The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-02-07
INTERVIEWS THE BARTRoLDl
 STATUE.

tThe Fat coasribusoF, h Texas SiAings,l
 A fuIl, resplendent mooa vas sAining over Paris tho other night when ths idea seized me to promenade myseA as the French say, to Rue de CAaselle pask. McnceAu, and view the BaxtAoldi statue by mocakgAs. h was the midnight hour, and the neigAboshood, . retired one at any time, vas quite deserted. l could regard the colossal 6Rure ot hhersy, which is destined to stand on Bedioa's island, in New York harbor, enlighten- ing the world and s portion of New Jersey coast, quite at my leisure. When arrived on the snos imagine my sur pr,se in discovering Liberty seated in corner of the place of construction, evi- denty enjoying . much needed relax alion from the strained and painful atti- tude, she has so long susia.nsd. She had thrown her torch carelessiy on The ground and pushed her spiked diadem rephyrs of night to fan her brow. Her back hair was let do n and she was with out doubt keenly relishing a negigee which the hour invited. She wasn't ex- pecting company, of course, and when she discovered my presence she gave a start that must have strained every bolt and rivet in her composition.
 "Tiens she cried, in a voice of thun- der. "Qui va la ?"
 "Bon soir, mademoiselle," said l, in my blandest tones, excusex-moi for this intrusion, but being Americain-"
 Americain she erie ], and her stern metallic visage relaxed into a smile of pleasure, "Vous etes Americain A la bonne heure! Bodice for youi You sec speaks re Engishe leedle." She raised her arm and jumped back sew eral kilometers, but it was only to motion me to seat near her, which with lit ie hesitation l accepted.
 "Zen you are from Amerique-that is to be-chez moi-my home, eh ?"
 "Oui, mademoiselle."
 ''Tres bien! Bon pays c1a, votre Amerique. Land of E. free and home of -oi ze Clevelan'. ze Blaine and ze Znay Goui, n est pas?'
 admitted that the latter appeared to hold a rather heavy mortgage on it.
 "Tell me, s'il vous plait, m ,nsieur," i" she continued eagerly, "of youE belle countree. Will it make to me ze grand welcome?'
 Certainement, mademoiselle.
 "And re climate, will it make zs mai to my complexion ?"
 1 assured her that nothing was more beneficial to the female complexion than the atmosphere of New York.
 "Merci monsieur. You take one grand fardeau from my-what you say. heart, nest pasS' And she placed a mighty palm, weighing in the neighbor- hood of two hundred kiloarAmmes, on her expansive bosom, which gave fo.th . clang like a fire alarm. expected to see the entire department hasienin. to the spot, but Eenecting that Paris hremen rarely respond to an alarm inside of tweaty-four hours, remained tranquil. The gigantic female resumed:
 Monsieur BsHAcid;, heay him say you make not grand progress with my fondachi-ong on pisle Bedloe. He yer mooch deesgoost He say, Les Ameri- cains, Iey come not down wiz what you call-Ee blunt nest pasr r'
 Itold her there had been some tardi- ness in that direction, owing to the heavy contributions we had been called on to make for election purposes. Torches, uniforms, coal oil, banners and brass bands cost money, yet no people can maintain their liberties without them. But election being over, public attention was again centered on Bedloe's Island. The fund is gradually being augmented, l said. Contribution boxes have been placed in the various orphan asylums and charity homes of New York, and the inmates invited to drop their loose pen. nies therein. 1t was but recently that an street, the home of wealth and patriotism, announcing that his receipts for that day would be contributed to the Barhoidi fund. He collected fifteen cents in less than three hours, which he generously turned over to the fund, after deducti..g his expenses "Then," said 1, " the rich men ot New York, the Astors, the Coulds, and the vAnderbilss are putting their hands into their pockets-"
 "And keeping rem zare," interrupted the goddess with asperity. "Zat is what Monsieur Bartholdi told me, mainteaa ant. He say, if rat fondaehiong march not plus vite-more lifely, nest pas2 he vii, sheep me to Bfazeel, or Oustralee, or Hindoostan Comprenez ?"
 "Oui, I Hindustan."
 "Tres bienl like not to go jusqu'- ala. My heart is set on PAmerique, Voila"
 Then she assured me that she eater tained the kindest feelings toward my country, notwithstanding the unwarrant- able delay in preparing for her reception, for, of course, she couldn't 70 without being first assured of her sanding. She thought New York was just the place for hs-. Wk:l3 she had no objection to en- tightening the world in general, accord ing to the origins! ps'n, yes from what she had heard of the workings of it's municipal government she considered that New York needed enlightening more than any spot she knew, and she was eager to begin her mission. She added that rather than delay much longer, she would willingly contribute the funds from her own pocket.
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