The Press., 1883-12-13
From the New York Times.] MARK TWAIN AGGRIEVED.
WHY A STATUE OF LIBERTY WHEN WE
 HAVE ADAM?

Mark Twain was asked to contribute to the album of artists sketches and auto graph letters, to be raffied for at the Bar tholdi Pedestal Fund Art Loan exhibition and this Is his response, which accompa- nied his contribution
 You know my weakness for Adam, and you know how have struggled to get him 8 monument and failed Now, 1t seems to me, here is my chance. What do we care for statue of Liberty when we've got the thing itself in its widest sublimity? What you want of monument is to keep in mind of something you haven't got-some- thing you've lost. Very well; we haven't lost Liberty we've lost Adam
 Another thing: What has Liberty done for us? Nothing particular that I know of. What have we done for her? Every good home, too. And, if she knows any thing, she knows its the first time she ever struck that novelty. Sbe knows that when we took her ill she had been mere tramp for 6,0oO years, Biblical measure Yes, and we not only ended her troubles and made things soft for her permanently, but we made her respectable--and that she hadn't ever been before And now, after we have poured out these Atlantics of ben efits upon this aged outcast, To /! and be- hold you, we are asked to come forward and set up a monument to her. Go to. Let her set up monument to us if she wants to do the clean thing.
 But suppose your statue represented her old, bent, clothed in rags, downcast, shame-faced, with the insults and humilia- tion of 6, ,000 years, imploring a crust and an hours rest for. God s.sake at our back door ?-c come, now, you're shouting That's the aspect of her which we need to be reminded of, lest we forget it-not this proposed one, where she's hearty and we'll fed, and holds up her head and fourishes her hospitable schooner of flame, and ap- pears to be inviting all thef rest of the tramps to come over. Oh, go to-this is the very insolence of prosperity.
 But, on the other handbook at Adam. What have we done for Adam ? Nothing. What has Adam done for us? Everything. He gave us life, he gave us death, he gave us hell. These are inestimable privileges and, remember, not one of them should we have had without Adam. We'll, then, he ought to have monument-for Evolu- ton is steadily and surely abolishing him :; and we must get up monument, and be quick about it, or our children's children will grow up ignorant that there ever was an Adam. With trifing alterations, this present statue will answer very well for Adam. You can turn that blanket into an ulster without any trouble; part the hair on one side, or conceal the sex of his head with fire helmet, and at once he's man put harp and halo and palm branch in the left hand to symbolize part of what Adam did for us, and leave the ire-' basket just where it is, to symbolic the rest. My friend, the father of life and death and taxes, has been neglected long enough. Shall this infamy be allowed to go on or shall it stop right here
 Is 1t but 8 question of finance? Behold the inclosed. (paid bank) checks. Use them freely as they are freely contributed Heaven knows would there were ton of them would send them all to you, for my heart is in this sublime work! snc.