire memorial. It seems to us that it would be well to wait till the harmony of North and South being thoroughly restored, an event so grateful to all could be then commemorated by appropriate sculpture. CYRUS & DARIUS COBB. |