252 MATTHEW FONTAINE MAURY 



"On the plinth of the monument in the flattest relief are figures of fish, 



representing Maury's interest in the paths of the sea. The story goes that ! 



once when Maury was ill he had his son read the Bible to him each night. \ 



One night he read the eighth Psalm, and when he came to the passage — j 



'The fishes of the sea and whatsoever walketh through the paths of the sea' — { 



Maury had him read it over several times. Finally he said, 'If God says there j 



are paths in the sea I am going to find them if I get out of this bed.' Thus the ; 



Psalm was the direct inspiration for his discoveries. ', 



"Mr. Sievers has shown Maury in a reminiscent mood, representing him at \ 



that period of his life when he had achieved his greatest discoveries. In his "< 



right hand are the pencil and the compass, and in his left hand a chart. Against '•. 



his chair is the Bible, from which he drew inspiration for his explorations. \ 



The sculptor has caught amazingly the spirit of the man." — From Richmond \ 



(Va.) Times. ". 



