National Republican., 1883-04-20

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aged by aboard OF regents, and they were required
20 elect some suitable person MS secretary Of the
institution
on the third Of December 1876 the board met
TO perform that duty, and before entering on the
election, adopted the following resolution;
Rssolted, That tits essential Tor the advancement
tary Of the Smithsonian institution be man
possessing weight of character and high grade
oftalcnt; and that II Is further desirable that he
possess eminent scientific and general acquire
ments that no be man capable of advancing
science and promoting letters by original research
and effort, we'll qualified To- act ns \ respected
channel OF communication between the institu-
tion and scientific and literary individuals aud
societits in this and foreign counties; aud, in n
word, man worthy TO represent before the world
ofscicnrc and letters the institution over which
thi' board presides.
Immediately on the adoption of this resolution
the ard proceeded to the election, and the first
ballot resulted in the choice of Prof Henry, then
occupying tue chair OF natural philosophy in
princeton college. Experience has shown that
the world p cssed no better man tor such a
place He was nll the resolution required, and
more; aud from the day of his election until now,
the wish has never been expressed that another
hHd been chosen IN his stead .
lie accepted the appointment on the seventh of
December, and on the next day, the eighth, fin.
ished aud sent TO the regents nn elaborate paper
giving his views of the will of Smithson. aud pre-.
eentng plan for the organization OF the institu.
ton. lie entered OH the performance Of his duties
on the twenty.irst oil December, and from that
day until his death, lamented by all. on the
thirteenth Of May, lS5sSaimosL one, third Of a
sonian institution what its mpniicent founder
desired-an active and efficient instrument for
the incr, use aud diffusion of knowledge.
II was faithful TO every duty, active in every
worh aud during his long official service lost no
OPP. rtunity Of making his trust what It was in.
4 Statue which will now be unveiled has
beei erected by the United States as u token OF
gratitude for tile lnbors Of his useful life and for
his faithful administration Of the important pub.
lie trust so long IN his keeping.
just rs the chief justice finished speaking
the lanyards were pulled, the covering fell
away, aud the statue of Joseph Henry was
exposed TO the view of the vast multitude
who greeted it with loud applause The
shapely head looked to the south and the far
reaching eye bent its gaze, as on some distant
object, beyond mortal reach The sun, so
long obscured, had at last pierced the cloud
mantle that enveloped it, and as the veil of
the statue dropped the sunshine fell on the
well known head, gliding its bronze features
with golden glory. In the bright sunlight
of accommodating truths had the great philoso-
pher lived and the first view of his statue in
the open airwas wrapped in tho sunshine STILL
Hardly had the applause subsidized when the
grand chorus, accompanied by the'full Marine
band, sung "Tho Heavens are Telling" from
Haydn's Creation, under the leadership of
Prof II. c. Bornays, with q volume of har-
mony rarely heard, and never before listened
to in the open air In, this city.
When the last chord had died away the
chief justice introduced
REV. DIR. NOAH PORTER,
president Of Yale college, who had been 50.
lected as the orator of the occasion. DR.. Por-
ter said
We are assembled 10 complete the long series of
public honors 10 the late Joseph Henry as we un-
veil the statue which has been erected TO his
memory. These honors lave been manifold, but
all have been well deserved and most cordially
bestowed. His funeral obscquies were attended
by tho President of the United States and other
officials of the government which lie had SO faltn-
fully served, by representatives from many learned
and scientific societies OF which he was con.
following Of those who honored and inourned
him as friend. subsequently more formal
commemoration Of his scientific and public ser.
vices wns held at the capitol at which were pres.
ent the executive tho nation, the judiciary, the
senate and house OF representatives. Oh this
occasion a discriminating and sympathizng
sketch Of his personal and public life was given
by one who had known him long, aud was singu:
larly qualified TO do him justice In every particu.
quent tributes to his genius as philosopher and
his excellence as q man. Memorable among these
were the ringing words of the noble
was like the .trapslaton of prophet aud tho
warm; hearted eulogy of the generous and glowing
Garfield whose noble life was slowly wasted that
Il might measure the intensity OF the nations sor.
row. Many II not nlt ot The institutions of the
country, with which Prof, Henry. had = more or
records aud estimates of his services to science
education and philosophy Tbe tributes to his
honor from other countries have also been hearty
and numerous.
Last Of all, the two houses OF congress, with the
approval Of the President have ordered that a
statue IN bronze should be erected within the
grounds 0f the institution which was the creation
OF his genius and industry as a permanent me-
mortal of his services and worth. This statue is
nov completed aud has this moment been un-
veilCd 70 public Wow. We arc assembled to re-
ceive the first impressions of this enduring monu-
ment which we trust will stand for many genera.
hA md ftnut FOL
sxceloncies Of this eminent servant Of science and
beneiacior OF the American people.
DR., Porter then proceeded to sketch the
boyish life and initial investigations of Henry.
His portrait Of the sensitive and dreamy boy,
"who found enough In the common earth aud
air and the play of common scenes to stimu-
late his creative powers and to furnish mate
rial for his long day dreams, as he lay on the
sunny hillside and looked into the glowing
sky" was striking aud graphic. The econo-
mics of the boys household were straigtened
but not ignoble. The brief space of time in
which hc cultivated the imaginative was
gracefully touched on, and the awakening to
the inducements ofscience was also beautifully
portrayed. His calm, gradual, but sure
progress onward was described, until he be-
came professor in the Albany academy.
At the age of 2s we fnd him professor in the
academy ut Albany. OF which ne had been a
graduate, tasked with the work Of teaching sew.
sIhl l"uES every uhy, ana tasklNg himself with
burhing zeal over every possibly inquiry In chem
istry and physics. As we have said already it
was IN the brilliant dawn OF modern chemistry.
As the new science steadily rose above the hori.
zon, one new discovery after another flashed its
light toward the zenith aud indicated It's upward
path OF triumph In its train appeared those new
and mysterious agencies which were then lust
beginning TO fix the attention aud IN task the
analysis of the oldest ana the newest discoverer.
To those novel phenomena the young Prof Henry
devoted his special attention aud soon astonished
lhe world by achievements which first awakened
the excitement OF bewillered wonder TO convert
II INTO the homage OF amazed conviction. There
was nothing 10 be said when as the plungcr went
down into its bath the impotent bar of Iron be-
came possessed OF giants strength and could
PICK up anu hold weIght Of more than solid
ton, aud as the same plunger was lifted this Rl-
Rantc energy vanished as at the word Of an en-.
chanteT The speaker well remembers the excite.
ment which this discovery occasioned when the
frst experiment was tried at Yale college in
the presence of few spectators who casually
met at the call Of Prof silliman who was glowing
with animation and delight The ponderous plat
form was loaded with pig iron, and other heavy
freight. Among the last was the speaker, being the
ighteSt Of all and therefore, convenient TO serve
Oh the sliding scale. II is more than fifty years
ago. but the scene Is as vivid as tue event Of yes
Srduy
chefy noting the successive discoveries of
N~S daring young scientist'in the same field
until they made assured the telegraph and
the telephone with their wonders of written
language and audible speech, the orator con-
tinued:
From Albany, In the year 1882, Prof Henry was
transferred tO Princeton through the wise sagacly
Of our honored associate, Rev. President john
MhClean, and tho generous and cordial recon-
mendations VI some OF the most honored leaders
OF American science. The step was a bold one,
and might seem almost RASH TO transfer TO a coll
lege q man who lud himself laakad tha braadth