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Rh electric spark, and kindled the latent genius which was enshrined within her, as her own group was in the marble till her chisel brought it out. For weeks she haunted the spot, and the State House, where she could see Washington and Webster. She asked questions and found that such things were made of clay. She got a lump of clay, shaped her some sticks, and her heart divided between art and the great struggle for freedom, which had just received the seal of Colonel Shaws' blood. She wrought out, from photographs and her own ideal, an admirable bust of him. This made the name of Edmonia Lewis known in Boston. The unknown waif on the steps of the City Hall had, in a few short months, become an object of interest to a large circle of those most anxious about the great problem of the development of the colored race in their new position.

We next hear of Edmonia in Rome, where her perseverance, industry, genius and naiveté made her warm friends. Miss Charlotte Cushman and Miss Hosmer took great interest in her. Her studio was visited by all strangers, who looked upon the creations of this untaught maiden as marvelous. She modeled there "The Freed Woman on First Hearing of Her Liberty," of which it is said: "It tells with much eloquence a painful story." No one can deny that she has distinguished herself in sculpture; not, perhaps, in the highest grade, but in the most pleasing form. Six months ago she returned to her own country to sit once again on the steps of the City Hall, just to recall the "then," and to contrast it with the "now." "Then," hungry, heart-weary, no plan for the future. "Now," the hunger of the soul satisfied; freedom to do, to achieve, won by her own hands, friends gained; the world to admire.

She brought with her to this country a bust of "our" poet, said to be one of the best ever taken. It has been proposed by some of Longfellow's friends to have it put in marble for It would be a beautiful thought that the author of Harvard. Hiawatha should be embalmed in stone by a descendant from Minnehaha. And certainly nothing can be more appropriate than the presentation to Rev. Mr. Grimes, the untiring friend