Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-10-29
THE BARTHOEDI STATzJE-

'OmeWnaC impaired the spectacle IN homo.
If the unwilling of the Statue of Liberty ct
3edloe's Island, New York, Yesterday.
Twenty thousand men marched in the pa
'ade and half a million people stood in the
streets to watch it. The fog did not
prevent the marine procession, though it
threw thick veil over the vessels and GOV.
cred the great statue in an impenctrabls
mist. a great arch spanued the street in
frout Of the World Office, covered with ever
greens, 6raped with flags add surmounted
with a fac smile of the statue.
The exercises OH the Island were carried
out to the letter Of the programme, and
thousands shivered il the drencbiuq rain
till the beDediction was said, and the salyo
frop the guns in the harbor was rendered
the more impressive by the fog, which Oh
scured the forts and the frieates. The fire.
works were postponed
The enyeloping moisture over the CITY
seemed 10 cause democratic feeling, and
few OF the perambulaling boys hailed the
President Familiarity, as Coed morning.
Grover" That's him; he'll do" and well,
goodbye, Boss" There were no cheers,
unless the CALCULATIONS of college clubs
could be SO called. When the Twenty.sec.
ond regiment marched by the stand on
which were the Presidential party, in grny
overcoats, Mr.. Lamar said THAT reminds
me Of home and old times. Most of our
uniforms looked like that-when thew were
new"
After the unwilling the Grafton Has deliv.
cred by the Hon. Chauncey NJ. Depew, and
the President made short speech, and was
followed by the French consul at New
York. n. do LessepS also spoke in French.
The statue was presented by Mr.. Evarts.
M. Bartholdi was called for; be declined TO
speak, but appeared deeply moved by the
great ut.pnuring of the people in honor of
The event which marked the conslm natior
Of the daring idea, which only the pcrsa-
verance, ardor ard genius lie has shown
could ever have realized.
The most remarkable object was De Les
seps, who raced about all Wednesday with
out moments rest-ate large breakfast
and followed it by two dinners ard Il sup.
per, mado speeches, visited the Unicn
League Club, and killed the evening in 8
lively manner. AS be is eighty-threa wears
old it was thought he would be tired, but he
breakfasted yesterday at 7, and was early
on the grand stand, where he stood for four
hours in the drizzing rain. sco.ning the
armchair that had been brought for him and
the umbrella that was proflered by dele
gate.
There was an inexcusabie lack of arrange.
ment in leaving the Island. TIE French
visitors were scattered ia the crush and
were detained for nearly an hour. M. Bar
tholdi and his wife were compelled to elbow
their way as best they could through the
crowd. Nor were Count de Lesseps and
those with him much better treated. The
President and his party, being better known
by the police, received more attention.
Ga the reviewing stand tho President
was presented with three handsome hass cts
OF flowers, the gifts Of young ladies in he
city. As the various military and civic Or
CARNATIONS passed they saluted by dropping
their colors, and the President responded
by lifting bis bat. Nearly every band in
passing played the Marseiliese.
Bartholdi'S mother was the model for the
statue. 1t is her face that looks out toward
the wave-washod horizon from the shores of
the new to the skies Of the old world. Lib
erty is represented in the work as woman
clad in a peplum and tunic, which fall in
ample folds from waist and shoulder to her
leet. The left foot, g trho advanced, sup-
ports the main weight Of the body. The
right ann is upifted in vigorous movement
and holds alofU blazing torch The left
hand grasps g tablet on which is inscribed
he date Of the declaration Of American in
dependence, 9Th july, 1776" Tho tablet
is held rsther close to the body AID at a
slight angle from it.. The head is that of n
handsome, proud and brave woman. 1t is
crowned by ciadem. Tho arrangement
OF The draperies is feature Of especial ex.
ceilence. There Is great merit in the disno-
slllon OF the penum or that portion of the
draperles flung back over the left shoulder.
the folds of which hang obiquely TO the
right side OF the waist and thence down
ward almost 10 the right knee, thus break.
ing the monotony Of the perpendicular lines
formed by the folds of the tunic beneath.
The movement of the uplfted right arm is
characterized by certain elan, which, how.
ever, does notsuggeSt violence tho carriage
Of the head is diguiicd aud the face is fine
III its proportions aad expression.
The grand goddess Of modern civilization.
standing nearly.150 feet above tho ground,
rises l5l feet2 inches into the air, making
its total height above low water 3O5 feet G
inches. The topof the torch is 81 lset higher
than the spire Of Trinity Church, the tallest
in New York.
Some idea Of the immensely crthe figure is
furnished in this way: The copper shees
used in its construction sre thres-six,aenths
ct an inch thick tho f1rcGnger measures S
lest 10 length and 5 feet in circumference at
the second joint; the nail measures Il in
inches in length By 10 in breadth the head
is Il feet inches high; the eye is oS inches
in width, the nose feet inches long. or
the total weight of this stupendous figure,
440 900 pounds, 10000 are copper, the re-
mainder being wrought iron. About forty
persons can find standing room within the
head. A six foot man standing on. the level
OF the lips only reaches the eyebrow. Fiji
teen people might sit around the flame Of
the torch.
In this connection it may be stated that
there is popular misapprehension concern
ing the Liberty statue. People thiak thew
will be able to ride in elevators or 20 climb
spiral stairways to the gallery around the
torch or the crown upon the goddess's head,
1t is not intended, though, that any visitor
shall at any time ascend higher than the
pedestal, but in order that every part Of the
statue may be reached for repairs narrow iron
ladders, smaller than those used in frees.
capes, have been placed within the frame.