The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-11
minsnt scrolls appears the aegorical biography Of

lneatlon OF his career In the relation 10 the rail-
Neptune, typifylng the sea, with flowing beard
wreath OF leaves on his head and a modern rudder
instead OF the old Homerlc trlaent in his hand A
huge sea monster looks up from the water at his
feet; an American raccoon, uu- Homeric emblem,
indeed but well selected Tor the purpose peers
round the corner OF the rock which he lounges,
with That stealtny cake manner peculiar to felln-
ity IN all ITS types. American enough bold enough,
SUFFICIENT departure from the classical this Is OF
course but 1t Is fclictous nevertheless, and proves
that the classical Is not always the best that can be
done under the circumstances. The background on
the right is formed by the orestufted palisades OF
Tue HUDSON; then shoots on, dlmy observable IN the
distance, the figure OF lighthouse aud next, tolllng
ana rocking through waves OF bronze, energies tne
little twomased pariasua, the Diver, IN which, haf
century since, Mr.. Vanderbilt carried passengers
to staten Island At TWENTY-FIVE cents apiece. Tne
North star, or 1858 celebrity, and under full sail,
appears next, ploughing along under strong head
way, and the huge Vanderbilt (steamerh also con-
pletely rugged ana under full head or steam, COM
pletes the climax ana tells the biography OF steam
navigation from the transition steamer with sails to
the splendid oatlng palace OF the sea or OF the Hud
son river. The details, as respects the delineatou
OF these craft are expressed win singular minute
ness and accuracy-ln 1act with llteraneSS almost
pre- RAJ haelc.
In Inc middle OF this foreground lies black pier
juttng into the sea- upon which are disposed coils or
ropes, pine apples bananas aud other tropical pro-
ducts, together with vlgiant and savage looking
mastln, which looks as II II might gr0Wl even IN
bronze, lying upon cotton bale; and in the lore
ground nearest TO the statue lies massive cap5tan
with other insignia OF navigation. Complicated as
Is tins 6asreltT 1t il stin comprehensive enough so
easy and clear In all details mas been the disposition
OF It's elements which are made up OF the prominent
points In the biography OF Mr.. vanderbilt as the
exponent or steam navigation.
The extreme lett or the left oasrelte, representa-
tive OF Mr.. vanderDilt's career IS railroad man,
begins with the figure Of Liberty, TO balance that or
Neptune on the extreme lett. As guardian OF the
scene and embeflatic OF the republic she appears
with flowing hair and drapery, put In a strange
attitude. The left nand holds sword. emblemauc
OF eternal vigilance, while the right rests easily upon
the American shield, IRON behind which eagle Is
emerging. woody slope appears in the back
ground. In front OF which IL disposed fence OF tho
nuinr ptzla naf
when IDLY whsks her tall the other lying down with
q ruminant air ana almost ruininant motion OF
head nothing could be more natural as every one is
aware who has mad any opportunities OF studying
the expression OF these animals In rumnant atti-
tudes. IL is one OF the master points OIL skill on the
part OF the modeer, and betrays unusual felicity Of
hand In the plastic art Beyond these iumbers an
engine drawing SIX cars just III the act OF entering
q tunnel bored out under q foresttufted hill, ana
still urtner IN the background on gentle eminence
stands villa of modern pattern, putting the
observer somehow or other IN mind OF the Old quo
tatiOn:-
in the greenest of valleys,
BY good angels tenanted,
Radiant palace ap st reared is head
This forms the extreme left. In the middle fore
ground or this left ooS-relte1, railroad oical flag
IN hand IS just emerging from the little caboose or
from the depot long train OF cars appears The
locomotive Q. Vanderbilt in the background next to
the statue, serving the double purpose TO carry out
the allegory and TO identity the adjoining statue
taelE II Identification were ever to be needed. The
foreground Ut tD1S point Is MADE up OF ruStC group
emDlematlc OF fertility. Two narvesters. with
sleeves rolled up, binding and shocking sheaves
OF wheat, Que or which has accidentally ialen upon
basket loaded with melons. grapes aud other agri-
cultural fruits. Nearer yet to the statue, In
the foreground, appears heap OF imple.
ments indicative OF material progress. among which
may be noted o huge boiler, colossal cogwheel q
tall derrick, all rugged with pueys and ropes, ana
collection OF tools and emblamatc pieces The upper
part or the bds-elJ. both sides the atmospheric
effect Is simulated. Birds wing their way through
bronze ether, through when swim iazly clouds as
and t,ral ypla de .farf rrnd
bronze can be supposed to be; and this serves for
aerial perspective.
admit OF repetition. TO Captain Albert Degroot, an
old steamboat man and gentleman well acquainted
with the biography Of his sublect-sympstheti.
