The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-28
JOHN BUNYAN.


monies at Bedf0rd-The Life and Work
of the ssTinker of Elstow."
BEDFORD, June 10. 1874
This pleasant little English town has to-day been
helping history to record still another satire on
human allibility. Two centuries ago John Bun
yam. the thinker OF Elstow," was in the prison Of
Bedford, suffering long Imprisonment of twelve
years '.for conscience sake" Sweet liberty was
offered him repeatedly on condition OF his preach
ing no more In public The athor OF 1.-THE Pilgrims
Progress rejected all such OFFERS however, boldly
declaring that "f released to-day be should preach
tomorrow" Such srubbornness in an illiterate
tinker was considered worthy only of the con-
dignest punishment, and the GLORIOUS dreamer,
was kept In prison in . miserable hovel which
stood on the old bridge across the Ouse at this town.
The bridge and its belongings have long since been
demolished. but they will live IN history. Howard,
the English phllanthroplst, was first awakened to
sense OF the need for jail reform by the squalor
and noisomeness OF this same prison wherein
Englands greatest prose epic was written. Bed
ford was not only Bunyan's jail, but one of It's
suburbs Elstow quaint little village, gave him
birth. The original of the Slough Of Despond is
there; the house Beautiful stands on an adjoining
sunny slope and the great plain whereon the
City OF Destruction lay Is none other than this
wide and beautiful vale of Bedford. This same
Ousc uOW iucduucIluk tHTOusu pledSduJ green
meadows ana which at times Is swollen and
turgid, was the mysterious river which Christian
and Hopeful swan. Every spot in the
scenery is associated with "Tnc Pilgrims
Progress" That little book has made
Bedford famous, and to-day the noble
duke-whose title Is derived from the town-pre-
sents statue to the townsiolks to commemorate
in all time coming the intimate ASSOCIATION be-
tween the town and the author OF ''The Pilgrims
Progress"
The town Is exIberantly en- J9te. Flags OF all ma
tons 1oat from the windows, and garands of gay
colors stream from triumphal arches at the en-
frances to the town. Hawkers are selling "The
Pilgrims Progress" on the street. and photo
graphs OF the author are on sale in all the book
stores. The church bells are ringing out their
merriest peas-those very bells the ringing of
which Jonn Bunyan had once regarded as one OF
his own deadliest sins. Thousands OF folks old
and young, are arriving hourly by train from all
parts Of the country and are paying homage
TO the statue. The statue itself is
triumph OF art 1t stands on
st. Peters Green aJ the north entrance to the
town, and is a large bronze figure of Bunyan set
on pedestal of gray granite. The figure is about
ton feet hlgh and has a massive, substantial ap-
pearance BETTING the character Of its original.
The pose is very happy. Bunyan stands uncovered,
anu Vic tuTucu uOWu DTOdu COlldI, the SnOft DUCK.
skin jacket, the big belt the short breeches reach
ing to the knees, and the homely looking shoes
bespeak the dress OF tue period. He holds the Bible
open in one hand, while the finger of the other
rests on its page. His countenance is turned
heavenward and wears q singularly seraphic ex-
preston. The following inscription, craven on the
pedestal, and taken from Christians visit to the In
terpreters house, supplies the thought present to
the artists mind
1t had eyes lifted up to heaven
The best OF books in his hand
The law OF truth was written upon his lips
1t stood as If it pleaded
With men.
The artist was J. L. Boehm, OF London. Three
bdsSO retierOs on the pedestal were much admired.
That on the west side represents Evangelist direct
ing Christian to the wicker gate. On the south
side Is representation Of ''Christian Fighting
Apoyon." That on the east is very fine picture
OF the "Three Shining Onesn meeting Christian ut
the foot OF the cross.
The ceremony oil unveiling was performed by
Lady Augusta Stanley, wife OF the Very Rev.
the Dean Of Westminster. The Mayor, Alder
men and Common Councilman OF the town,
attired in naring red robes, occupied
platform In rear OF the statue. An enormous
crowd stood around cheering Justify. The speeches
at the unveiling were Commentary short The
Dean OF Westminster, In one or two pithy sen.
fences, contented himself with bidding those VINO
had not read ''rhe Pilgrims Progressn go and read
IT, and those who had read 1t hundred times to read
it yet again for the hundred and first time and
by living out its teachings In their lives to rear
still nober monument IN their hearts to its author
After the platform group hal been photographed
the assembly adjourned to the Corn Exchange
Here Dean Stanley delivered fine eulogium on
Bunyan. He was received with great cheering
and began his address as follows:-
THE DEAN or WESTMINSTER ON JOHN BUNyAN.
"As ! walked through the wilderness of this
world lighted upon certain place where there
was DEM These words have been translated
into hundreds OF languages, aud the question mas
was that deny The answer given has always been,
The name OF that place Is Bedford, and the name OF
that den Bedford Jail. THIS 1t Is which has given
to the town OF BEDFORD its chef-may say, without
offence, Its onlyStite to universal ana everlasting
lame. Cheers and laughter) 1t Is exactly 200
years since Bunyan resolved upon what to hun was
great venture, namely, to publish that work
which has given to Bedford this immortal renown,
debt she to 2 shall some pa o. sure se
England at large has IN your illustrlous
thing or the national ana Cosmopolitan
character OF Bunyans works was probably owing
TINKER and in the more serious journeyings OF his
alter lie IN what may be called his episcopal vsl-
tations; II we follow the track OF the young sol
army nc ID not certain which,, when he so mar
r0wly escaped the shot that land MS comrade low
at the siege oil Leicester, we shall find that he
probably obtained there the materials for his "Hoy
War; and the ..slege OF Mansoul." When was
exploring .the Pilgrims Wayn to Canterbury 1 !
was much impressed with the ingenious theories
OF one OIL the Officers or the ordnance Survey. VINO
neld tnat the pilgrim OF the seventeenth century,
John Bunyan, caught the Idea OF the Hill oil Dni-
Guilty and the Detachable Mountains from the hills
through which that track meanders; and might he
not rom his early visits TO London have obtained
the notion or Vanity Fair AT any rate, we know
mat CROWDS attended his preaching al Ioar chapel
IN SOUTHWARK, and he rests III the grave
OF his host, Standrake the grocer, In
the venerable cemetery OF BunhIll Fields.
You are right, however, to claim him as your own,
Tor IL Is the strength OF u country and OF town
10 have its famous men held IN everlasting re-
membrance. such are the links by which they are
bound to the history OF country, and by which
the local greatness OF q whole country IL bound
together. tCbGersl You have become immortal