Around the Capital with Uncle Hank

by Thomas Fleming, 1902

Armed Liberty

Uncle Hank finds the plaster cast of “Armed Freedom” under the rotunda of the Smithsonian Building...

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“Liberty Cums High, But We Must Hev Et.”

Passing into the rotunda his attention was riveted to the colossal plaster model of Crawford's statue of “Armed Liberty,” which adorns the top of the Capitol Dome. This statue is nineteen feet six inches high and looks very imposing under the subdued light of the rotunda.

“Liberty cums high, but we must hev et,” said the old man, as he gazed up at the statue. “En they call et Armed Liberty? Wall, thet's right. Et's armed with money. En th' helmet hez a big dollar mark ontew et, en thet looks like a money bag en th' left hand — en, by ginger! she's winkin' with thet left eye! But p'r'aps et's all immaginashun, en my old eyes ez deceivin' me.” And the old man laughed at the idea. He then entered the hall devoted to mammals, some of which are so remarkably well mounted that they simulate life to an astonishing extent.

.T. Fleming.

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Armed Liberty, Around the Capital with Uncle Hank, by Thomas Fleming, 1902, pp.294-296.