OF the splendid conception and the drawing OF the
plans, BY him the subscription was started, and by
MN the progress of the work has been superin-
tended In all It's successive steps. 10 Mr. Passman,
on the other hand Is que the praise OF having made
the most OF the drawings, in bringing out the
preston OF the conception in inIusing into it sort
OF art-vitaty and to the brothers Fischer cannot
accuracy with Which the casting Of ali details has
oeen executed. Captain DegroOt and conireres in
the work have, In fact, incidentally erected monu
ment 10 themselves which will last as long as the
name Oh vanderbilt, The steamboat ana railroad
king OF the century.
the day was observed with the demonstrations Incl
dent 10 holiday. Flags noated high from all points
IN the Darbor, as II the national coors had all come
TO The conclusion to exhibit themselves simulta-
neously. The various government buildings IN the
city hung out the national ensign, as also the various
municipal departments several Of the hotels and the
oifferent railroad depos in the vicinity in honor OF
the occasion, or rather OF the man who mad occa-
grand banquet had been prepared for the termi-
nation OF the event. out owing to some mlsmanage-
ment and the boOrish misconduct OF some outside
parties, the pleasure which had been anticipated
from this portion OF the celebration interrupted
and the Mayor and other prominent guests left WITH
out participating In the AFFAIR
BuRLEsQUE UNWILLING IN WALL sTREET-BULLs
AND BEARS IN A FRIsKY MOOD.
There was rare fun at the Stock Exchange at the
same hour that the bronze statue OF the Iustrious
Commodore Vanderbilt was being unveiled. Pre-
csey at hali-past twelve O'Clock the brokers assem-
bed In the stock Exchange and amid great laughter
aud applause went through the farce OF unveing a
''stattoo" which, in the person OF hldeousy ugly
broker, IN wig and mask, parported to rep
resent the hero OF the day. The ceremony took place
In the gallery Of the Long Room. The master Of the
ceremonies, Mr.. h. n. Van Schaick, was president,
and Mr. S. V. White spouted all the oratory de-
nanded by the laughing brokers. All Wall street
was In or about the Stock Exchange, and the widest
fun prevailed during the udicrous ceremony OF the
unveing OF the ''stattoo.n
With profound bow the chairman began his
address, but was stopped almost at the first word
by an enthusiastic and faceuous broker, who al
vanced with genufucton aud presented HIM with
The chairman bowed ike prima donna in ac-
ENCOURAGEMENT OF the bouquet. so overcome was
the eloquent orator by the unexpected favor that he
had scarcely any speech left; but he did manage.
nevertheless, TO express his immense admiration OF
Commodore Vanderbilt. AS soon as he had finished
an injunction" was served upon the eloquent
orator In the name OF the United States and Buenos
A1reS but tusse having occurred in the mean
tme the unfortunate reader OF the process OF law
was marched or the galley amid much noise ana
laughter. The secretary read number or letters
from parties who mad suffered 'severe losses in
CENTRAL" who refused TO honor the Commodore,
and then the funny chairman sang song, to the
tune OF John Browns Body" expressive OF the
great services or the Commodore To the Board OF
Brokers.
A member OF the Board. who was addressed as
Monsieur Blank by the chairman, then delivered an
address. In which he alluded with great humor aud
effect to the watering operations OF Commodore VAN
derbt VINO was originally a waterman, and mad
made water the "Central" idea OF his liie For
merry men had been made to see double by other
liquids besides water. but the Commodore had made
the grand discovery that water, simple aud pure IN
the hands OF financial genius, possessed extra
ordinary power not only OF making see a Ining
double bur also Of making the thing itself double.
(Roars OF laughter and long continued applause.)
The orator did not display the least sign OF fatigue at
this point though the vociferous enthusiasm OF the
audience almost took away his breath. lie started
IN affected amazement IA the veil which covered the
''stattoo" WAS withdrawn, and the assembled