The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-11-06
1estriptire Artlrles.
THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.

HOW II WAS MADE AND PUT IN PLACE.
The NewYork Tribune thus reviews the
history of the gEeat -'eerfI-otf -'eerfI- NJ Bartholdl
which was unveiled on October %:
The history of the Bartholdi statue from
first TO last is checkered one and goes back
through all sorts of delays and difficulties
for almost twenty years. 1t was, strangely
enough, just at the close of the disastrous
war with Germany and while the horrors of
the Commune were still raging in Paris
that NJ. Laboulaye, the founder of the
French-American Union, first definitely
broached his patriotic project of building
in this country joint memorial of the
struggles of the French and Americans IN
the Revolution, and sent the young sculp-
tor Bartholdi to the United States to find,
if possible, some suitable and happy idea.
The first suggestion Of the statue, perhaps,
dates still further back to dinner given
under the Empire by NJ. Laboulaye at his
country house, Glavigny, near Versailles.
NJ. LABoULAYE's HOPES AND FANCIEs.
1t was at that dinner at Glavigny in 1865,
as Bartholdi himself says, that his mind
was first turned in the direction it was af-
terward so devotedly and enthusiastically
to follow. The after dinner talk of NJ.
Laboulaye's guests had fallen upon graft
tude between nations. Some one said that
such a thing as national gratitude could
not exist. Italy no longer felt grateful for
the good offices of France in 1859; even
with the United States France could no
more count on the remembrance of the
past
This NJ. Laboulaye stoutly protested
against. Whatever might be the case with
Italy, he said, with America France had
had still greater sympathy than with any
European nation. Americas feeling to-
ward France, too, was not one of simple
gratitude. 1t was based on the remem-
brance of community of thoug ht and
struggles and aspirations, And when
hearts had once beaten together something
always remained behind among nations as
among individuals. This, he continued,
was the basis of the sentiment felt in the
United States toward France, sentiment
honorable to Americans as well as French,
and if monument were to be built in
America as memorial of independence it
would be most natural to have it built by
a united effort, to make it the common
work of both nations.
Five years after, in the midst of the war
with Germany, Bartholdi found himself
recurring again to this conversation. The
war was soon over and his native province,
Alsace, shut against him. He resolved to
travel for year and visit the country in
which his interest had been so sharply
aroused. In month or two he found him
self again at NJ. Laboulaye's house near
Versailles. With him were NJ Lafayette,
Henri Martin, Remusat, Volowski and De
Gasparin. The talk turned once more on
the feeling of America for France NJ.
Laboulaye took up his old views again and
declared that without doubt by 1876
there would be strong patriotic and French
movement in America
SEQ to see that country" he said to
Bartholdi. "You will study it, and bring
back your impressions. Propose to our
friends over there to make monument in
common in remembrance of the ancient
friendship between France and the United
States. We will take up subscription in
France. If you find happy idea, we are
convinced that it will be successful on both
continents, and we shall do work which
will have far-reaching moral effect.
Bartholdi' tells all this in his modest lit
tie sketch of the work of the French Com
mittee. And in these two conversations at
NJ. Laboulaye's the germ Of the French
American Unions project may be found.
BARTHoLDI's VISIT TO AMERICA.
The sculptor thought over some plans for
the proposed monument on the way out,
but only hazily. Suddenly, one beautiful
spring morning, steaming up through the
Narrows into New York Bay, the moment
of inspiration came and the sculptor saw in
fancy the majestic figure of Liberty tower