The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-17
THE COLOSSAL STATU Z.
A CONTRTBUTION FROM THE FRENCH
NATION TO OUR CENTENNIAL.

The colossal statue of Liberty about |
which the American people have been hearing |
rumors aud brief reports for some months past, |
but which had an indefinite air Of romoteness
about II that was not calculated to awaken
In mediate and general interest, is rapidly be-
coming moro and more OF reality and
success. After long period OF discus
sion and about a years collection Of sub
scriptions, It appears that the practical
work Of building the statue Is also well under
way The work Of casting the bronze plates is
being carried on In France. Part Of the statue,
consisting Of fragment OF the right arm and
hand, with section OF the torch II Is to bear
aloft, was received in this city few weeks neo,
and was sent to Philadelphia where II Is on eK-
blbition at the Centennial. Judging from the
dimensions OF this fragment and the character
and artistic excellence Of its construction, the
complete statue will be much the most remark
able work OF art on the American continent. and
will he IN enduring and commemorate orna-
ment Of the hnrbor OF New York.
Several years ago, as the Centennial ceebra-
ton ~ American independence began to be
looked forward TO md talked about In Europe,
some ~ the warm republican spirits OF France
suggested the idea Of contrlhuti on 10 that cele
ebration from their own country thft should be
WORTHY Of the great OCCASION. The suggestion
was received with en- husiastic approval and II
was determined to carry 1t into eject; but the
form which 1t SHOULD take was not decided on
then. Soon afterward ~ Auguste Blrtholdi.
the SCULPTOR. who was one Of the men Interested
in the project, made a trip TO the United States.
As the vessel that bore him steamed up the bay
OF New York, he was, TO use own language. sur
prised and delighted at the beauty % the spec-
tacle that met his eyes. He has been great
tr weller, Bnd has had the fortune to see most OF
the famous natural wonders Of the world. His
ewes have rested upon all Of the most admired
harbors, but none appesred to him more heau-
tiful than that OF our metropolis. AS Bedloe's
Island met his vision the thought occurred to
him that there, Ut the door OF the American
republic, with tue great city Of New York at lie
hack and on either side the large aud populous
sister elites, or rather suburbs, Of Brooklyn and
Jersey city, and beyond them. the free, broad,
ana prosperous country, no spectacle could he
more noble and impressive than that OF q COlOs-
81 statue Of Hbert,, which TO the sons OF every
people coming from abroad should be one of
tho first objects to meet their 8. re, ana should
appear as the embodiment Of the spirit OF the
laud, welcoming them TO home and an asylum.
This thought did not leave him, and upon bis
return to France not long thereafter he broach-
ed It there. II met with immediate adoption,
and II was determined 10 open subscriptions
for the cost 81 such statue, which should be
at the same time Gift expressive 81 the friend
ship Of the French nation to the American. and
"A monument to thei- common devotion 10 the
cause OF freedom. 1t - ouli he erected on Bed
Ices Island. and the pedestal, !, was thought.
woul undoubtedly be furnished BY the Ameri-
can people.
THE WORK RETARDED.
For q time the project remained IN its incl
pient stage. Until the republican form OF gov
the ruling powers would not have permitted a
collection OF subscriptiOns toward any such
purpose, "a eubversive Of the Interests OF the
state. After the French Republic b ad become
a settled fact came the devastating foundations
OF last wear. which caused so much loss and suf-
ferng, and at the same time, distracted public
sympathy too much, and demanded too much
Of public aid to make II practicable at that time
1t was not until Nov 8, 1875 that the project
/ was fairly launched. On the evening OF that q ay
! a public banuuet was given In the Hotel du Lou
yro. In Paris. at which an assemblage Of over 200
/ Of the most eminent gentlemen or France were
gathered, including every profession. Among
them were Alexandra Dumas. Ldbo Ilaye, Os-
car de l. iftyette. NJ. Bartholdi. John ". Forney,
Minister washburne and Gen. Slckles. There
were several speakers. INCLUDING Mr. was hhurne
and Coz. Fornev, ana NJ. Laboulaye delivered an
address Of noteworthy elOquence. thus banquet
! brought the movement fairly before the nation.
