New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-03
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
WASHINGTON IRVING.

The ceremony of publicly unvailing the colos
sal bust of Washington Irving at Prospect Park, Brook
Ign, took place at p m on Saturday, in presence OF
about 10000 persons, including large number of public
officials and clergymen The bust gift TO the city from
the Hon Demas Barnes has been appropriately located
in the pedestrian concourse" lying between the Coney
Island road and Flabush-ave., and finely shaded by
trees and shrubbery. pedestal Of Aberdeen granite
supports the bust which stands Is feet inches high.
The only inscription is the OF Irving on the pc
dostal. Seats had been placed the ground fronting
the bust, and al one side stand for the speakers
brass band stationed near, furnished music. A. A.
Low presided and opened the proceedings with a few
fitting remarks referring to Brookyn desire to attain
position in the front ranks city of art and virtue
The Demas Barnes was then introduced and loudly
Cheered. In his presentation speech Mr.. Barnes re-
feTed TO Irving substantially as follows;
Few have greater claims upon their cOuntrymen
than his we now seek TO honor. Irving was New
thought Cosmopolite was his theories were ours
don Lisbon or PARIS he taught the philosophy Of the Re
public and his heart was always upon the Hudson. lie
without ostentaon oense illustrating through long
f those heroic virtues Of fixed purpose tdey and good
will which call forth the tear OF gratitude when
memory rGechoes his genial humor and the kindly sent
eSaysS a. WIN warm mart t5e terrible randeur thunder
storm in the Highlands Of the Hudson sailed with him
the deserted halls of The Aihambra; laughed at the
mishaPs Of Iehabod Crane sighed with the dseGnsG-
cund Dutchman and discovered through him new traits
honor him the founder tbSToug e American
and not blessed With orTne yet he became the peer
Campbell and TaeyTand. of Cooper and Everett and of
all the first scholars both continents. scott wrote to
Campbell that young Irving was by far the greatest
literary genius that had appeared upon the horizon OF
the New World we nave become so 10 inc
use OF his ideal creations that we nave forgotten neI
Tarcntage. What do we relish more in this hot weather
tuan "Knckerbocker" ice The steamer Rip Van Wrinkle
carries us safely TO Albany while We bege our hours
with the legends Of "WolfeTts Roost' and SLEEPY
Bible Of Miss Hoffman was by his side, attestng the
sincerity Of an only love pledged at her newmade grave
every suitable observance and demonstration He has
Could he return to the OF lis early associations,
well may wonder if he would not he much aston
years sleep IN the mountains.
AT the close OF Mr. Barness address the covering was
removed from the bust by the sculptor d. j. Wilson Mac
Donald. when the applause had subsidized j. : T. strana-
ham, President OF the Park Commissioners accepted the
bust behalf Of the City of Brooklyn. The Rev Henry
Ward Beccher then introduced and said:
LADIES ANp GENTLEMEN: doubt not that in such
seek the honor OF placing statues in tins II{ ana
mere may say tIS WIZ bry Gg Which Is right and
those who have attained distinction statesmen, winch
who walk the more peaceful paths Of life, treadng the
nOwery ways OF literaure the men who have no cIams
upon Us but those which their books lay theael0e
look upon this selection as eMinfR,y Src
uerance 10 the H0hleSt OF human sentiments WIN Ine
same motive. however, in erecting our statues we |
S' Ie in XII. Pl- work urugu statue. Here all the
profesous should 6e represented: the merchant should
have placed before his eyes honorng ms pro-
giuoes who have yen their genius TO their coun
Ty and examples of such are not wanting noble types
mcn Ericsson and R S Ge,,v5 aG 'S5g viii
cal for me erection OF statues either OF these gentle
men; and last OF all. we might ma even CieIsJ man
not he any Of them possessed OF @etheuc qualities
that would make them good sweets aod ioI ana
iLaughteTl But in this selection OF men tha are TO rep
wei 10 suggest lest of our patriots should attempt
10 use up The facilities of the Park that none but the
dead should he admitted to the collection. First Green
wood, then the Park.
You never know what man will do until after ne is
dead and IL might therefore be especially awkward tobe
under necessity of removing statue when its prototype
That might by sklful pecunary influence impro-
wise enthusiasm enough their own behalf TO induce
might he proper therefore for the Commissioners to de-
While, however we ore prompted to rear memorials to
those we love- well that we should begin with one so
gentle, 30 sweet so pure in liie ana so no1g as WSShnE
ION Irving Many there are tnaJ We 'lIS No Ci
paui0n. Those vino have never seen HIM love MN ana
sIere INV g1 if would be like the breaking in Of
cafl upon storm; for waere did his books go tlat care
are not pleasant plqces IT. Is his peculiar ocular
mem aSGi''i lave written Histories which win rank
Lirler than his, vet he stands Tespocuble
~ roIn pI5saShcl insight have reared bio
yrsrIcs set It stands nigh bogapheI; other men
' n.il... NAV measure more, hut it was his peculiar
ia i TO s 300 the early period of our literary MS
tot when tH.,o vas ne" pain open, anu me- IaE
iuc therefore the beginning of our repui! ne eia-
.U.,' , /. Is ,.yin.ntIg right mat ga Should A.
tfmhr FOB DO honor to the name of Washington lI'-.
Not one word ha, lc written that IN III.
one thought can 7 remember ihat he' even IN me
fcIapluc we...ec ggg-l WEI uIy l W strike. me-
LnfrUrd IN the .-Iustcs of lie by his playful VIII.
am told that it s taken IN dQdgeQn by some members
at a worry respectable family that he wrote tA9t most
workable ana instructive history OF Ncw-Iork; but
surely the WHO can ind iault with ilVings
10 mo man -ohau OF sydney smith, who required
turgca operation TO get Joke into his head; for ever
there W@' history tn wa. "S0'f, 'rUtbor -. mis-
dence OF the and9Il{ o, Us "uIr0' ,.. rI'
one All The Objectionable features however
will be ior-cten when IfW Iei , i zen,
tlcmcn have gone % L.aven-and they nave Dgen lonS
waited for tlole, AID won't be mlcl ln mere on
earth There is no spot on the tatI tIdi "oIu u91 ne
adorned by statue oi Irving ana mere II - e'peag
appropriate. Thousands viii pass TINS way ana ca,
titr chances UpOu his noble features. The young VIII
be taught by their parents that thiS j. IlhR, anu re-
furue home. they Viii seek his works. IL may oe tlat
faded merchants may sometimes ma theH CURIOSITY
Wbetted wien informed that this IS Irving, ana that lie
ICnrf.ct,t 80 place could have been chosen
feeling OF irving. These swelling NILS mat bioau .Its5
OF hcayug water and m, fertile pam coy as VIII
as would have given pleasure TO the author OF Rip Van
Wrinkle And thus recognizing the htness OF the subject
nf ts most genial of an American authors to the aten-
lion Of our children's children.
brief address followed from Samuel b. Ruggcs, and
the benediction pronounced by the Rev. Samuel T.
spear. D. D. wreath Of ivy from the walls Of West
minister Abbey placed on the brow OF the statue by
Master Washington Irving Bishop godsonof Washing
ton Irving aLd the ceremonies thus dttDgy con-
4-FF