New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-05
Worlds GREATEST
STATUE DEDICATED
Ono Million Italians Honor Mem
ory of Victor Emmanuel II
at Rome.
MONUMENT COST $4,000, 900
Vinc.Liberator on Horseback
Dominates the Capitoline
Hill - The Work of
Thirty Years.

- rritnessed the dedication to-day of a
,ocriacent monument to King Victor
rr,ranuel II. grandfather of the pres
-, King Interest was added to the oc-
.osior bv combining Herewith cele-
,-o,ion of the granting Of the constitu-
= nv King Charles Albert in 1S4S, the
sone constitution which still rules
United ltaly.
King Victor Emmanuel Queen Helena
49,. oueen Mother Margherita. who ap-
,.ared for the first time at an official
,,rc,ion since the death Of King Hum
~, IN 1900. Dowager Queen Maria Pia
=. Portugal. the surviving daughter Of
,,,,e Victor: the Dowager Duchess of
c.roa the Duke and Duchess Of Aosta.
,hs Duke and Duchess of Genoa. the
nouager Duchess Of Aosta. the Count OF
r,,,r the Duke Of the Abruzzi and other
,,.robers Of the royal house were pres
ent
Va. only the people of Rome but thou
,.,is from the provinces joined in max
,,,,be event one Of national importance.
Tho roavors Of various towns and cities
.,rouehout the kingdom. who were in
attendance. numbered eight thousand.
The monument IS the most colossal
s,rpc,ure of the kind in the world. II
occunies the left section Of the Capitoline
Hill and opens into the very heart of
Rome on the piazza where stands the
palace of Venice erected by Paul III. In
front is the Corso. the leading thorough
fare Of the city. so that the equestrian
statue of the King Liberator in gilded
bronze can he seen from great distance
shining against the white marble back
ground of the colOnade. The statue is
forty feet high and weighs fifty tons II
was cast in eighteen pieces. the work
occupying two and a half years. When
the work was finished a banquet was
served in the body Of the horse for
twenty people
The sO-cslled Altar of the Fatherland.
The massive base on which the statue
stands. was surrounded to-day by the
flags Of all the Italian regiments, the
delegations Of the army and by all the
veterans Of the war Of independence. the
picturesque uniforms and the red shirts
Of the Garibaldians giving a brilliant
note 70 the scene.
The monument is composed of great
portco in white marble with sixteen
immense columns surmounted by a
freze. and AT the ends quadrige in
bronze IN front Of the colonnade stands
the gigantic equestrian statue of the
father of the country on richly deco
rated pedestal. leading 10 which are
grand staircases decorated with foun-
fains. statues. groups and antenna with
gilded f.ures. The entire length of the
monument is 500 feet. it's depth $50 feet
and its height go feet.
Notwithstanding the relative cheap
ness of marble and Ia Dor in Italy the
monument when completed will have
cost about $2OOooGo0. and will represen Mt
thirty wears work The plans for the
structure were drawn by a young archi-
tect. Giuseppe Sacconi. and were selected
from hundreds of others in June. 1884
King Humbert laid the cornerstone of
the great structure on March %, 1855.
saoconi devoted al his energy to the
work, and finally died Three other
architects were placed in charge. Koch,
Naniredl and Piacentini. the first Of
"hom also has died. No more fortunate
was the sculptor Of the equestrian
statue, Signor Chiaradia. who did not
survive n see his magnificent work COM
pleted Emilio Gsllori the sculptor Of
tne monument 70 Garibaldi on the Jani-
cuium' took up the work where Chiara-
Ola had dropped it.
one Of the incidents Of the dedication
vas the cheering of a priest who climbed
me steps Of the monument. Senators
ana Deput surrounded him with as
mnch enthusiasm as the populace. Open
ing his gown. the priest showed a tri-
color sash. the emblem Of the mayor
any saying u am Canon Paolucci,
MAYOR Of GOriano AbruZzi. In 1S4S. as
MAYOR. ] took the oath of loyalty TO the
Ang and the constitution. and thought
" my duty 10 come here to- day and pay
tribute of homage to the father Of our
Country"
Fremier Giolitti said in part: con the
'apl'oline Hill, which recalls the glories
ma greatness Of ancient Rome. the Ital-
'ah people dedicate "A monument TO the
'F'her Of the country. which typifes the
struggles and sacrifices. the martyrdoms
ana heroisms. which made the Italian
"SIrrection possible"
me Premier pointed out that the pres
'N'e Of the representatives Of foreign
Countries was q new Acknowledgement OF
ue mission Of peace and civilization
winch Italy carries on.
me Interior of the monument will he
occupied by the museum Of the Risorgi-
mento. IN which will bo gathered all tho
."ementos Of the struggle which led
''"iy 10 unity and independence. II Will
,e several years yet before the structure
's completed. Recently there has been
hrke Of workmen, and Premier GiO-
"Vi' declaring he would not permit the
s"' '1nnent 10 be Cocrced into paying
w eAorbitant demands OF the strikers
W"'rcd five hundred engineers attached
,ne troops 10 take the places Of the
Hulkers. The latter yielded at the end
" one week