The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-11

.Whyfn "Because he lived under q good govern
ment, and when Athens was attacked new to Its DC
fence. and having helped to repe the enemy. died
on the battle held" May 1t not be truly said Of him
whose bronze exemplar stands before US That 10 the
riches OF CrUsus he united these enviaDe attributes
OF Tellus. Did Cornelius Vanderbilt not believe ne
lived under good government when ne shared ms
gifts OF fortune with his bleeding country In those
dread hours when the integrity OF her Union was
menaceds Was 1t an Insignificant act OF patriotism
namesake steamer. winch might during months TO
come produce him as much AS most men call the
fortune OF a hletimeY Was IL not q memorable con-
trbutfon the defence oil his Athens when he pre-
sented that vessel (vertably millionaire III her vaue
spontaneous GIFT Did he deny well beloved son
to his country's ranks OF military heroes Lei an
swer the modest shaft in the Moravian graveyard on
yonder suburban island which gave Cornelius VAN
derbht his Knickerbocker birth.
Does he individually deserve this days homo
which you pay nims Az He Is q remarkable pro-
totype OF thai r0ugh-hewn American character
which asks greater original capital tnan ID
afforded by that Independence OF thought that SELL
reliance IN action, that frmness IN endeavors tnat
resolution In executing great projects, which can
carve the way OF every humby born American BOY
/" youta WorSsa the rude printing press but
IN old age honored with their touch the myers or
kings and proud courtiers, Like Jackson or Lin.
coin, whose unshod feet In Doyhood tracked
painless forests, but who, IN middle aye,
twice stood before a great nation TO
Az, ike the example OF to-day wno within a
Scrptural span OF le has transferred his executive
grasp from the tler OF sloop to tne ~. almost iu
tnent, that employ armies OF men, and into temples
OF commerce, ike TINS one, daily pour more THAN
the once famed wealth OF the Indies.
What living American citizen IN commercial life 10
more remarkable to-day than Cornelius NanderDiitS
He has lived under every national administration;
ms personal friend who now tenants the White
House. Nevertheless, his years have not Diminished
his elasticity OF mind or body nor bunted ms enthu
sasm sports, nor jaded ms heart or brain. At an
age when most men grow retrospective he Is busted
with prospective plans for the comfort OF his race
State. whose slpQlu-
cant motto, "Excelslor," seems to have been
adopted his own. Simplicity OF personal bearing
he mas preserved III tact The gold tnat cOrrugates
the benignity and m0desty OF 80 many sell made
men has not AFFECTED his In line, the democratic
republican instincts OF the lerrymastcr OF 1914 sur
vive The railway monarch OF 1869. Almost every
remarkable man has had some eccentric trait OF
character. trace one 10 Cornelius Nanderbiit-the
mode OF his generosites. Tue secret manner OF
their repeated DestOwas outweigh thousand stere0-
type signatures TO subscription papers. The quail
ties OF his charity like all those ascribed by
primate dramatlst to Mercy. Ec mo disco O1lnes.
some years ago gallant naval officer entered the
civl marine service and lost his life by shlpwreck,
when performing heroic acts Wealthy and public
spirited men began subscriptions for the benent
of some VINO nad been dependent upon hun.
They brought Cornelius Vanderbilt the sub
scrptOn paper. II do not sign such papers,
but go ahead gentlemen and raise all the funds you
can and then come to me for a sum equal TO yonr
JOINT endeayors." And he performed the promise.
