St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-11-04
LIBERTY ENLIGHTENING THE WORLD.
UNWILLING OF BARTHOLDI'S STA
TUE.
The Imposing COMMUNICATIONS of
the Statue.

the statue.
BarthOldi's colossal statue of Lib
erty Lighting the World was un
yelled at New York Thursday with /;
great land and water parade anC
speeches. Then it was formally pre-
scented to the people of the United
States. The day was nearly as bad al
it could be-mnddy, misty and rainy
A fog hid the harbor from sight and Sc
spoiled the grand water parade; a driz
Zle married that on the land. But il
spite of it all the multitude was count
less and enthusiastic. Loud cheers
greeted the sculptor BaTtholdi wherev-
er he went. He was deeply impressed
with all he saw. French and Ameri.
can cOlOrs abOunded everywhere. In
spite of the awbacks of weather, the
ceremonies attending the presentation
of the greatest statue known in history
to the people of the United States were
in every way success.
Over seven miles of military and
civil organizations marched by the
president and French guests, while or
the water 100 vessels were drawn NJ
in two divisions, the first composed OF
large steamers including the North
Atlantic squadron, and the second OF
tugs and smaller vessels. The river
and bay were covered with gayly -deck
ed craft of every size and shape, as the
squadron, nearly mile long, bearing
the guests to attend the unwilling GER
emOnies, moved along toward BedlOe's
Island. The meme war were anchor
ed in line off the island, and weaving
i'll and out among their dark, bunting
decked hulks came the vast tlOtilla.
On landing the guests were welcOm-
ed with a general explosion of cannon,
waving of flags and footing of whistles
The pedestal of the statue, the fort and
the platforms for spectators, were
bright with flags and streamers, the
tri-colOr of France dividing hOnOrs
with the star-spangled banner. Over
the face of Liberty was drawn large
French flag.
The balcony from which the ad-
dresses were given was reserved fOr
the presidents party, the French visi-
tors and the speakers. Gen. SchOfield
tried to call the multitude to order.
Prayer was offered by Rev. DR.. r. S.
StOrrs. Ferdinand de Lesseps then
made brief presentation speech in
behalf of the Franco American union,
the American committee, presented the
statue to the care and keeping of the
people of the United States, represent
ed by the president.
The unwilling was one of the pref
test and most nearly perfect features
of the day. The corners of the veil
were unlOosened and futtered for a
moment in the breeze, when the whole
flo Fl frl. m ~
in the tiara, disappearing us if by mag
ic into the forehead of the statue. AT
this moment the fog lifted and the dig
nified features of the goddess appeared
to the multitude. For moment the
din of the cannonading and whistling
was renewed. As the sounds died
away, President Cleveland stepped
forward and accepted the statue in be-
half of the nation. Albert Lefaivre,
the French consul general to New
York, spoke next as the representative
of the republic of France, and Chaun-
cy Nj. Depew followed with his add
dress of cOmmemOration. At the close
of the exercises the distinguished
guests returned to New York city and
in the evening banquet was given by
the New York chamber of commerce
in honor of the representatives of the
French republic.
History of the Work.
The history of the great statue COW
ers Il period of 20 years from the day
in 1866 when the suggestion first came
to the mind of Auguste BarthOldi, then
81 years of age, an Alsacian sculptor
of Italian birth. 1t was at gathering
of brainy men at the home of NJ La
h., iSf DIN
ing a spirited after dinner converse
ton on the gratitude of nations. La
bOulaye argued firmly that the thank
fulness of the American people for the
assistance rendered by France during
the struggle for independence was still
alive, and instanced the sweet memory
in which the name of Lafayette is held
among us. 'If a monument were to be
built in America as a memorial of their
Independence" said he, 81 should
think it very natural if it were built
by united effort if it were common
work of both nations" The words i'm
pressed the young sculptor strongly,
and he carried the thought with him
through the stirring scenes of the
Franco @ erman war, during which he
fought bravely. After the war when
Paris was in the hands of the commune
and his native province was closed to
him, he determined on visit to Amer
lea. On the vessel coming over Bar
thOldi made a water-cOlOr drawing of
the present statue and gave 1T the
name. Riding into New York harbOr,
with it's magnificent spectacle of i'm
mense cities lying and shining in the
gate way of great continent, he Sc
lected BedlOe's island as the site for
his work. Bartholdi spent five months
in this country journeylng to its re-
hottest parts and meeting the most
prominent of our citizens. He was as
sured of the sympathy and support of
the United States and went back to
France with the glad news, which he
submitted to the brilliant circle that
gathered around NJ LabOulaye. The
plan of the monument was impaired to
them and indOrsed, and there and then
the French American union, which had
for its object the execution of Nj Bar
thOld1s project, came into existence.
The union took up it's work with
characteristic French enthusiasm. Sub
sciptiOn lists were circulated through
out France, and the $3.50, 900 necessary
to defray the expense of the monument
was soon raised. The United States
was asked to provide a suitable site
and pedestal. The government gave
the site, BedlOe's Island in New York
harbOr. The history of the movement
to raise the necessary $3.50, 900 in this
country for the pedestal is familiar to
all, movement that seemed likely to
fail altogether until the New York
World started its popular subscription
and raised the last 100000 and $4,000
l,uni.Inr IN,