Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 17.djvu/206

 198 Southern Historical Society Papers.

DEATH MASK OF GENERAL LEE.

l\ should be noted that a foreign artist in writing about his model for the statue, asked for the death mask of General Lee. Miss Ran- dolph could find no trace of such a cast, and General Custis Lee was confident that no such mask had been made. This seemed to settle the question. In selecting a commission to sit in judgment on the models, and to award the prizes, some gentlemen in Washington being consulted, suggested the son of Clarke Mills as a suitable judge, and remarked that he had his father's mask of General Lee. With this clue, Miss Randolph wrote to Dr. Barbaim, who purchased the mask for the Corcoran Gallery. It had been taken by Clarke Mills when he was summoned to Washington to appear before the congressional committee. A plaster cast of it was ultimately sent to M. Mercie, and, of course, was invaluable in getting the shape and proportions of the General's head.

AWARDING THE PRIZES.

The models obtained, the next step was to select a suitable com- mittee to award prizes, and its importance was fully realized. It was finally decided that no amateur should be on it, and consequently the choice fell upon two of America's most distinguished sculptors, Messrs. St. Gaudens and I. Q. A. Ward. Mr. Clarke, the govern- ment architect, was associated with them. These gentlemen were asked and kindly agreed to perform the delicate task. It was soon apparent that the high prizes offered had done their work, and the judges confirmed this opinion by saying that it was, perhaps, the best competitive exhibition ever held in America. The first prize was awarded to Mr. Niehaus, of Ohio, and the second to Mr. Ezekiel. The Ladies* Association had not bound itself to give the work to the most successful competitor, and the exhibition having put them en rapport with artists of superior talent, they still had added.
 * the world before them where to choose,** with this advantage

GOVERNOR lee's WORK.

In the meantime General Fitzhugh Lee was inaugurated Governor of Virginia, and being ex officio president of the Lee Monument Association under the act of the General Assembly of March 13th, 1884, with characteristic energy he began to take measures to bring about, without further delay, the erection of the monument. He