New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-09
The GOETHE BUST.
GIFT TO THE MUSEUM OF ART.

| A GIFT To THE MUSEUM OF ART.
THE PRESENTATION BY THE GOETHE CLUB-AD-
! DRESSES By DR.. A. RUPPANER, JOHN TAYLOR
JOHNSTON, AND WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.
| The Goethe Club of New-YOrk having de-
cided present to the Metropolitan OF Art the
colossal bust Of Goethe by Prof Fischer OF Berlin, the
presentation took place last evening the Fifth Avenue
Hotel The bust which is Of zino-bronze, stood pc
destal draped with United States flags. large number
Of ladies aud gentlemen present among whom were
william Cullen Bryant Prof Van der Weyde, Consul
Kuhne, the Rev. Drs W. r. Alger and Samuel Osgood,
Postmaster James, Psrke Goodwin, Prof Glaubcnsklee.
John TAYLOR Johnston. G.. H. Blanchard, Commissioner
William II. Stiner, and c. w. Chrstiern.
A. Ruppaner, NJ D., President OF the Goethe Club,
welcomed the guests and made the presentation ADDRESS,
| which, in substance, a. follows:
HoNoRED GUESTS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: In the
name OF the Goethe Club extend TO you cordial wei
come On the 2Sth Of August last were assembled TO
commemorate the birthday OF Johann WOugang Won
Goethe. former executive committee which had
acted upon its responsibility. and the component
members OF which longer form part OF our circle has
handed down TO u.s. legacy OF that festival this bust
OF Goethe, tine work Of Prof Fischer OF Berlin BY
| unanimous vote the Goethe Club-reorganzed and in
coorated since the festival in Augustdecided pre-
sent this work to the Metropolitan Museum Of Art the
most appropriate institution where, temporarily ia Four
feminist and later in the Museum being constructed
times
For the purpose OF consumating this presentation we
are assembled here tOrigt. With the final disposition
OF the bust the usefulness 0nd object Of the Goethe
cub instead OF having ceased. enlarged and so to
speak, begin anew Our purpose Is twoiold III st. to
procure In place OF this bust an appropriate statuea
tribute worthy OF tho great poet, dranast, scientist.
aud master In the realm OF nciion-d monument 10 be
pointed 0t aud Ia be contemplated with prido by visitors
"a our beautiful Central Park The second purpose OF
the Goethe club which according TO its constitution IL
the cultivation aud dissemination OF knowledge
OF the works q Goethe and German literature
and art generally progresses steadily ana makes
itself already felt among both Americans and Germans Of
culture In the steadily increasing number OF members OF
this club and tue interest felt In its Americans
and Germans Of culture did say Ought we 70 exclude
tnc Ihn W edu,aIoh OF Ia P,tSuL. Oh tne sv d.
Goethe In the fullest Of the word cosmopol
tan thoughts cosmopolitan IN sentiment strongly pro.
nounced In his universal love OF mIuhnd pleading IN
poetry In prose. In ncOn In science Tor universal love
and the whole OF mankDda stranger alike 10 differences
OF cTer and 10 the little chickering's OF mistaken points OF
difference as to nationality. 80 the Goethe CuO claims 10
Goethe with much justice for Americans a. ne is
claimed for Germany ever ready rue TO MS teach 60
wherever found in literature in att In science, ana last,
but not least, in every honorable action.
With these sentiments, them Mr.. President johnston
In the 81 tue Goethe Club request you to ac-
cept IN psa OF Inc trustees OF aS u
safe keeping passes To us 1t VIII render the Museum
of Art more dear and frequent place or pilgrimage To
the shrine Of our patron saint.
John Taylor Johnston, President Of the Metropolitan
Museum OF Art, responded, saying, in substance:
It gives pleasure TO be here this evening and accept
from the Goethe Club this bust for Goethe belongs To all
nations There time when II appeared that
for the Irish, but as II IL we're for the
small thing for the Museum of Art We hope to make
our Museum o thing of which all may Do proud. We
hope that In foreign countries our Museum will he
the depository OF many curious aud valuable articles.
hope That tits bust will he bond between the Goethe
Club and the Museum: and thank you again Tor the gt
will add that the only colossal bust In the posses
sion Of the Museum is that OF our great poet ana guest
Vim. Cullen Bryant.
The President then called upon William Cullen Bryant
who spoke follows:
Imay 10 say that IT Is with great satisfaction
that the members Of the Goethe Club transfer the 3t OF
the great author whose name they bear TO he pubc OF
New York, hy giving u IN charge to the MetiopOtsn
MUSEUM OF Art The finest ~ his writings have already
passed into literature by means OF excellent transn
tons. aud u Il fitting that we should possess the sculp
tured image OF those features which were nodded Dy
nature be the visible sea, OF his powerful intellect
oar country friends has already proved fernie IN
OF them artists OF rrnown whose Norhs
will endure for The genius OF our eountrymen
turned In particular manner TO TINS branch OF
have gun buss aud statues Of our good and seat
men will br frequent In all parts OF our country they
our city squares: parks VIII be populous with them
We are lust beginning To recognize greatness IN ths A-
ner and copy marble or bronze the divine IMAGE Ia
tue features OF eminent men. In the courre Of
century two may perhaps rival the ancents IN tne
ages which will attest for those who have
have enlarged Of science added 10 the arts
which cmbeillsh ie, or framed wise laws, or written
good books, given tho world examples OF exalted
virtue
We all acknowledge the obligations duo 10 the ancient.
for the Images which they have left Of the eminent
uersns VINO lived 900 years ago ON the elrth-ther
sgyes their philosophers their HISTORIANS their pOete
sGea msGs and their their ssor. who seem to
think Ia stone. What a delightful surprise 1t would be
10 the world these Of ancient art were now
TO be- discovered for the first time N there were none
ef these marble portraits OF the great ones OF An
faulty Ia any OF museums, public or private
and We ara told that bust had been dug mp from
soil Of Greece bearing inscribed upon IT the name OF
Socrates II to learn that statue OF Arstdes
the Just Archmedes the prince OF mechhnlcinn or
Cicero the eloquent or Bruus The trautlueer never
before seen by the present generation had been un
earbed and that could now see how the men OF the
old Greek race Latin stock looked IN their lifetime
what the form Of the brow that covered the active
BRAIN aud what the look Of tue eye when lighted up "
Tho ,ou how would curiosity he stimu atel, and
I'm what hrongs should besiege the doors OF tue Tor
tunato posscssOr OF these rare treasures!
Thomas H. Waterman, Vice President of the Club then
read an rgina translation Of Goethe's poem. "Zueig
nung" Dedication after the German original had been
read by Prof Glsubcnsk. The Rev. w. X. Alger then
made q short address.
brief address also made by tho Rev Samuel Os-
good d. d. who said he supposed that In the gift OF this
INST German culture presented to the American people
It's representative poet.
Tho reception then closed with collation. aud social
conversation