New-York tribune., 1912-01-17
CORB|N TABLET UNVEILED.
Ex-Gov. HerriCk of Ohio Makes
the Presentation Address.
GEN. r. D. GRANT RESPONDS
Ceremonies at Governors Island
Bring in Little Granddaughter
of Dead Adjutant General.

Nine-year-old Katherine Corbin Parson,
granddaughter OF the late Lieutenant Gen
eral Henry Clark Corbin, pulled the strings
Yesterday that unveiled the bronze tablet
affixed TO the walls OF Corbin Hall at Gov
ernor's island as a memorial in General
Corbin's honor reared both by his personal
friends and by others who revered him for
his services, especially during the Spanish
American War, when he was adjutant gen.
eral OF the army.
AS the flag dropped from before the tab
let Il revealed a portrait In bronze Of the
famous soldier, slightly more than lifesize,
seated in the uniform and insignia of his
rank holding his gloves In one hand and
in the other his cap Then came booming
from the cannons OF the islands forts a
salute OF fifteen guns, the official military
recognition due an officer Of his rank.
The tablet is severe in design, bearing
n slight conventional border OF military
embems. and underneath the portrait the
Inscription 1882: Henry Clark Corbin
1909"
In addition are the following words-his
own conception OF what an officer should
be:
OF all things officers OF the army should
keep on good terms with themselves, en-
tertain all the obligations OF life advisedly
and discreetly. cultivate the habits OF the
simple life. holding aloof from all avarice
and selhshness.
Myron T. Herrick. Ex-Governor Of Ohio
then delivered an address reviewing Gene
raj Corbin's life and telling Of the deeds
and virtues that had made him distin-
gulshed among soldiers. In raising this
memorial 10 him, Mr.. Herrick said, homage
was being paid 10 the country as well as
10 the memory OF a man. He then re-
viewed briefly the steps OF his career that
had raised him from the rank OF second
lieutenant when he enlisted in 1861 to GO
TO the Civil War, till he was placed in
practical command OF all the armies Of the
United States and successfully stood the
supreme test OF his career and brought
order out Of the chaos into which the coun-
try was plunged by its unpreparedness al
the time OF the Spanish war.
president Mckinley said Of him 10 Sec
retary Root" Mr.. Herrick went on. " II
the Spanish war had been failure would
have blamed Henry Corbin for It. As Il
was a success. his should be the greatest
credit OF all In bringing about that re-
suit"
The presentation in behalf Of the Corbir
Memorial Association was made by Jacot
G. schmidlapp, OF Cincinnati. While Gene
raj Corbin's temperament was such, said
Mr. Schmidapp, that II required more than
usual acquaintance 10 merge that relation
ship into friendship. the work OF raising
subscriptions for the memorial had proved
thar IA IN friepdg
He had his enemies-every strong mar
has-but even they must admit that his
heart was In his work and that his great
est pleasure was found In It's advancement
and IN the interest OF his country" said
Mr. schmldlapp. when the sculptor asked
me what were the characteristics OF Gen
eral Corbin ! said he was strong In char
acter bordering on severity. but witha
he had the gentle heart of woman, tc
which his family and friends can testify
The tablet was accepted for the army by
General r H. Grant, who spoke Of the
work OF his dead companion In arms. es'
pecially during the war with Spain. II was
his unccaslng labor at that time, he de-
clared. which hastened General Corbin's
death
Before the memorial exercises General
and Mrs Grant entertained at luncheon
Mrs. Corbin. widow OF the general, Mr..
and Mrs. G. y. Alexander, Mr.. and Mrs
". y. Parsons. Miss Patten. Mrs. clifford
Corbin. Adiutant Daniels. OF the 7th Regl-
ment. y. Y y. a Colonel Appleton; Lieu
tenant DAILY. OF the 18th Regiment y. y.
n. G.. Lieutenant Dawkins, OF the Attn
Regiment, y. Y. y. c.. and IA number Of
regular army officers attached TO Cover
nor's Island and 10 the forts around the
hq rlor