New-York tribune., 1901-06-23

dead and what some of them lacked IN their
hard working lifetime Look at Dante Tor III
stance or Savonarola Many OF the oiu aft's's'
poets scholars and men other"lse "oi'"S U.
recognition still fail to- receive their due heeu ol
| praise from their native city. and the people OF
FLORENCE appear be filled with a worthy iihOi-
ton to work off the deDt uue ~ ~ ~
their illustrious dead
| rb;s week if has been the turn of Benvenuto
1,aluni that brilliant, staggering, boastiui
superstitious artistic craftsman VINO was porn
four hundred years ago last NoVeihoer' anu
whose stormy and irnpetuous nature "ofheu llS
way from one excitement and triumph TO an
other leaving behind him a moral reputation
not to be envied hut work which makes his
name immortal That work rs scattered now
through many countries and cities; one will find
If in Paris in London in Rome, Florence and
NanJes The FIorentines have the first right TO
claim him. however. and the greatest mani
festation of his genius. the Perseus, stanos III
| their famous Loggia, where all the world, the
tourist world at least. comes TO see H.
! Therefore Florence has this week ceieorateu
Cellini's birth He in reality born IN NO
vember but what does that matter after -FOUR
| hundred years? The committee IN charge was
| not ready before and after all. May is a finer
! month than November The sentiment is All the
same and the weather could not be improved
upon at present 1t the loveliesr sort OK d
day and all were up early to see the show
Under the portco Of the UffiZi. where the statue
| Of Cellini stands in its niche, and not far from
the Loggia. where Perseus holds aloft the head
OF the Medusa, the procession of the day was
formed
| The fact that O'Clock was the hour at which
the good citizens should have been ready to
start their march did not trouble them-
They up in small groups. when and as
they pleased They represented the societies OF
the jewellers ana silversrniths. and were in their
ordinary clothes. but brave to medals and
imposing TO the banners they carried Sew
eral times they seemed ready to start when
stragglers with flags would hurriedy march
across the Piazza Signoria and wedge their
way into the crowd
| AT last came the band. with the noble title
OF the Band OF Michel Angelo" with pink
and white puInes in their hats. and prepared
to lead the way. There was a great huttering
of pigeons around and overhead. all the tourists
standing near looked on with interest. and the
FlOrentnes regarded the sight with pride AT
the last minute stray musician rushed around
the 10 his place. and a beated blue
banner was thrust hastily in at the rear of the
procession. but they We're all collected finally
and no one seemed that they We're an
hour late in starting
IL Vas on another spring morning well on TO
three hundred and fifty years ago that another
10 Benvenuto CeIIini IL the occasion when.
as ne says: IT pleased my glorious Lord and
immortal God that I finished my work, and on
Thursday morning uncovered IT," ON that
morning, the people came together before il
yet day and there dissenting voice
to the greatness and beauty of The Ferseus. the
enduring metal of which time has left Un-
harmed The Grand Duke looked on from a win
dow of the palace and Joined in the applause
that greeted the UncOvering of the work. which.
through countless difficulties and discourage
ments. at last stood perfect
Cellini liked applause This weeks PERFORM
ances would have pleased him What a pity
that ne could not have made part OF the pro-
cessiOn and gone to his house decorated,
1t is the little house where he was born where
now the city's market fills up the opposite side
of the piazza. Flags waved from ali the win
dows of the neighb0ring houses and flowers
and bright hansingS made the some what duh
little square gay. Here the procession halted.
and while the Michel Angelo Rand played che
royal march. and speeches were made. a new
bronze tablet was uncovered the wall with
wreaths of green and garlands Of flowers sur
rounding il.
Then the march was resumed. 1n1 all hur
ried To the Ponte Vecchjo which had been made
really beautiful for tte occasion The gray old
walls of the little shops ON the bridge deco