and It was received with eaeerness and cordial
y. An association was formed under tue name
of the Union Franro-Ameficaine and COM
mittee appointed TO take charge Of the subscri p
tions, Of which Minister washburne, NJ. de Ro-
chambeau. NJ. Aug. Bartholdi, the French Am
bassador to the United states; NJ de Noalles,
the French AmhA ador to Rome. and Col. For
ney were honorary members and NJ. l. ID Oulaye
iay S,usn st. hus "r,hSn. tSe sdS,pSrs anG
Mrs.rs Waddingtou aud Wolowski. They dis
/ tributed over the country a circular calling fof
contributions, f. which they said
Amerie. VII! very soon celebrate the centennial an
ni,e 'sry II her indcpcnaence IhiS ds,e marks ar
~oqs the foundation Of the eraai republic
o. race, IN Of tAr most honorable pages OF her his
Ncbeevc as well as friends OF the UnIed states
AmeriDl g. acommon maniirstsiiou. Notwltnstaliinl
a. oss pa, ts ,9 g ,1 t nm e., 81 t a.e &c
alW.4 houurrd ~ uei. luc good event winch VA
hratc y ih ogr American freud. the ID an SINGER,
Friendship watch 60 ~ united both nailons.
Subscriptions came pouring IN from oil The
cities Of France. None was rejected, however
small. since the name u the subscriber was de
sired, though u c Ime alone, To show The interest
and good will of the people. Ii was desired &
make il n great eOullitiQn OF pvpul r feeling
Some Of the subscTlptions were tor only nv,
centimes; hut Z e committee stid they woule
prefer ten sucn To one for twenty confines
Subscriptions were made with especial readi
| ness and cheeriulness in the quarters OF thu
workinsmCn aud 10 the factories, IL was n
first estimated that 3J0,uOO francs would be sui
1cient; 1t las since became apparent that IN
cot of the Work Will swell to toO'VoJ francs
Help was expectsd also from America.
/ Considerable amounts of money wee Oh
tanned from concerts, lectures, ana ether enter
tainnents given for the benefit Of the project
Toe distinguished composer Gounod wrote
patriotic song on tue theme, la Lurlf' 'cidt
rant IL monde to which Emile Gui rd furni she,
the wurus. IL WIS rendered in the new oper
h use in Paris by the orchestra Of the opera AM
si1 hundred singers, aud the proceeds went t
mall, tnoughi sufiicirnt has been subscribed
tu. the adinion.l DCeo iran rs, or 50 t1s a
/ uletion, Is -till 70 he obtained.
THE ARTIST.
The execution OF the statue was committee
to toe hand Of Mr. Aug. BiItholdi. IL Is to be
colossal female igure standing cree, the rich
arm holding high above her head nimheat
, winch al night VIII contain lighthouse be.co
I !
waters me lett arm holds gracefully to u
side of the body set OF tablets supposed to b
! | Inscribed VITA the Declaration OF lndepend
| ence, bui bearing yisioly the date july 1, liI
/ | A tunic lis in graceful folds from tn
70 shoulders To tho feet. On the head Will b
a diadem bearing a circle of guided spike
. that during the al y Viii glisten like beahs q
lght ia the rays OF the sun. the countonanc
is earnest and majest c, the attitude of tue d.
A., IRE natural ami uncon,trainei, tut fun of ~.
nity, grace. aud strength. lnr material ~ Oh
0 statue Will ue bronze, and that OF the pedest
granite lhe height OF tHe ~ tue. without n
Irin, viii Toe ll5 feet. 10 the tpp Of the torch
| | viii measure 40 feet. The pedestal VIII he 81
100 feet lao q. From the section at Philddeiph
/, some rpure ptiun may be Obtained NJ inc dimei
!. 81 ms 81 the wuOie work, lne thuun, wnit
y partly encrcles the torch, l. l. feet IN circun
ference. The thumb nall j. larger than the Sc
) Il a capaciJus chair la the arm, below II
= elbow. fhrrn iuel can walk abreast, ana abo'
q I the elbow there will he room Tor nine. he Sc
; ton Il Phlladsuhii Is made 81 sheets Of met
A siXtcentn Of an inch IA thickness, riNeted al
+ s,ruMe ilrmly together, and supported tnruug
d ptr hy IRON STAYS Each ot the fingers Is - ldrl
70 et . fun grown man. \ spir stalrwaf Will e.
tend through the interior OF the statue AZ
:, though the uplifted arm, and will lead 10 a he
" tOny Around the edge of the n imnean.
q ms statue Will he Nv lar the largest in q
y world that OF II. Ca:l BprrOmeO, at Lleo
Is Como, ~ only ubout thirty-slX feet nigh; Ia
= of Iiayari, IN Munich, about sixty the gre
a Of IA