The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-02
dwelling Of the Colossal Bust
in Prospect Park.
A Distinguished and Fashion
able Assembly.
Addresses by Henry Ward Bcecher, Mr.. DemaS
Barnes and Mr.. ]. &. T. Stranahan.
A Wreath of Ivy from Westmin-
s.er Abbey.

Yesterday afternoon q homage was paid to
American literature that attracted many thousands
10 participate thereaJ. The Dust OF Washington
Irving was unveiled yesterday In Prospect Park
with appropriate ceremonial This bust 10 the gift
Of Mr. Demas Barnes, OF Brooklyn. to the Prospect
Park Commissioners and Is considered by compe-
ent Judges TO be q very close resemblance Of the
original II was modelled from the only daguereo-
type ever taken Of the celebrated author and this
near to the time of his death 1859. The bust
cast at Powers National Fine Art Foundry New
York, and weighs about seven hundred pounds.
It Is placed on an upright slab OF gran
tie, which bears the simple inscription,
Irving" The locality selected for the bust
that part of the Park close to Flushing avenue IN
region Of the lakes near the carriage concourse
Mr.. }. Wilson Mcdonald Is the sculptor, and was
warmly congratulated by his many friends yester-
day on the success Of his artistic efforts Mr..
Mcdonald Is now engaged on statue OF Mr..
Elward Bates, for Lafayette Park, st. Louis.
raised platform was placed on the right Of the
statue, the speakers and omcials OF the ceremony
occupying seats thereon. On The left was the band,
whIcn dlscoursed SWEEP music at intervals before
and after the ceremonial In front OF the platform
WAS an area OF chairs ana rural seats, which were
occupied by guests. Around this circle was
GORDON OF CARRIAGES
and the general public. Among those present. In
addition 10 those who took part IN the proceedings,
were eX-Mayor Lambert, J. B. Norris, Miss Winnie
Ream Samuel b. Rugges Dr. Cuyler and q. G..
Merton.
Shortly after five O'Clock Mr. A A. Low, who pre-
sided, advanced to the front OF the platform and
said that the audience was met from their
fellow citizen, Demas Barnes, and to uncover an
excellent bust Of Washington Irving. Mr. Low
here referred ct length to the ceremonial Of the un.
vehng Of the statue Of Lincoln In the same park In
1869. The bust that was about TO be uncovered was
Of one who still visited us In spirit, through his
works, and was and would be to many thousands,
\ source Of Unreasonable delight. 1t was beau,I-
Iul expression Of the affection and gratitude of the
nation and a great trbnte to departed WORTH.
Standing at the entrance OF these very popular
grounds it would be useful In stimulating many
who observed II to the pursuit OF knowledge. Mr..
Low referred to the writings OF Irving and the YER
sat,lity OF his genius. He mentioned the life OF
Columbus as the first biography possible in the Eng.
,ish language. and Instituted compa rison between
she genius OF Irving and Walter Scott
ADDRESS OF MR.. DEMAs BARNES.
Mr.. BARNES, whow was received with applause then
made the presentation and sald:-
Mr.. CHAIRMAN AND FELLOW CITIZENSHIP every
age ana generation arises separate duty. Our
loreiallers leiied the forest, dlgged canals and
formed government. That which Immediately
u
science, harnessed steam and lightning TO the en-
gines OF skill, until now ton OF coal VIII perform
worthless products OF an inland state are trans
ported over mountains TO bless aud enrich the
world. Wealth. education, aesthetic taste and IN
creased luxuries have revOlutionized society well
III the building or cities as In the furnishing OF
house. LABOR dictates to capital eight hours per
day; the humble have leisure to cultivate HABITS OF
thought; the opulent demand wider score for en-
jOyment, and all conditions Ol society are
permealed with an ennopling pride which
and want will accommodate themselves to humble
surroundings but wealth and refinement seek con-
y, manly and Will dOmiciie themselves wherever the
county OF nature or the wisdom OF man combine the
greatest attractions, whether 1t be IN Alpine
charms OF American cities The accident OF our exist.
