New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-11
THE VANDERBILT BRONZES.
THE STATUE OF CORNELIUS VANDERBILT.
CEREMONIES OF UNvAILING THE BRONZE TEs-
rIxtO.-TAI At ST. JOHNS PARK.

TIMO.IAL AT ST. JOHNS PARK.
The elaborate bronze work illustrating the
career Of Commodore Vanderbilt OF which We nave mere.
toore given account, erected on the western summit Vi
the ST. Johns Park Depot, was unValleu festeruay
afternoon In presence of 5000 10000 spectaorS
ing many ladies' long low platform 20 feet Wde was
built on the west side OF Hudsons with higher square
platform in the middle. at the head Of Hubertst' ana
directly opposite the statue. This central stsnd was
decorated with the national coors and several American
flags were suspended from the adjoining bunuiuRS
Ropes across the both ends OF the depot ana
wooden railing sides OF the PLATFORM diVded tn"
outsiders from those who held tickets OF invitation
More than $50 policemen under command OF Capt Pety
of the Fifth Precinct specially detailed for the oc
casion and the Seventh Regiment Band was engaged 10
furplsh the music Mayor Hail. Admiral Godon, Admiral
strlngham and other gentlemen OF note and many repre-
sentaves OF the press occupied on h ne Rhop
James, which included the following peuloh r., u.,,,,
rnoS oa saa % whom We specially honor Thou
day, and be b.. ''I'd 70 sgS 'IiID suS ss
from NEE v. py that he mar led seek and to asn that
devoted s9S5 s1S &c f";s Of buaS glory
aud be is eminsH for h personal wealth NJ" Hs also S1 sbs
See there We pray bless bin ia his domestic INTEREST,"; MAY
S cSrsu ehdrsS Give Thy heavenly sSd lead them to
Thee 10 their S SS Ssy S SSoa '
Mayor Hall was introduced by Capt. De Groot, VINO
WAVED as,,ed m complainant to The Commodore from
the United States receiving ship Vermont hauled mp tue
heavy canvas and revealed tho bronze to public view
AZ The same moment, Boatswain Briscoe aud Mate
De Lapp. who were In command oi inc s,osi ran IAN W
tho C0nmodore's pennsnt on the Flagstaff; me Da.h
struck up q lively tune and the crowd cbeered WIN
enthusiasm When the applause had ceased as many Vi
the crowd could hear listened with attention 10
MAYOR HALLS ADDRESS.
Committee Of honorable citizens have sought 10
yonder colossal work Of art the history ana
public spirit OF an hOnored fellow citizen. BY their nvl'
tation the ChietMaGisrate OF the metropolis. and dis
tnguIshed delegates from the professional commercial
manufacturing artisan and official communities OF New
York assemble to-day for participation In the brief and
peasaut ceremonies which introduce to public view
the Vanderbilt Bronzes. How appropriate TO unvall
them at the threshold OF this immense commercial tenn
pe equally appropriate is your presence TO honor
an event. whose subject by manifold pubic enterprises
that often attained the dignity OF national Importance
has bonorcd all OF us beloved city STATUES ana
sculptures that commemorate the achievemeht nl 'ns
men, have rarely erected or fashioned Ihere are
few marked instances, In the annals OF enlightened
civilization OF such mered tributes In our own gen
Grafton recall those OF the great irish CommOner t1e
English cOmmOner, the Iron Duke and the
word.renowned philanhropist VINO mas laely entered
earthly portals ho had so often opened to
his feliowereatnIes' "a ~ them more deserved
those honorable inscriptions, which tho baud OF memo
rial art traced to their own eSs fn nc and
esteem For his wealthfOr the bdld reason mat he Is
the richest citizen on tnls t fh warnInc
parable. But because OF the results TINS weaIn haS
worked because
~ the great 9aina 10 10
Aciblades, Lucnus. and Sempronlns, We are porn 10
do benefits" Cornelius Vanderbilt has acquired en0r
nous riches. How has he employed themt Not ignODy
In selfish Investments. eRotlstcal ACCOMMODATIONS
lns iron chests Hh tide deeds OF landed estates
But he hos used his capital In constant com
ling conception. that have kept employed 81
most armies men. that have stimulated capitalists
Ia beurnci enterprises that forced his hcSunIula'
