Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-30
NJ. BARTHoLDr,s STATUE.

American Freedom.
| From the New York Star. Nov. 23d.
For one year the statue of Liberty by Bar
| tholdi, Just finished at the works of Gaget,
Gauthier Il Co., Paris, will stand ON exhibition
on the heights of Montrouge. in that city. In
| the meantime, the American people, through
their representatives, will prepare the pedestal
| for it on Bedloe's Island, in this harbor In a
letter just received by Mr.. Meunier Of the
Courier DIES Flats Unis from the sculptor Bar
tholdi, that gentleman writes
"My work is finished, and now all that re-
mains is for America to do her share in the
proper placing of the gift of France in the harbor
of her great city,"
At the time of the Centennial celebration N.
Bartholdi advanced the idea of the statue He
gave his description of what it should be, and
had placed in Madison Square a cast of the hand
and torch as it would be on the heroic statue.
HIS proposition was the subject of jest I'm
daunted. however, by the ridicule his proposition
evoked, and ignoring the disregard shown BY
the people OF America, he went to work. and
now is gratified with the success that has
crowned his labors, and rejoices in the persist
ency which fought down sneers, ridicule and
studied disregard.
Among his own people, however, his desire
that there should be given to the great republic.
as gift from France testimonial worthy of
the two countries. kinded an enthusiasm which,
spreading from city to town, fired him in his
work as he set about the designing of the Statue
OF Liberty lighting the world to freedom. The
great men of France sought the honor of being
connected with the enterprise. Towns and cities
WED with each other in raising the funds, as
they all desired to have a share in the national
gift to America.
INTERESTING LEADING AMERICANS.
Through Mr.. Richard Butler to whom Mr..
Bartholdi came introduced by letter, MI. Vim.
NJ. Evarts, Mr.. Joseph H. Choate. Mr.. =. W. Pin
chOt and other gentlemen in this country were
made to take an interest i'm the work The site
fixed upon for the placing of the statue was
BedlOe's Island, in our harbor. 1t was agreed
upon that America should furnish the pedestal
According to NJ. Bartholdis description of the
statue, fully carried out in the completion of
the work, the figure is 100 feet in height, and is
made of heavy sheet bronze. Within the figure
there Is spiral stairway leading up to the
head The dimensions are shown when it is
stated that 100 people at one time can move
about in it. and look out from it miles and miles
to sea, and at this distance the light of the
flaming torch held in the uplifted hand of the
figure can be seen.
HOW THE PEDESTAL IS TO BE RAISED
In the year 1877. a committee was formed to
make all the necessary preparations for locating
the statue. MIR. William NJ. Evarts was chosen
president of the committee, Mr.. Butler secretary
and Mir. PlnchOt treasurer. As it was seen that
years would elapse before the statue could be
completed, the committee did not think it proper
to take any action. but merely contented them
selves with watching the progress of the work
FROM estimates made, however they obtained
the probable cost of the pedestal, and settled
upon its size and dimensions. The pedestal on
which this grand gift will be placed will be IT'S
feet in height. 1t is estimated that the cost will
be about 100000. This money is to be collected
from all sections, and for that purpose the COM
mittee, now that the statue is completed sent
invitations to the prominent citizens of various
cities to attend meeting held last evening at
the Union League Club rooms.
WILLIAM NJ EvARTs REMARKS
AS there were not as many gentlemen present
as was expected at the meeting the proceedings
were OF an informal character Hon. William
NJ Evarts, the president of the committee. re-
ferrlng to the time when it was expected to
place the statue in position, said that ''there
was ample time, provided the committee set
about the performance of their part of the work
at once, to have all things in readiness"
1T was proposed, he said. las the most fit
ting time for the placing Of the statue to await
the coming OF the centennial anniversary of the
signing OF the treaty at Versailles in 1888 which
made this country free and Independent ma
ton"
MIR. Richard Butler, whose interest in the
Work since the day NJ. BarthOldi spOk to him Of
the affair has been most earnest and thorough,
read the letters received by him from the gen
tlemen to whom invitations had been sent to
cooperate with the committee in the work. He
had visited Paris in 1878. and was delighted
with the work He spoke of the interest which
all the people of France took in the affair
There, the greatest and most honored of the
citizens, sought to become identified with the
enterprise. Senators and members of the gov
eminent look upon it as an honor and gladly
consented to serve on the committee appointed
by France
Other gentlemen, referring to the amount of
money raised in France gave as an instance of
the hoerallty of the people that one gentleman
gave to the sculptor BarthOldi 50. 600 bounds of
copper. 1t was hoped that the same spirit
would be manifested in this country, when the
people would be called upon to subscribe for the
funds fer the building of the pedestaI-America' s
part OF the work in the great monument to
liberty.