The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-08-13
LIBERTY ENLIGHTENING THE WORLD

FREDERIC AUGUSTA BARTHoLn1, THE FRENCH
SCULPTOR WHO DESIGNED THE COLOSSAL
STATUE WHICH WILL STAND IN NEW YORK
HARBoR 300 FEET ABOVE TIDEwATER, AND
BEAR ALOFT THE TORCH OF LIBERTY.
Thirteen years after the young French
sculptor, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, CON
ceived the idea of erecting a gigantic statue
of Liberty in New York Harbor, the
chief commercial highway to Libelty's
chosen seat, the United States of America,
the cornerstone of the pedestal on which
his completed work will be set has been
laid with imposing Masonic and military
ceremonies shared about equally by French
and American citizens, representing the
leading republics of the world Should the
necessary funds be forthcoming, the pedestal
will be completed by November of this year.
About 500, Oee are now on hand and S125, 900
are needed. The statue is complete, and
towers above noble surrounding buildings in
Paris. It will be taken to pieces shortly, aud
transported to this continent by ships of
the French navy.
The history of the great undertaking which
in probably about another year will give
New York HarbOr the largest statue in the
world, begins neatly niue years ago, when
the first steps were taken 10 the matter bv a
body OF distinguished Frenchmen. enthusi
astic lovers of liberty whom its originator
and creator bad interested in his noble con-
ception. These gentlemen formed them
selves into a society called the Union Franco
Americana de France, aud held n banquet
Noyenber o, 1870. to InauguTate the project
NJ. Bartholdi's design was enthusiastically
approved, and a subscription for the erec-
ton of the statue begun, Tue city of Paris
subscribed $1,000, and in five years France
had subscribed, chiefly in small sums
the S250O00 necessary for this pur-
poses Another banquet was then held
IN the French capital. at which an
address TO the peepie If the United States
was adopted, recalling the alliance of Frsuce
with this Nation in the cause of liberty dur
ing the Revolutionary War, and emb0dying
sentiments expressive of their hearty accord
in the maintenance of Democratic principles
of the Government. Work on the colossal
statue was promptly begun under the super
intenGence of its designer, who has witnessed
its completion. The United States Minister
TO France at that time. Mr. Morton, drove
the fist spike, October "a, riveting the first
of the bolts which we're TO join the statue
to the pedestal. Only the right arm, head
and shoulder were at that time ready, but
all the plaster casts were completed and
steady work was being done with the bronze
of which the statue is made. The hand and
wrist holding the torch had already arrived
in America in time to be exhibited at the
Centennial Exposition, and was afterward
temporarily placed in Madison Square, New
York.
Meanwhile, on this side of the Atlantic,
measures of cooperation with the generous
French nation were taken. On January 2,
1877, a meeting of citizens of New Y ork was
held for the purposes OF presenting the IN
dsrtaking to the American people, TO pro-
hal
ton and Inauguration of the statue and 10
create financial means for erecting suitable
foundation and pedestal Congress passed a
resolution providing for the erection of the
statue on Bedloe's Island, New York Har.
Dor, and for its maintenance in good order.
Moreover, its formal reception by the Presi-
dent OF the United States, on behalf of toe
Government, was secured, and President
Grant thanked the French people for the
gift by autograph letter. An address TO the
people of this country, asking subscriptions,
was written and circulated, but these have
come in slowly, and there is yet the def
cheney given above, which was reported on
the day the cornerstone of the pedestal was
placed In position, August 3. Subscriptions
already in have been spent on the founda-
ton chiefly, with the exception o. balance
which will last bat short time.
The facing of the pedestal will be OF Leetes
Island Conn granite, which is rich pur
ole in color and Of great endurance General
Charles Z. Stone. formerly or the United
States Army, is Eneineer-in.Chiet of the
undertaking, and Mr.. Richard NJ Hunt,
Architect-in-Chief The figure of Liberty
Enlightening the World is l0l feet aud
ll24 inches in height; to the end OF the
torch, which will be lighted up with elect
ricity at night, 1873 feet. The head is four
teen feet high, and forty persons can stand
within it. The pedestal will be eighty-two
feet high. As the mind naturally reverts to
IL OIL e oh IN nFart nlofi
these figures, il may be well TO State that
that was 105 feet in height The statue of
Liberty is the largest in the world now
standing, and probably the largest ever made.
1t was not cast, but Its various parts were
hammered into proper forms Arrangements
| have been made which will prevent it FROM
| being damaged by lightning. The design, with
which every reader is familiar, is universally
admired, being apt, simple and majestic.
| Criticism has spared the designer.
This gentleman, although now only about
| fifty years of age had attained reputation
| before undertaking the work by which he is
best known. He was born at Colmsr,
| France, and learned the details of his art of
| the celebrated AIRY Scheffer. His first work
| of prominence was his bas-relief of Fran
| cesca di Rimini, 'executedin 1852 Bartholdi
made the statue of Lafayette, which adorns
| Union Square, New York. He was one OF
\ the French Commissioners at the Centennial
| Exhibition, Philadelphia, where he was
awarded medal for the exhibition of the
bronze statues OF Peace" THE Young Vine
| Grower" and Genius in the Grasp Of
Misery" He Is chevalier of the Legion of
| Honor of France. Notable 10 his recent I'M
| dertakiDgs, additional to Liberty Enlighten-
| ing the World" is the lion cut out of the
solid rock at Belfort, France, figure eighty
feet long and thirty feet high NJ. Bartholdi
resides in the city of Paris.