The Portland daily press., 1889-02-22

On the seventeeth day Of December. the
library was closed to the public. For the
eight nc months and sixteen days there were
23,57s volumes circulated for home use. and
1854 volumes used at the library. There
were $3.50 volumes and 1882 pamphlets In
Guiding unbound periodicals transferred to
tne new building. The work of removal was
begun Dec. 10, 1888, the men and horses OF
the Fire Department assisting. The wealth
er was unusually mild and the work was
accomplished Dec. 31st
On the 10th day Of January, 1899, the
amehueu cnarter was enacted and approved
ed by the corporation.
Wnile the new charter was only an amend
ment TO the acts creating the Portland lnsti-
tute ana ruolic Library, and authorizing the
union OF the Institute and the Athen@um,
yet II practically created corporation essen
italy different in character and name.
Inc pledges made b. the founders OF the
Institute have then be fulfilled. No longer
proprietary even in form, it has become g
the Portland Institute and Public Library Is
accomplished
Inc hon. William l.. Putnam. who was
one OF the donors Of the dead Pearl Diver"
Paul Akers's great work in marble to the
Portland Society of Art. formally presented
the same to Mr.. Elwell for the society with
the following address:
Mr.. PUTNAM's REMARKS.
Mr.. El,cell-The farms and villages encom
passed by that part Of circumference which
from the ocean sweeps westerly and north
erly OF Portland, and thence to the bay on
the east, with radius few miles In length.
nave oeen prollfic OF men OF memarkanie
intellectual qualifications; and among the
most striking Of them was Benjamin Akers,
familiary spoken as Paul. Born In 1870,
ne deceased prematurely at Philadelphia In
1861. His character seems so marked by
q lCo bxa slaa cor.o a n
intellectual responsibility. that his memory
not only delivers as dust to dust what was
mortal, but brings to all who understood so
much of him as was imperishable, an inevi-
table perception of the infinitely greater
truth, that 1.-THE spirit shall return to God
who gave it,"
So much as has been published concerning
the dead Pearl Diver" which believe was
the last OF his great works, and which has
been regarded by many as the grandest Of
them, 1t Is not necessary for me to attempt
any detailed account of It. II was modelled
In Italy in 1851; and 1t Is understood to be
the same which received Hawthorne's crit-
cism, criticism Of admiration, Of one friend
ly, not hostile. The work has come at last
to rest forever in thu city which might well
claim itself to be the place of nativity of
Akers's career. like better those old time
systems of philosophy which teach in CON-
mon parance the existence Of internal senses,
as distinguished from those which are exter-
nal. AS years go by grow in faith In our
normal ability to apprehend the good. the
doubts, less troubled with doubts of this and
all which IL implies. However, this NAV be
there is in the beautiful in art power to ar
rest men and hold quiet their intelligences,
refreshing them In the midst of the heat and
turmoil Of life and, so that this marble may
not only aid in teaching youth. but also may
afford pleasing Interruptions for the middle
aged, as well as secure the quiet admiration
Of those ripe in years In behalf of the
vest its ownership in the Portland Society of
Art.
Mr.. Edward III. Elwell, in behalf of the
society, responded as follows, both the giyer
and the receiver being greeted with much
| applause:
MR.. ELwELL's RESPONSE.
1t is with pleasure that perform the
| agreeable duty Of accepting at your hands
sir, on behalf Of the Portland Society of Art.
the munifcent gift of the lady and gentle
| men whom you represent. 1t will be
| cherished, am sure, not only because Ii Is a
meritorious work Of art, not only because it is
| the work Of one who was native of our
| State and for years resident of our city, a
| man whose genius reflected credit on both
| the city and the State, and whose untimely
| death cut short career Of SO much promise,
but also because the presentation is an
earnest Of that liberal spirit on the part of
| our citizens on which We must rely for the
| promotion of art in our city. This Stone we
venture to hope, will prove to be the founda-
ton stone Of gallery of art, which shall
| grow with the increase of taste and culture
| among us, and long exert refining and ele-
| waiting influence in this community.
| In rendering to you, sir, the thanks of the
| Society Of Art, i am reminded that thanks
are also due to the trustees of the Public
Library for granting space within its halls
for the reception and preservation Of this
| noble work Of art. The Society can but
| hope that the time is coming when it will
| have hall of It's own in which both sculp-
for the presentation of those forms Of beauty
| and grandeur which tend TO instruct and re-
| fine the public taste while they elevate the
| thoughts Of all who behold them.
The exercises of the evening closed with
the following original poem, which was read
by the authoress, Mrs Elizabeth Akers
| Allen:
MRS. ALIENS POEM.
| The Spirit of the Beautiful shines down
| Upon our work-day world in fitfn CLEANS
| Now here, now there. in crowded, busy town,
Or quiet country home, her radiance streams
| Through the dim atmosphere of commonplace
On some grave child, with shy and serious face,
And eyes too thoughtful for his tender years,
Silent, with lifted gaze contemplative,
As listening to voice no other hears
And brain wherein strange dreams and fancies
live
Whom, by some mystic birthmark seen alone
OF her clear eyes, she knows to be her own,
And claims him for her chosen Minister
The rapt exponent of a holier creed
Than bigotry or worldliness can preach
Her starry-eyed evangelist. who brings
Tidings Of better things
Whose vital presence has power to stir
Our stagnant lives, hemmed in by toll and trade
Her eloquent, many-tongued interpreter,
Earnest and unafraid-
Whose mission Is TO teach
To doubling souls their own divinity,
And lead them up to her;
To make men conscious Of higher need
Than dainty foed and raiment can supply,
Than wealth can fill, or fame can satisfy;
To build new temples on her sacred height
And keep her fainting altar-fre alght
Amid the sitting air
OF poverty, the heavy damps of care,
The miasms born of selhshness and greed,
Which vex and menace so
Its purifying glow;
To catch the music dropt from loftier spheres
And make it audible to other ears,
In strains of song whose ringing notes shall
chime
Far down the slopes of time,-
To plant in earnest hearts the precious seeds
Which grow to glorious deeds;
Or, as her most miraculous messenger.
To make the sullen canvas smile and live,
Or the cold marble almost breathe and stir.
So setting him apart to do her will,
She makes alive and visible to him
The deties Of her elysium,
Visions to which all alien eyes are dim;
And leads him on, by unknown ways, until
He, her ordained apostle, has become
A glad partaker of her highest joy
A lifelong dweller on enchanted ground;
Her prophet and her priest. inspired and crowned
An artist, from simple dreaming boy.
SO was he chosen, set apart and led,
Whose genius first made visible in clay
The embodied grace that charms our eyes to-
day;
Is 1t not beautiful? This youth, who seems
This moment newly dead,
And scarce beyond the reach of happy dreams;
Whose cleaning limbs like Greek gods of
old
In symmetry and perfectness of mould,
Are not yet wholly cold
And settled into rigid lines OF death,
But wearing still the trace
OF life's elastic grace;
No.. T..