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Show 34 Utah Historical Quarterly Massachusetts Avenue in front of the Arlington High School. It was argued that this site was near the route Revere had traveled to Lexington on his "midnight" ride.;" . Perhaps Arlington's proposal forced Boston to more positive action. A committee from the Boston Chamber of Commerce organized a program for an Art Week and invited DaHin to cooperate by allowing his large model to be featured in its exhibition. Possibly in hopes of creating public interest in his work, Dallin permitted the plaster statue to be temporarily erected. On April 24, 1937, the bronze-colored enlargement was unveiled in simple ceremonies at the Esplanade, a wide paved walk . bordering the Charles River at the end of Revere Street. Gov. Charles F. Hurley, one of the guest speakers for this occasion, termed this event a "vindication" of Dallin. The seventy-four-year-old sculptor responded briefly by saying the Revere statue was his swan song and concluding: "More than 'half a century ago I began this work, my best work. I will say nothing further. I'll let my work speak for itself." ;, While the statue was on exhibit at the Esplanade, portions of the model were damaged, requiring a new arm and other minor changes. During the next two years the statue was displayed at other public places, and Dallin continued to hold conferences with various committees attempting to secure funds for the project. During 1938 and 1939 Dallin continued to write appeals to citizens and public officials, including ex-governor Alvan T. Fuller, but a growing despondency came over the bewildered sculptor. In a letter to his friends, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Bovey, Dallin dejectedly concluded: Things haven't been very heartening this last year and I am beginning to feel that art isn't anything much anyway. However I realize this is not the way to write to you and please forgive me. 1 ~ In the fall of 1939 Dallin again petitioned the White Fund for financial aid. His appeal took a new form this time with a poem describing the history of his Revere statue. The poem, a parody of Longfellow'S "Paul Revere's Ride," was submitted to Mayor Tobin and the other trustees of the White Fund. Listen, my children, and you shall hear Of the ignoble failure of Boston to rear ""Chamber Views Plans to Erect Dallin Statue Here," Arlington Advocate, February 4, 1937. " "Cyrus Dallin Is Honored in Boston." ,. Cyrus Dallin to Mr. and Mrs. Martin K. Bovey, May 21, 1939. Copy in author'S possession. His Paul ReveT The greatest cl'eati The Equestrian St A citizens' commit Selected my model On July .the fourtl The committee, of 11ade a contract \1 To erect in Cople} To honor the hero Aroused every Mi, For the country fo Alas! no statue noi 'Tis enough to mal But being only hUl And I hope that n: So after the lapse ~ Due honor be . the good-humored Tobin to take· amused him and exactly a poet but I was Finally, in December 1 reconsidered Dallin's statue. Immediately, the White Fund was a successful He asked for a suggested six years appropriated by interest, the money Sometime during the . $80,000 or $85,000 handwritten a.\.,'l-U'.U period of 51 these expenses curious figures of $6,000 ( |
