San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-05-21
Liberty EnlIrhtenIng the World.

which is now being loaded on the
French transport Isero for shipment
to this country, is tho largest statue
| in the world. Some idea Of its magni'
tude many be obtained from tho fact
that forty persons found standing
room within tho head. A six-foot man
standing OH the level of the lips only
lust reached tho eyebrow. While
workmcn wero employed on tho crown
of her head they seemed to bo making
q hugo sugar caldron, and they
jumped with case in and out the tip
of tho nose. Fifteen people might
sit round the flame Of the torch, which
elevation can be reached by spiral
staircase within tho out stretched
arm.
The London Daily News, in speak
ing of it, says: at is out and away
tho largest statue of modern times.
The Colossus of Rhodes was nothing
to it. 1t would carry tho 'Dravaria
or the Hermann in its arms, 1t
towers to the skies from the yard of
the Ruo de Chazolle, where it has
been eight years in construction, and
the view from its coronet sweeps clear
of the six-story houses and beyond the
walls of Paris.
The weight Of this stupendous
statue is 100000 pounds, of which
17G,0O0 pounds are copper and the
remainder wrought-iron. 1t is ex-
pected to arrive in New York about the
25th of May, where it will be erected
on Bedsoo's Island, this being the
location selected for it by Gen. w. Il.
Sherman, who was appointed by tho
president to make the selection.
When placed in position it will loom up
305 feet above tidewater, the height
of the statue being 1912 feet, that OF
the pedestal 81 feet, and foundation
5110 feet.
This imposing statue, higher than
the enormous towers of the Brooklyn
Bridge OF the steeple of Trinity
Church, which is the loftiest in the
city of New Yorl,--higher, in fact,
than any of the colossal statues of an
tiquity,--by its rare artistic proper
tions, as well rs by it's stupcndous
dimensions, will add another to the
Wonders of the World. A word
should be said of its artistic merit.
The pose, stride, and gesture, with
it's classic face, are pronounced per-
feet the drapory is both massive and
fine, and in some parts is as delicate
and silky in effect as if wrought with
a fine chisel on the smallest scale.
The conception and execution of
this great work are due to the great
French sculptor, M. Bartholdi, who
has devoted eight years of his life and
most of his fortune to this great work,
and whose generous impulses, which
must be on scale commensurate with
this noble work, prompted him to
make such gift to the United States.
The committee in charge of the con
struction of the base and pedestal for
the reception of this great work are
in want of funds for it's completion,
and have prepared q miniature statu-
cite, an exact counterpart of the origi-
nal, six inches in height, the figure
being made of bronze, the pedestal
of nickel silver, which they are now
delivering to subscribers throughout
the United States for the small sum
of 81 each. Aside from it's being
lasting souvenir of this colossal statue,
it will ornament our homes and bear
testimony that we have contributed to
the completion of one of the grandest
works of modern times. All remit
tances should be addressed to Richard
Butler, Secretary American Commit
tee of the Statue of Liberty, No. 33
Mercerst., New York. The committee
are also prepared to furnish model,
in same metals, twelve inches in
height, at $5 each, delivered.
We feel assured our people will be
only too eager to testify their CRATE
full sense of the friendliness of this
magnanimous offer on the part of the
French people, and to reciprocate the
kindly and liberal sentiments in which
it originated, by thus aiding in an ac-
tive prosecution of the labors that
may be required to give the statue an
appropriate base and pedestal. Now
is the time to do it. Whoever wishes
to have the honor and pleasure ofcon-
tr1buting to the erection of the grand
est statue of any age, to say nothing
of the sentiment that should be wei
coined and encouraged, must act
promptly, for the money will be raised
as sure as the sun rises. Every sub
scriber sending 81 will be supplied
with a miniature counterpart and i'm
perishable statue of
LIBERTY ESLIGHTLSING THE World.