tons through thousand business channels or that los
tered nations. Industry or hSt haSs Of and inter- e
oceanic navigation let the question be further an-
swered by Of vessels he has launched by the
monopoes he has ,anqashed by the anciary projects
Of public weight that his nave necessarily btgOten
But you will spare the modesty Of tho days hero
envy from SOlOn. The latter told him that OF no man
could IL be safely said he happy un his life had
ended" Tho law-gving sage aiso told him when
asked Who Oh ni men MAS "ost o 20 Ue h IVA r
good Government, and when Athens was attacked hew
cd ~ on se Nav IL not be truly said Of hin
whose bronze eIempar stands before ns' That to the
riches he united these enyiable attributes ut
Telus. Did Cornelius Vanderbilt not believe he nIeI
under good Government, when he shared his gis VI
fortune with hs bleeding country In those drcaG hours
when the Integrity OF her Union was menhceul Was
insignificant act 81 patriotism That caheelsu
steamer which might during months TO come
produce him rs much a. most meG eau me nor,
TO defense Of his Athens when he presented that ves
sci yeritably millionaire IN her valued spontaneous
gtfti lApplause Did he deny well beloved sou TO
bis couutrys ranks 81 military herOcst Let answer tho
modest sfait IN the Moravla9 graveyard on yonder
Hnbuban island which gave Cornelius Vanderbilt his
Knickctbockerblrthi Does he individually deserve tins
Gay honor winch you Iy n u ymeIcan shsraetsr
which asks greater original capital than afforded by
that independence of thought that sefhnce III action
that nrmuess IN eIdcavors, that prObiY In worldly
contracts and that Irresistible resolution III executing
great projects which can carve the way Of every humb
born American boy to national eminence Like Frank
n bands IA youth worked the rude printing press
kings and proud courtiers Like Jackson a Lincoln,
whose unshod feet bOyhoOd tracked painless forests
TO wear the featy Of PRESIDENT Aye, like the eH
ample Of to-day. who within scrptural span OF me- has
transferred his executive grasp fI" the t'er oil S3op
90 the almost supreme control OF railways that
span half tho continent mat empioy armies Ii vl
men, aud into temples or commerce IKE TINS
one, daly pour more than the once-hmed
wealth VI the Indies What living American citizen in
commercial life IL remarkable to-day than Cornelius
Vanderbilt He has lived under every national admin
istratOn Yes hc has outlyed every elected President
except his per-onal friend who now tenants the Whte
House Nevertheless his years have not dinlhshod mo
elasticity OF NINA body nor bnntcd his enthusiasm
sports NOR jaded his heart brain At an age when
most men grow rerospectiSe he busted WIN prospcc
his native State whose significant motto Excelsior
to have been adopted his own simplicity of per
that corrugales the benignty and modesty of 80
many self-made men has not affected his. In fine
OF to the railway monarch Of 1862 Almost
every remarkable man has had some eccentric trait Of
character: trace one TO Cornelius VaudcIbttho mode
OF his generOSes The manner VI nGr repeated
besOwas eigh thousand stereotype signatures 10
subscription papers. The qualities OF his charity are like
all those aseribed by the primate dranatist 10 Mercy
entered the civil marine service, aud lost his life
by shipwreck when performing heroic acts wealthy
aud publicsplrited men began subscriptions Tor
tho benefit OF who had been dependent
upon him They brought Cornelius Vanderbilt
tho subscription paper. ~ do sign such papers;
but go ahead gentlemen and raise all the funds you can
aud then TO mo for snm equal TO your joint en-
beavers" lApplausel And Inc performed the promise.
again | say uno disco omnes! These Bronzes-the
largest In the word-owo their existence firstly to the
happy conception Of Albert DE Grcot Perhaps some
grateful enthusiasm for an old comrade ana friend
Inspired IL other comrades and friends very substan
italy seconded tho idea Thirdly, tho Bronzes owe
their completion ~ the artistic genius Of Ernst Pass
mnn. and careful skn OF Valentine and GeoInO