Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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Sir Moses Czekiel. SIR MOSES EZEKIEL, of Rome, Italy, is also a Virginian. A ncted sculptor, he is a son of the Virginia Military Institute of whom she is justly proud. Visitors to the Eternal City bring back accounts of him as the charm- ing host and the much-sought-after guest of cultivated Roman society. His studio occupies one of the Cyclo- pean halls of the Baths of Diocletian. Art critics are equally warm in praise of his work. That work does net chill the average beholder as does much expressed in stone and bronze but appeals with the force and vividness of portraits in color. Take for instance the presentment of the wife of Ambassador White, at Cornell University. Take also the bust of Liszt who was, by the way, a close friend of the sculptor. From the life one ' s very first glance at it explains why the great pianist preferred this to any other model ever made of him. Upon his preference openly expressed many and various musical institutions have set the seal of their approval by their purchase of this representation of the wizard of tones. Commissioned in 1874 by the Jewish Order, Sons of the Covenant, to produce a representation of Religious Liberty for the Centennial Exposition, he created the impressive group which stands in Fairmount Park. It is, I have understood, the largest group cut in modern times from a single block of marble and is signifi- cant of the legend which it bears : True Liberty Destroys Intolerance. Nearly four hundred years before, the D ' Castros and D ' Israels, from whom Ezekiel ' s maternal and paternal grandparents had sprung, left their native Spain because of the terrors of the inquisition during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella No alien, but he who felt the pathos as well as shared the glory of that magnificent struggle, portrayed Ezekiel ' s Confederate Soldier — Sketch though he calls it. His Christ Entombed ranks among his finest productions. The sculptor, himself of pure Hebrew lineage, has given to the Naz- arene his own inheritance, a distinctive Hebrew type of countenance. This beauti-

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' W SIR MOSES EZEKIEL.

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ful form with serene, majestic countenance was purchased by the City of Paris and now reposes in the chapel built as memorial of the victims of that frightful bazaar fatality which shocked humanity several years ago. It was this touching figure of the Master of Sorrows which attracted to the sculptor the attention of Queen Margherita, of Italy, who conferred Knighthood upon Ezekiel. In 1900 Louisville, Kentucky, unveiled his heroic Jefferson with allegorical ped- estal which is beautiful; the pose is spirited and graceful, the face beautiful, refined and the expression exalted. Ezekiel was born on East Main street, Richmond, Virginia, October 28th, 1844. He was the son of Katherine de Castro and Jacob Ezekiel. A member of Company C, of the Cadet Battalion, and also of the Color Guard ; he was of that band of heroes who helped to make Newmarket immortal — that wonderful time, I may call it — the 15th of May, 1864, never to be forgotten. Cadet Thomas Jefferson shong Hill and was carried AnnaHupp. The next morn- panied him to Mr. Cline- better attention. Ezekiel return a pillow and an old ferson. To keep this promise barefooted, for he had lost account of the wet, muddy Clinedinst gave him a pair sidered-as would have many precious gift and for which twisting calico strips to- He then remained at the fell in the charge up Bu- tothe near-by house of Miss ing young Ezekiel accom- dinst ' s that he might receive had promised faithfully to quilt used in removing Jef- he walked back two miles, his shoes in the battle on ground. On his return Mrs. of old ones which he con- a Confederate veteran — a he improvised strings by gether. bedside of his comrade, nurs- ing him with an affection and devotion equal to that of a woman until Cadet Jef- ferson died, when Ezekiel ' s grief brought tears to the stoutest hearts. A memento of that time Sir Moses brought when he last came to Lexington, and it now hangs in the Institute Library. After the battle as the corps of cadets passed through Staunton the young ladies of the town crowned the Virginia Mili- sary Institute colors with laurel. In Richmond a new stand was presented and Ezekiel carried the wreath of laurel upon his arm until he gave it into the keeping of his sister who stood watching the cadets march past. These now historic leaves she treasured till her brother brought them back, as I have said, to his Alma Mater. His own fingers have burned into the gray background of their mounting this history of the tribute such as good women ever yield to brave men. We know how Hunter ' s Raid left but one building standing upon the Institute grounds, but in October, ' 65, the Institute