The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-16
Laying the Corner Stone Of Men
ument in Central Park.
Gathering of the Clans on the
Borders of the Lake.
A Brilliant and Suggestive Scene in the
Playground Of the Metropolis.
0rations, Quotations and Libadons in
Eonor Of Sir Walter Scott.

The centenary of Scotland's wondrous novelist
and epic poet, Sir Walter Scott. yesterday made
memorable by the conservation to his name OF
monument in the Central Park Two continents at
moment sympathizing through the mystic
channel of common admiration for one great
intellect, and dwelling fondly on the story of one
life aone declared Enthusiastically that mind,
after all, is the only thing can win the guer-
don OF immortal and universal fame. Scotland
has reason to feel proud OF the hOnors paid her
bard and novelist. England has countless roll Of
names distinguished in every walk OF literature,
but three centuries elapsed before the greatest Of
her poets was remembered by the formal homage
which the custom OF modern days pays to the ge-
MUS OF the past. Not so with Scotland. Around
the world through each recurring year, the lovers
OF her brightest otsprng-the lyric poet
OF tho mass OF mankind-ROberJ Burns, gather
at the social board to Klndls into enthusiastic
fame the warm devotion his marvellous muse
inspires And now another OF Scotland's sons,
who half a century ago poured over the world the
very elixir Of romance, fascinating every fancy and
opening up treasures OF intellectual delight richer
than cleaning gold or dazzling diamonds, comes up
for recognition before the great court OF which the
whole Engllsn-speakIng race Is composed. lie
shall take rank with Burns and with shak-
speare and the trio OF intellectual magicians snall
through the countless ages yet to come, be lifted
the literary armament.
America, with the broad catholicity that marks
her approval OF great minds from whatever land
they spring, appreciated the genius Of Scott with
as hearty an appreciation as any Of his own coun-
trymen, and New York, which speaks the voice OF
the country, determined to raise monument to his
memory
In the Central Park, which in future years will be
the great Walhalla OF the world, where already
Shakespeare and Humboldt and Schiller hold place,
the wizard OF AbDotslord Will be rendered visible in
marble ana hts monument, after the model OF the
beautiful design which his countrymen delight in
pointing out to the stranger amid the streets OF
Glasgow VIII harmonze with the exquisite gems OF
scenic landscape all around.
Not alone does New York exhibit the c0smOpoll-
tan side her character in thus paying homage to
the good ana great OF every clime but she also
shows that among her people there Is an ever ready
acknowledgment of the trumphs men achieve In
the pure and intangible realms OF fancy.
The assemblage which witnessed yesterdays
ceremonies well represented the literary
and artistic elements OF New York society.
The place was meet for such q commemo.
ration; and though the heather. clad hills
were absent, and the soft landscape was little sag.
gestve OF the bold and stirring scenes amid Scotias
mountains and valleys which the pen OF the poet
loved so much to portray; yet there was touch OF
natures trained expression on the face Of the beau
tiful Park that the hermit Of Abootsford, had he
been there, could hardly help admiring.
The conduct OF the ceremonies was in harmony
with the place and the occasion. 1t too often
happens in this prosaic age that matter
OF such peculiar character as paying homage
to the memory OF whose gifts were Of
the imagination loses force and appropriateness by
the incongruity or the surroundings In this SIN
stance however, there was happy concord.
Those VINO spoke and dwelt upon the merits and
character the poet 10 the level OF the occa
sion. They knew Of whom they treated and the
language OF their euogy was neither Inadequate
nor exaggerated. Above all did the skies and the
green fields and the gently rustling trees and
the still lake, framed IN by grim grey rocks,
make hitting picture OF the foreground Of
the monumental site Then the multitude covering
the area around was sympathetic one. IL came
to honor the higher element mans nature--to
unite in giving visible testimony to the worth and
splendor OF great and unusual light among men.
No one who was present yesterday VIII regret the
occasion, for though there was neither pomp nor
display there was something in the spirit OF the
hour that recalled all ones earliest recOectons OF
those marvellous Waverley creations which in
their time, and even yet, continue to work such a
spell over the minds Of men.