The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-09
THE SHAKESPEARE MONUMENT.
The Inauguration Positively To Take Place on
tho 23d nst-Description Of the Pedes-
tai and site-Programme Of
the Ceremonies.

After nearly twenty years OF waiting the friends
OF literature who originally subscribed to what has
been known as the Shakespeare Monument Fund
viii, in fortnight, have the pleasure Of seeing
nothing for their money.
meeting of the Committee OF Management
and probably the final one--was held on Tuesday
evening at the house OF Mr.. W. M Appleton. There
were present besides the host Judge Charles
P. Daily, Mr.. william Cullen Bryant, Mr. w.
Wheatley, Mr.. q. f. Detmold, Mr.. ]. Wray
Mould and Mr.. Magonigle, the latter gentleman
acting as the representative of Mr.. Edwin Booth,
who was for business reasons, unable to attend.
After some little discussion, it was decided that
THE INAUGURATION
OF the already completed statue should positively
take place on the 23d OF this month, even though
this will necesstate the substitution temporarily
OF wooden pedestal for the handsomer
and permanent one of stone, which
has been ordered from Scotland, but which
cannot possibly arrive in time for the ceremony.
The programme OF inauguratiOn-at least in its
general and principal features-was also deter
mined upon large semicircular platform OF
wood work, capable Of seating q thousand invited
guests and the orchestra, will be at erected.
together with couple OF rostra near it's corners
one tor Mr. Booth and the other for Mr. Bryant.
l me space Included GU, ny IN. me arms OF the
round the monument itself-wi be devoted to such
singing societies as may participate in the cere
mOny, and accommodation for the multitude win
be furnished by thousands Of Park chairs and
benches-the same which do such good service
during the summer at the Saturday afternoon con-
certs.
promise to be worthy OF SO imposing and eventnl
an occasion. Music will enter largely into
be Theodore Thomas orchestra OF 100
pieces. and, probably. the Lcdenkranz and Aron
societies and several glee clubs, to whom special
invitations have been sent, and who will cheerfully
accept the honor OF paying tribute to the greatest
name in English letters. or course the music will be
exclusively Sfakspcarian, and the following list Of
selections though not absolutely decided upon, will
almost certainly be the one adopted
Overture Merry Wives Of Windsor" Nicoia
Overture. midsummer Nights Dream'... Mendelsohn
Schezzo Mendelsohn
wedding March Mendeisohn
There viii also be number OF choral glees such
''Tell Me Where Is Fancy Dred.n
THE ORATOR OF THE DAY,
win be William Cullen Bryant whose high fame in
American literature eminently Ats him for the duty
Avon in noble and appropriate words Mr. Booth
viii also occupy prominent place in the cere-
monies, and will recte some shakespcarian
yet to be chosen. Thus "Divinc WILL"
both az actor ana poet, will he honored by two of
of both the crafts which lie followed with such
wondrous and immortal success.
selected for the monument is admirably chosen. II
is at the southeastern extremity Of the Mall prob
ably the most freauented spot In the whole Park.
main artery of travel and at this point the carriage
road that leads down to Fifth avenue ends in the
two thoroughiares that here run into each other by
agradual sweep around the southern base of the
oval" Everybody, therefore. who goes to the
Park for centuries to come, whether rich or poor,
will almost necessarily pass by the monument.
The site, too, Is one of great natural
beauty. It is sadly true, OF course, that
the east huge blocks OF ugly brick buildings dis.
them out by screen of noble trees. On the re-
manning three sides, however the VIEWS singulary
pleasing. To the west, there are i'm.
mense slopes Of open meadow, gay in
this merry spring time with gaudy dande-
north there is the Mall with its lines OF noble trees
its cleaning band stand and its brilliant crowd OF
weldressed citizens; and to the south there is the
descent OF the road leading into Fifth avenue with
its never-ceasing throng Of handsome equipages:
while TO the right the landscape s pleasantly
broken by dell and lake and patches OF heavy wood
and-a worthy frame, indeed, in which to set an
abiding witness OF the aIectionate respect in
which we Anglo.saxons OF the New World hold the
noblest name in the literary annals OF our race.
THE PEDESTAL
II has been stated already that the pedestal to
be used at the inauguration OF the monument will
he temporary structure OF wood " Is as wen,
however, to give here a brief description Of what
the permanent one Of stone Is to be IKE: II Is
Wray Mould, the architect to the Park and will be
eight feet four inches in height. The die Is of
red polished Peterhead granite, with base OF dark
Quincy, standing on plinth, eight feet square, of
lighter variety OF the same stone. The die will be
surrounded by cornice Of blue Craiglaith granite,
the whole crowned by moulding of red Peterhead,
which will form the immediate support OF the
bronze statue.
THE INSCRIPTION.
On the face OF the pedestal will he cut the nscrip.
tion which, albeit OF rather doubtful truth far
the date OF actual erection IL concerned. is vera
cious AT least In regard TO the time when subscrip
lions for this purpose were first collected 1t reads
as follows
ERECTED
BY CITIZENS OF NEW YORK,
April %, 1894
! The Three Hundredth Anniversary
OF the Birth Of
SHAKESPEARE.
After all the above s scarcely Migrant a
fiction as an average tombstone, and the literary
Historian al he xyill hau In fhn uIIA