Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-11-07
Franklin'S Statue.

After an exposure to wind and
weather in this trying climate of bak.
ing heats and arctic freezings of
eighty-two years, the statue Of Benja-
min Franklin yesterday afternoon de.
scended from the niche over the old
Philadelphia library building. A der.
rick, a gang of ringers and gathering OF
people were the simple Accomplishments
of memorable incident in the history
of city which in 1850 was, as com.
pared with its sisters in the newborn
republic, already growing old.
10 Benjamin Franklin above all
others the Philadelphia library owes
its existence, and yet his FIRST claim was
not only disputed at the time. but af-
terward, when it WAS placed on q sound
financial basis, was attempted to be
denied him. The fact was that Phila-
delphis from the time Of the settlement
by Penn, though principally COM
posed of friends and their descendants,
was intensely aristocratic, and the poor
Boston boy who stepped on Delaware
wharf one morning with q loaf of bread
under his arm was by them always con-
sidered "a parvenu." The private
correspondence of the men of those
days speaks of him always with jealousy
and often with disparagemenk It was,
therefore, that when in 1871 Mr.. Will
liam Bingham proposed to present the
Philadelphia library company with q
statue of Benjamin Franklin, the ten.
der of the gift was not received with
that charming alacrity which would
greet an offer of the same sort sent to-
day. Nevertheless, the Bingham's
were not only great benefactors of the
library, but great in wealth and social
standing, and Mr.. William Bingham's
gift was therefore accepted and finally
placed in the niche on the Fifth street
front of the building some time in 1792.
The statue was cut in Italy by All artist
named Lazzarone, on fine italian mar
BILE.
With great care the statue was yes
terday lowered to the sidewalk. 1t was
found in singular state of preserva-
ton. the dropping hands and one of
the feet projecting in the posture being
the only sufferers from the weather of
nearly century. The figure is beau
tifully cut and the pose not ungraceful.
The right elbow rests on pile Of books
piled upon q pedestal, and in the same
hand is held what seems scepter, but
there have been doubts about it ever
since 1892. The left hand grasps a
scroll, one corner of which is broken
of. Scoffers who have no appreciation
of high art persistently mistake the
toga in which the artist has wrapped
Benjamin for bed.sheet and it must
be confessed that, graceful as the gen.
eral appearance of the statue is, there is
something laughingly homogeneous be.
tween the single-breasted coat and the
neck cloth, the breaches and stockings
and buckled shoes, and the classic
wrapping above and below which they
appear. The statue after being cleaned
will be taken to the new library build.
ing now being erected at the corner OF
Juniper and Locust streets, and then
placed in prominent position in the
front. It is expected that the building
will be finished and all the books re-.
naming in the old building removed
to it by December next. Then the old
building will be sold, if not before, il
being we'll understood that the Ap.
prentices' Library company is not in
treaty for it.-Philadelpiia Press.