The Washington herald., 1908-08-23

s
But there are many who are sadly IN
familiar with the history OF our South
American neishbors, and 70 those, OF
no light. therefore. the gray-haired Do
Iiosman on post near by Is kept busy ex-
planning to curious pedestrians that the
block OF stone Is part 0f The statue oS the
great Simon Bolivar
But this information only adds 20 the
mystery. What has become Of the statue
Is It a case Of lost. strayed. or stolen ,
Why was q gift from a friendly power
placed II such an obscure spot as this
one Of the last places IN Central Park
where one wOtld expect 20 ind a statue?
why Statue Was Removed.
Bolivar. the Liberator, vas q great pa
triot, and, according 10 the inscription on
the stone. his country, Venezuela, had
sought 10 honor his memory and al the
same time q pay America a gracious
compliment by presenting his statue in
bronze 10 New York Why, then. should
New York have been so churlish as 10
bury the gift in this out-of-the-way por-
ton Of the park. situated right next 70 a
gravel heap2
The gray-haired pat-oIman could not
give much information on these points
Al he could say was that the stone had
been there before his time in the park
There used 10 be a large figure Of Bolivar
on horseback on it. he remembered. but
the statue had been taken down over ten
years ago. He believed that some Ven
ezueIans had removed It; that there was
some talk at the time about the figure
having been inartistic. and something said
about another statue being ordered 70 re-
place it That was ten years ago or more.
however, and no other figure had been
sent. and so there the stone stood. and
probably would continue 10 stand for
years 70 come. The policeman heartily
wished that they would do something
about it, and either put q new statue on
the pedestal or take away the big block
OF granite, fOr-present company excepted
he was sick and tired Of answering
questions about the mystery monument -
as some folks called It
The patrolman suggested a visit TO Park
Commissioner Smith. who might be able
10 supply some further details
Park Commissioner Explains.
That official. when seen at his Office by
a reporter, smiled at mention Of the sub
ject.
SO you want 10 know what We are go
ing 10 do with the Bolivar statue, or
rather all tina. IS left Of it. do you?'' he
said I wish could tell you. but can
not for the reason that do not know.
That pedestal over near Eighty-third
street IS a white elephant On my hands
I would Ike to get rid OF It. for an a
lover OF the beautiful and anxious 10
make the park as picturesque and artistic
as possible It must be admitted that
that statueIess block Of stone Is not orna-
mental and disagures the landscape there
That is why we have used that spot for
a gravel heap. But I am afraid 10 remove
II. In the first place. can't think OF any
other place 70 put il Il Is 50 big and IN
wieldy- In the second place don't think
I have the authority TO do So
There Is a whole lot OF red tape sur
rounding the Bolivar statue. All sorts Of
officials. city. State, and Federal have
been mixed Up with II I might be tread
ing on somebody's corns II I made any
move
When I assumed the park commission
ership and went through the park on my
first tour Of inspection came across that
block Of granite, and at once made IL