Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-06-10
I PRESENTATION OF BuSTS.
A Notable Event at the wilmington 1
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FRIDAY proved an occasion for a dis
play OF oratory which excited surprise
among the large crowd Of spectators
who, attended. William P. Taylor,
chairman OF the library committee pre-.
sided and with the speakers occupied
the desk enclosure, the desk itself
neing decorated with flowers. On be-
halt OF Friends' School Alumni, John
I. Nields presented the bust of Dante ;
on sbenalf of Mrs Job FL. jackson. the
kev Henry Baker. d. D.. pastor of
Grace Church, presented the bust OF
Shakespeare. and ON behalf of Clawson
s. Hammitt's School Of Art, Bishop
Coleman presented the buet of Michael
Angelo. Upon their presentation the
husts were unveiled respectively by
miss Lillie Q. Bryer, Miss Bertha L..
burke and M ias Katharine M. Brad
tord. Tney were received on behalf OF
the library by William Michael Byrns.
Mr. Nields, in presenting the bust OF
Dante which stood on top of book
shelf on the north side of tho hall. said
that the educational influence of a
public library should not be restricted
solely to reading, bur it's sphere should
lie as broad as education itself. "A
FREQ library" he declared, sis the most
important single institution in this or
any city. Here it ministers to the
spiritual growth in u greater or less de-
gree of more than TO- 900 people. 1t
helps TO clear the sight aud steady the
vision of that number. ltforwards the
end of all education-whlch is to in
crease the appreciation OF the good in
life. L; forwards the end of life itself
| 10 helping men to discard temporal
things and cleave to things eternal.
This bust of Dante. and think !
am safe in saying the nther busts also,
are given TO encourage the growth OF
the library in this broadcast sense.
They are the, beginning, | trust, of a
more liberal co operation between the
leading citizens and the city's library.
1T 10 generally understood that citi-
zen's duty does not end with paying
taxes and making contributions to
church and charities. There is o duty
to aid 10 Identifying the city, it's parks
and buildings. About the soils con-
tribution in this particular line that
we have is the ugly statute of President
Garfield on Delaware avenue -
Mr.. Nields said that the bust of
Dante was contribution both to art
and literature. AS Boccaccio, or some
other commentof said fDante's was
the first voice in ten silent centuries. )"
He lived even before old Father
Chaucer. Moreover, Dante was the
first and geatest Christian poet. Dur
ing those centuries after this classic
literature. the Christian idea had trans
formed the thought and motives OF men.
Blind tate NO longer controlled man
destiny. A petulant tyrant was replaced
by just and tender Father. The CEN
trail idea of Christian theology was the
theme of Dante's greatest work, the
Divine Comedy. This idea he handled
with tremendous imaginative power.
That evory human being was child of
God and Divine immortal spirit; and
as such spirit was free to elect by
thought and conduct in this world be-
tween hell or paradise, both for this
life and for the life to come, was his
theme. The handling OF such theme
by one of the greatest minds that every
wrought 10 language resulted in great
contribution to literature.
He gave brief analysis of 10 poem
aud declared that its moral truth and
artistic beauty are as real to-day as
when written.
The bust OF Shakespeare stood to rhe
south Of the library desk, facing that
Of Dante, and in his eloquent address
DIR. Baker drew attention to their facing
each other as recalling their homes
England and Italy. He dwelt upon the
greatness OF those two countries. He
paid tribute to England that planted
these colonies and produced such mon
as Wellington, but above all declared
that the crown of that English civiliza-
tion was that mighty man OF Stratford,
through whose cathedral of Intelligence
the songs OF all lands play. The doctor
said there was q literature of knowl-
edge, in which are the catalogue and
dictionary, but there was also a litera-
ture OF power, of the breath of inspira
tion. In this latter class was Shake
speare. He declared it to be a glad
hour for the city that the faces of
Shakespeare and Dante should speak as
their words have in the past. In clos
ing he referred to the donor, Mrs. jack
son, who was unable TO be present.
Bishop Coleman, in his speech, gave
brief retrospect of the earlier history
of the library, and said that he was
glad of the evidence OF advance. Iu
speaking of Michael Angelos greatness
the bishop said that be was a writer
of no mean ability, a painter, a sculptor
and also an architect. He has left his
mark on one OF the greatest buildings
in the world, st. Peters at Rome. The
bishop spoke of THE Last Judgment
by him in the Sistine Chapel and his
"David' and "Moses.' From his
work the speaker drew the lesson of
perseverance.
Mr.. Byrne received the gifts on be-
half of the library and made an elo-
quent speech. He declared that the |
record of humanity is the record of the
people in the growth of power. This |
finds expression in the government Of |
America and be held that to-day there |
should not be on this continent any |
organization owing allegiance to any |
power not American. In connection |
with freedom hus been transmitted to |
us the duty of its preservation. Mr. |
Byrne believed that the forces that will |
tend to perpetuate the Republic are
religion and education. fIe referred to
each bust and In conclusion said that |
they would exert silent influence in
the work of encouraging broad, a
liberal and extended cultivation of cd
ucation, literature, art and learning.
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Great Run on IA Weli-Kpown Institution.
The famous Patent Medicine Warehouse
of Charles n. Crittenton. New York, has
recently been subjected TO an extraordinary