Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1875-12-09
THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.
The French Statue to be Erected
on Bedloe's Island, In New
York Harbor-French En-.
thusiasm Over the
Project.
tPsris Correspondence New York Times.l

Il
l have already mentioned the idea,
put forth by a hundred Of our French
friends, for erecting a colossal statue
to Liberty upon Bedloe's Island, in
New York harbor, and have spoken
briefly of the project presented by
NJ. Bartholdi, the sculptor. His
statue, now exhibited in plaster, is a
fine one, indeed, and has been uni
versally approved. 1t represents the
genius of Liberty as female figure,
neatly draped, and holding lamp
high above her head with the right
hand. 1t is entitled LA Liberte
e'clairiant lie Monde" The statue
itself is to be cast in bronze, and will
be over one hundred feet in hight
above the granite pedestal. Theidea
at the bottom of this fine project is
to erect grand monument in SOU
yenir of the ancient alliance and
friendship between France and the
United States. The cost of this
monument is To be paid by subscrip-
tions opened in both countries but
France proposes to bear the larger
share. 1t would seem from present
appearances that very little money
would have to be subscribed oa the
American side oi thc Atlantic. Tor
the "Francu-America9 Cumml,tee," e"
formed here for the purp 1se %; carry
ing out this work, viii saoa have
funds enough 10 pay its entire cost.
A short time ago Americans in
Paris were disposed to regret tue
lost days of the Empire. tor they
were no longer received III Partisan
society with the same cordiaiity.
We felt that We We're unpopular,
and stood coidly upon our dignity.
The ridicule that oardoa aud cer-
iiau number OF vain and arrogant
journalists has tried To throw upon
.as had produced some eiieot, anu n
lew inpratscnccs ou the part oi
Americans naa made us appear In
tine lignt oi Radicals aud sympa-
thixers with the "Red.' OF France.
But error IL soon bound to reach
the end of the chain. Adler writers
more refined gentlemen aud more
,digniiiei writers--hke Laboulaye,
Llmonin, Henri de Pene. and other
celebrities of the French literary
world-soon began to do us Justice.
Their clear heads and logical minds
saw that We had nothing in common
with the French Reds" They
have turned the tide once more IN
our favor. No sooner was the old
subjec. OF the Franco American al
lance mentioned than friends surg
ed up in every direction, aud We
have been greatly astonished to
lind the number so great. Not only
is the number of friends far greater
than we had reason to suppose, but
those friends show depth Of sym
patty that was entirely unsurpassed.
For instance, as soon as 1t was
proposed TO erect this statue in SOU
venir Of that old-time friendship,
one man begged the privilege of
giving the bronze necessary for the
statue, which, according to the
first estimates, will cost him "a 600
francs. This gentleman wishes his
name kept secret. but ! hope to
give it by and by. Many other
Frenchman have put their names
down for large sums. and the num-
Der of those who solicit the honor
Of associating their names with
their work is really incredible.
Hearing OF this an American gentle
man residing in Paris put his name
down tor a considerable sum also,
and remarked that in his opinion
the roles had been reversed. In
,steaa OF allowing the French to
erect the statue in New York harboI
we ought to place one upon the
banks Of the Seine. and ii some
one would start the project be
would subscribe $4,000 from his
own purse. This shows how all o'
us who live abroad have been touch
ed by the generous idea OF ou'
French friends. But there IS more
pleasure in giving than receiving
il ia said, and our friends are taking
90 much real pleasure and pride II
their generous undertaking that
would be cruel 10 Offer a single oh
lection. Le. NJ meet them At leas
half way. however, and assist, IN
souvenir Of the aid their ancestor
gave us in our War Of Independ
ence. upon subscribing as much .
they do Tor this work.