The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-16

a Perreetiy Gentieusuniy saHrest,sn 30 - the
Proper stten fer Theu,


To THE EDITOR or THE suN-Sir: The ques-
tion where It is best to set up n public monu.
mcnt In this city has not always met with an
answer satisfactory to everybody. 1t Is thought
by many people whose opinion Is probably
worthy Of consideration that the Statue OF Lib
erty in tho harbor Is only approximately vol
placed. It ought to DO moved n little, those
theorists think, and deposited without pedestal
or other foundation in some place where thoro
is a good forty fathoms of water. This amount
of water 10 stipulated because there Is no wish
on the part of the unsatished critics to dispose
OF the massive Bartholdi Offering in q way TO
interfere with navigation. All they ask is to
have It completely submerged. II it should go
twenty miles out to sen with the scow fleet. and
DO there deposited informally with the other rub
bish. the critics in question would be satisfied.
They insist upon only one point-oblitorAtion
and oblivion. still, OF course. IL tho Bartholdi
statue were to re disposed Of In this manner. It
would be q great disappointment to people who
love to go upstairs.
1t 10 q noteworthy, II not q curious, fact that
the same persons who would like to SEQ the
great efigy Of Liberty redeposited are further
in favor of tho transfer Of Walter Scott and
Robert Burns. in the Central Park, to q situa-
| tion at least forty feet below the floor Of the
Marble Arch. This, they say. would be Q much
uhbB oho bS"~S ss S.NS
statues. which are now too much exposed TO the
sun and air. Tho Fits Greene Halleck In the
Park they would like to re-establish in the midst
Of Q perpetual midnight in q guarded tent.
Az for Bolivar, further along In our great
pleasure ground. he 10 meroifully surrounded by
q dense tangle of bushes and trees, 90 that hs
cannot brighten tho horses. 1t 10 true. however
that stray and venturesome dogs occasionally
get q view of him and set up an unearthlJ
rumpus on his account; and It is reassuring te
think that our good friends the Venezuelan
arc going to replace him shortly with o calmel
Bolivar, q Liberntor less disturbed BY his compos
ito contents of dynamite and high.powor cleo
tricity.
On the other hand. nobody denies that thu
Grant Tomb. at the head Of Riverside Drive. Il
a wholly appropriate and effective monument
depressing In a degree suitable to tho idoa o.
mortuary expression. and we'll calculated Il
render any intelligent observer poignantly un
happy.
1t is not yet generally known what tho new
soldiers monument will look like. Whatever II
looks like, It will not be set up at the Fifth avenu,
and Fifty-ninth street entrance to Central Park
1t 10 hardly to BIO expected that 1t will be a crea
ton to equal in altitude tho several stupendoul
hotels in that neighborhood, and 1t would hav,
been painful to see art overtopped and dwarfet
by business. There has lately been erected II
Madison square q business edifce which shut
Off the moonlight from DR.. Parkhurst's churcl
steeple. This building. by its overpowerinl
bulk, reduces the neighboring Seward statue II
the dimensions of a wart, and yet the bronze MI
Seward is actually an art work Of such consider
able size that passers-by cannot begin to lool
into its lap. and have been wondering for year
how that same ample and exposed area is safe
guarded from the flying litter which 1t ~certainl
and most conspicuous!y invites.
No. tho soldiers monument should be care
fully considered before 1t is determined wher
1t shall be set up. II It comes to be generall
understood that 1t is as good a thing as tn
Greeley statue at Thirty-third street, or tn
Dodge statue which vies in interest with tn
series of illuminated owls on the Herald build
ing a little further up. or tho great Cox statu
which gloriles the neighborhood and stop
horse cars perpetually at Astor place. 1t shout
have in fairness n situation to equal theirs. Blu
it should take its chance. and should receive n
moro favor than Cox and Bolivar and w. 4
Dodge. unless 1t can DO proved that 1t 10
superior monument. B,
NEW YoR Doc. IA.