New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-24
BARTHOLDrS GREAT WORK.
HOW IT WAS MADE AND PUT IN PLACE.


THE WORK OF THE TWO COMMITTEES REVIEWED
THE PEDESTAL AND THE GODDESS.
The colossal Statue Of Liberty, so long in pro-
cess of erection on Bedlow's Island will he I'M
yelled next Thursday with all the pomp and
circumstance of great National ceremony. Now
that the work of both the French AM American
committees is virtually over one can look back
on the progress of their great undertaking with
some sense of its difficulties and trumplIs.
Public interest in the statue has never been at
SO high pitch as now. Barthold's name is on
every ones lirs and the talk of the ceremonies
Of the unveing in every ones ears The story
Of the statues growth is an interesting enc and
many people ny to read it i'll detail as il
has come from time TO time from BarthOl1i AMI
his friends.
The history Of the Dartholdi Statue from first
TO last is checker ed one and goes back through
all sorts of delays and difficulties for aim So twenty
years. 1t was. strangely enough just at the
close Of the disastrous war with Ger
many and While the horrors Of the COmmun'
still raging in Paris that VI La1olllaAe. the
founder of the French American Union first
definitely broached his patriotic project Of build
inr in this country Joint memorial Of the strlIg
giles OF French and Americans in the Revolution
and the young sculptor Bmtholh to the
United States to find. if rcssiblc. same suitable
and happy idea The first suggest on OF the
statue perhaps dates still further back ~ din
ner given under the I'm ire by NJ. Laboulaye al
his countly-house. Glavigny near Versailles.
NJ. LABOULAYE'S HOPES AND FANClES
1t was at that dinner at Gla,i.ny in 1868. as
Barthold himself says. that his II nd was fist
turned in the direction it afterwsld SO dcyot-
edlv and enthusiastically to follow The after
dinner talk Of NJ. Iabou'ayes guests had fallen
ri
that such a thing rs national gratitude could n It
exist. Italy no longer felt grateful for the good
Offices Of France in 1859 even with the Unitcd
States France could no more count ON tie rcmem-
bIance Of the past
This VI. Laboulaye stOutly protested against
Whatever might be the case with Italy, he said
with America France had still greater sympathy
than with any European nation Americas feel
ing toward France, too. was not one of simple
gratitude II based the remembrance Of
q community of thought and struggles ana aspra
tons And when hearts had nee beaten together
something Away remained behind anon nations
as amJny individuals This. he cOntn ed. was
the basis OF the sentiment felt in the United
States toward France. sentiment honorable 10
Americans as well as French, and If monument
were to be built in America a memorial of in
de- endence it would he most natural 10 have it
Dull ny u uDluu cIOIl, 10 MAKE IL tlc CJDlOOH
work of both nations.
Five Yeas after, in the midst of The waI with
Germany. Bartholdi foun himself recurring again
to this conversation. The war wa. son over AM
his native province, Alsace, shut AGAINST him. lie
resolved 10 travel for year AMI visit the country
in which his interest had been sharply arOl scd.
In month or two lie found himself a!ain at NJ.
were NJ Lafayette. Henri Martin Rcmusat. No-
| 'wski AMI DE Gaslarln, The talk turned once
more on the fcelns of America for France. NJ
Iahoulayc took his old views again and de
clarcd that without doubt by 1876 there would
be strong patriotic and French movement in
America.
you will study il AMI brns back YOUR impres-
sions Propose TO our friends over there TO make
n monument in common in rmembIance Of the
ancient friendship between France AMI tic Unite
States We will take up "A subs rptiOn in France
II you find happy idea, we incod that
it will be successful on both continents. and we
Shall do work which will have q far-lcaching
moral effect"
Bartholdi tells all this in his modest little
sketch Of the work of the French Committee An
In these two conversations at NJ Labouave's
the germ of the French-American Unions project
may be found.
BARTHOLDIS VISIT TO AMERICA.
The sculptor thought over some plans for the
proposed monument the way out but only
hazily. Suddenly one beautiful spring morning
up through the Nar1ows into New-YorlS
Bay, the moment of inspiration came and the
sculptor saw in fancy the majestic figure OF Liberty
covering with her torch over the bastions OF old
Fort Wood, lighting the crowded harbor with Its
tributary rivers and the vast, black hued cities
IN their borders, the very image Of a teeming,
popuous miniature world
with all his travels In America that impression |
grew only sharper and more defined. Before re
turning To Frnnce he made a water color drawing |
d 'he statue Of Liberty on Bcdlows Island and |
showing IL to various prominent men in America,
~ ue ohion League Club in NewYoriS more par |
.ouia'y ana IN Philadelpha-to whom NJ I.abou |
laSe mad given him ettoIs of introduction he soon
discovered that h0 could lool, for support in tho
United States-that, rs he says the draft drawn
oy The French Committee on American sentiment
would not BIO protested. NJ Laboulaye had had
'ome correspondence already with John jay and
'thes respecting the monument; but though the
interest which Barthold mentions was no doubt |
aroused no formal action was taken until The
'culptor's second visit here.
THE FRENCH-AMERICAN UNION.
Going back to France, Bartholdi ran over his
Impressions to NJ. Laboulaye and his frienda and |