ence IN the nineteenth century forces us into
policy dictates TO Brooklyn liberal improvements
competition compels her to It. And why nOtY The
railroads OF continent ana the commerce OF
world meet us at the waters front; our streets are
broad aud elegant; places or amusement, galleries
Oi art and universities vi learning rapidly mult
TO our counting rooms than are those OF
upper New York; q bridge more wonderful
than the Caudlan a9usdnSss, or OF Rome w.ii
she river, anu this Park In what Will soon be the
centre OF population, all combine to suggest our
and have. within brief period, had TO provide
streets, water sewerage public buildings. schools,
lion III United States; yet with all these concen-
trated improvements our taxes for 1870 were but
$ly " per cdpi!d against SO W in New YORK for
the same period. Our object now is TO dOmice
capital as well As population. This we can only 90
by making our city attractive Us we'll convenient
Bear IN mind that In this country we cannot spend
pubic money Tor purposes VI mere OrnamentaliOn,
~ Is done under mOnarchcal INSTITUTIONS. Those
who here undertake trusts OF sucn q character
live. but tLcy will be considered public benc-
factors when they have passed away and their
aside envy and distrust. and prepare a
brighter page Tor the history OF our city. Can
we not do justice To honOred men rs well as add
euphony to literature ny dispensing with our Sackett
street boulevard our Fourth and Flatbush senues,
and nn,,, substitute "Strananan way .,Murpny,s
the aboriginal dialect of the Oneldas and the IrO-
quolss MI. President ana gentlemen OF the Park
Commission, was an original promoter OF TINS
PARK. l know through what YOU Lave passed.
You have lab0red Tor Ten years without other
pensation tnan that applause which Is grudgingly
have provided us what we this day behold. would
nave made the Park different IN many respects, but
II Will ever be city pride as IL Is But the Park
~ not completed. You REQUIRE deer 10 feed upon
yonder lawn, swans and gondolas to enliven the
waters Of your lakes birds to sing IN aviares lions
10 roar and elephants TO amuse IN geological
gardens, tropical plants to bloom In cOnservatOres,
suouia be- the Of y"ur eoW c,xaes
WITH this view | have caused the work which
through you now present to the City OF Brooklyn,
10 he erected In this place Few names have greater
CLAIMS upon their cOuntrymen than his We now
seek TO honor. Irving was New Yorker by birth
and an American by education and thought. Cos
mOpolite as he was his theories were ours and
whether muslng under ar1slOcratic patronage IN
London, Lisbon or Paris, he taught the philosophy
OF tue republic, and his hcart was always upon the
Hudson. He belonged to no political party. he
worshpped his God without OstentatOn or offence,
illustrating through long life those heroic virtues
Of liked purpose 6delity and good will, which
even now call forth the tear OF gratitude when
memory re-echOes his genial humor and the kindly
sentiments OF his warm heart. Who has not IN
imagination enjoyed with MIN the terrific
grandeur OF IA thunderstorm IN the Highlands OF
the Huds0n;' sailed with MIN In the Jolly "Haif
N0on;" wandered with him through the deserted
halls Of 1.-The Alhanbra;" laughed ut the mishaps OF
''ichabod Crane" sighed win the dscons0ate
.Gretchcn;" smoked the social pipe with ms rubi-
cund Dutchman, and discovered through him new
traits to admire In the immortal Washington We
love Irving for his sympathetic nature aud exquisite
humor-we honor MN as the f0unucr oil an Amerl-
can literature. Deprived or q thorough education,
and not blessed with fortune. yet he became tae
peer and intimate friend Of Sir Walter scott, or
Tom Moore, OF Campbell and Talcyrand. OF cooper
and Everett and or all the nrst scholars on bOth
continents. Scott wrote TO Campbell that young
Irving was by far the greatest literary genius
that had appeared upon the horizon OF the