Again say er uno disco 0nlnes These br0nzes. the
largest III the world, owe their existence, firstly. to
the happy conception OF Albert Degroot. Perhaps
some grateful enthusiasm Tor an old comrade and
friend inspired IT. other comrades ana friends very
substantially seconded the idea. Thirdly the bronzes
tneir completion TO the artistic genius OF Ernst
Passman ana the careful skill OF Valentine and
George Fisher, who moulded them INTO colossal
and IN that Of the city, thank them, one
and all for their endeayors, which have In
us5Ta s,nen this history and public spirit
OF ornament to a metropolis until now deficient
in great works OF art. Yet, fellow citizens, II such
commemorative works Of art merely euog,Zed lives
they would possess slight public value. 1t Is only
when they convey through generation to generation
they deserves pupc aeD
ton. Stand there familiar Image OF an hOnored
man stand there and breast the storms or glitter
In the sunshine OF coming centuries Stand there
colossal subject OF metropolitan pride stand there
and daily teach the lessons which the results OF
your own long life inspire Proclaim, as your life
proclams thar aborlous and seiI-sacrIfcng youth,
adherence to TRUTH infexibility Of honest purpose
and selirelancc are the sure foundation stones OF
puoic and private character, upon which are buded
certain fame ana fortune. Teach our people that
whenever their country Is impcrilled they should
there ana tell those whose industry has been
crowned h. wealth that the honors OF life and the
praise OF future generations follow those, and those
only who make the world better Tor their living
IN 1t.
The Mayor having concluded, william Ross Wal.
lace introduced, ana delivered ode In honor
OF the subject commemorated. This occupied some
minutes In recitation, being something more than
hundred lines In length, and elected OCCASIONAL ap-
plause. The ode or rather the recitation OF the ode
concluded, the Rev. DR.. Quinnel stepped forward
and, with few impressive words pronounced the
benediction-the guests adjourning to the banquet
room, where leaving them, one may take time for q
DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK.
The conception is In the nature Of pediment sur
mounting the western wall, measuring 100 feet IN
length at the base, is thirty-one feet In
height at the central point: presents a
facade of 3,l25 square feet in area, weighs
about 100 600 pounds and has cost more than half
million Of dollars. In the centre stands an
immense-it would be proper, perhaps, to say Co
lossal-bronze figure Of Vanderbilt, twelve feet in
height and nearly solid The figure weighs tribe
four TONS and is therefore, rather larger than
what is usaliy termed colossal-is, la fact
country, and, perhaps, the largest In the
world The purpose has, OF course, been make the
statue appear colossal, Notwithstanding the eeva
tion and in this the artist has succeeded admirably
The subject Is represented with head uncovered in
that erect, proud attitude which has become pro-
verb among his acquaintance, and had, perhaps,
some part IN winning for him the so6rtQtet Of
Commodore" The heavy fur trimmed overcoat-a
part Of Mr. Vanderbts habitual winter dress-has
O further tendency to give the presentation natu-
raj appearance The attitude is one OF bold strong
and dlgnled repose giving TO the statue that air OF
Roman b0ldness and harlhood which Is one OF
the pecullarlties OF pose observable in the sub
ject. In a word, the moulder has studied his
man, and presented him with unusual faith
fllness; for In repose The man IL statue IN hmselr
OF magnificent physical proportions, aud might
have been mado the subject OF a second Apollo Eel
vdere. The left foot IS slightly advanced, just
slightly the right hand being inserted beneath the
vest and the left trlingiy extended. The counte-
nance expresses with exceeding felicity the repose-
ful and dieled benignity which Is the most salient
feature OF lis subject and has more or the Roman
than OF the Grecian about 1t. The strongly marked
though clear cut and nervous features are pre-
sented with extraordinary truthfulness aud minute
ness OF detail not to say literalness, though TO be
sure, teralness In this respect Is merit
aud not defect. In fact, a more felici-
tousIy truthful bit OF modelling has seldom
been executed than MIR. Plassman must BIO credited
with IN this case The form, attitude, bearing aud
manner OF the model will strongly remind the critic
IN these matters OF the celebrated cast OF Ethan
Allen. engravings OF which, 1t Is to be regretted
have never been put In circulation. The resemblance
Is more IN the pose OF the figure and poise OF the
heaC however, than in the cast Of countepance
Both are perfect, Apollonan presentations Of ply
steal manhood-tnat OF Allen betraying moro latent
restiveness of disposition: that OF Vanderbilt more
determination and grandeur OF manhood Both are
essentially though differently, patrician; that or
the former beng the patricianism OF tue fall
Wild woods OF the New Hampshire grants;
t~f,