New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-30
IN PETER COOPER'S MEMORY.
THE ST GAUDENs STATUE, SOUTH OF
THE INSTITUTE. UNVEILED

ADDREss-MAYoR STRONG ACCEPTS THE
MONUMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY
OTHER TRIBUTES TO THE WORK
OF THE GREAT PHILAN-
THRoPIsr
Many prominent men Of this city were In the
large gathering that witnessed the unveiling
Of the monument to the memory OF Peter
Cooper yesterday afternoon in the small park
where the Bowery divides into Third and Fourth
aves., and most Of the spectators attended the
ceremonies which took place in the large hall
Of Cooper Union before the memorial was un-
covered Effective oratory and appropriate
music were heard. Fine weather made the SER
vices in the open air the more enjoyable. In
terest in the occasion was increased by the
presence of the 7th Regiment. which went out OF
Its way TO perform a graceful act The enthusi-
asm with which the unveiled monument was
greeted was at once a tribute to the memory OF
the dead philanthropist and recognition OF
the merit of the work performed by the sculptor
and the architect.
Only holders OF tickets were admitted to the
large hail Of Cooper Union. where the cere-
monies began soon after p m, but more than
a thousand persons present, and nearly
one-half Of them were women. Mayor Strong
was on the platform 10 preside, and close 10 MIN
were the surviving members OF the Monument
Committee Of 1SS3-ex Mayor Franklin Edson'
Charles p DAILY, General Egbert l.. Viele, John
E. Parsons and Leopold Eidlitz. Ex-Mayor
Cooper and ex-Mayor Hewitt, the son and SON.
in-law Of Peter Cooper, also sat near the Mayor
and near them were several grandchildren ana
great-grandchdren Of Peter Cooper
Among the the platform were Con-
troller Fitch. Park Commissioner stiles. Re-
corder Goff. Charities Commissioner Faure An
drew H. Green, the Rev DR.. W. r. Huntington.
General Louis Fitzgerald Carl Schurz. d. U.
Mills. Dorman B. Eaton, the Rev. Percy
s. Grant, John A Stewart, James L Cai-
ter. S. s. Packard Charles A feapouy'
Whitelaw Reid the Rev DR.. j. r. feters'
James S. Coleman. James Tacott. George VIII
son. William Leary. Oscar S. Straus, ex-Mayor
Tiemann. Father Sylvester Malone. Of Brooklyn;
Henry Morton president Of the Stevens lnst-
tute: Father Ducey, Internal Revenue Collector
Eidman Theodore Sutro. General Alexander S.
Webb. John Blgelow. Smith E. Lane, Admiral
Erben and William Sohmer.
ADDRESS OF MIR. PARSONS
In the absence of the Rev. DR.. Morgan Dix,
who had accepted an invitation but was too III
10 attend. Mayor Strong called upon the Rev
John L. Parsons was then introduced TO make
,ba commemorative address, and he read from
manuscript to attentive audience for about
half an hour. He said in part:
If eulogy of Mr. Cooper were required; 1t would be
unnecessary here The very stones OF when h sr tns
MT into place. were watched by Mr.. Cooper, speak
Many ms nsYs m M
honor Many time have they echoed % tf. TO- the heap ap
ae which Tays y SDG S{ ms s hd
acqared upon hearts Of an who knfT him rGhs This
Sqe Srs'G"s Monument to MIR Coopers unsenshness his
generosity his wise orethopEht and 10 the he Inter Inter
ef n those who earn their daily bread by the la
Dor Of their hands. as at one time was 'he case
Although more than twenty years have + IasSsed ,Ssi
q large number in this audience were in the habit M
OF seeing him. and retain some impression o 'IE ne
4sdtsHus sor 0f ha, 'hot nohng sa
" whe s ase a5S eadng P The
o the 10 hinge upon this man b or pno 1hat
aaze die While they were here it seemed impossi;
Bic that their work should be done by others IheSS
apPear % Ise Shes SW sSe Gsr Which
slipped from their hands 3neky b e5e is rapdy am aG
Which is startling the time comes when it is feel.
Sns Ing OF or soe special like this that keeps
fresh the memory
CONTROLLING INFLUENCES OF HIS LIFE
wish that could, In some fitting way and by
a few comprehensive words. bring before you all
that was deserving in Mr.. Cooper's life and char
80 perhaps there will be presented to you
,nor. aneakng picture Of Mr.. Cooper in this. drawn
hy himself The following is condensed state
men, of Mr.. Cooper's account of the influences
which. In his judgment. had largely directed and
oor,ro,,ed his life. He said: MY life has been
aa entirely in New-York. | have been doing
nothing hardly but work as long as can remem-
ber / rose from the ranks. from having learned
three trades before I was twenty-one years oio'
First nv father. halter: / learned 'hat.
Then he became a brewer learned that: Then il /
served four Years as a coachmaker: My interest IN
the working classes began wYer there became
acouainted with man, who had Just retutheu
from Franse hO SPOKE e5d Who vi spoke Of
the hundreds of young men attending !ne d
hroueht 10 my recollection that when was ar ar
apprentice how much wanted some inedhs rs ~ ~ AZ +
hnd had no opportunities the schools; no lectures
or libraries were open that could nave Wod al
ways be in every large city large number on 1i
young men and boys T99 TTuG co ne f 70 bey could
have an Institution open at mig for their beneI,,
wosId sEsr bSd gH% Is one; MAT that would is doors
omen at night, so that boy no pettcr on tnah
6 Was Sosd m bm to understand the philosophy OF his
,T9de that kind OF knowledge suffered great
nenced 10 build ! kept at it until got 1t built.
have kept IL going since.
ro WHAT HE ATTRIBUTED HIS SUCCESS
Mr. cooper said: 81 attribute my success In life
ro,rlv n nv horror OF the local bank system j
detormined that ] would never trust them and
would do business only on the amount OF money
could make and when had anything 10 put IN
trade kept my business only on the amount OF
money I had on hand ! have gone through Sixty
.oar., h,s,,nee and 7 cannot remember a week or
month when all the people who worked Tor me
could no, get their money If desired IT. This
could not have done II had depended on money
borrowed from banks, for every seven. VI eisn. ~
nine or zen wears there sure 10 De pahic' sc
l lust kept outside OF them, ana Wheh Pah''
came IT did not seem to trouble me. -. ,.. -.
,,na ,bat he was a child was the Improvement OF
the masses the open ming to them OF new avenues oi
when Justice should everywhere prevail, when inc