The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-10-28
THE GIFT OF FRANCE.

France has given much to America It gave those gallant soldiers, daring pioneers and devoted priests who first planted in Canada, Louisiana and other parts of the continent the seeds of civilization It gave that great inn pulse toward democracy, that ideal of liberty, fraternity and equality, which have never ceased to inspire Ameri- cans It gave to the United States in it's struggle for independence, LAfay- cite and many other brave soldiers. It has given to the New World the in- spiration to high and noble achieve ment in every domain of human ac- tivity- It is giving us now an example of patriotic devotion, of democratic efficiency. worthy of emulation And it has given us, and continues to give us, the latest fashions in feminine ap- parel- although there are husbands and fathers who doubtless consider this a dubious blessing.
 As the concrete physical embodi- ment of Frances greatest gift to America there stands in New York harbor the colossal statue of Liberty Enlightening the Wor1d''-the noblest statue, in the sentiment it symbolizes as well as>in majesty of proportions, that thes world has ever had
 This is Miss Liberty's thirtieth birthday, as it was on Oct. 2S, 1886, that the statue was unveiled in the presence of distinguished representa- tfves of the United States and France.
 It was in 1S70-a tragic year for France-that movement was inaug- urated which had for its purpose the presentation by the people of France to the United States of . memorial to testify to the fraterna1 feeling existing between the two countries. Tn 1874 some of the leading men of the new republic organized the Franco American Union for the furtherance of this project. Although France had been impoverished by war, and had had to pay a tremendous indemnity to Germany, the plan aroused great en- thusiasm. All over the land the peo- pie rushed to contribute. Peasants, workmen, school children by the thousands contributed their mites, and the fund soon reached million francs.
 Various models of statues were sub mitted to the committee, but the 'Tiberty Enlightening the World' of M Frederic Auguste Bartholdi was chosen. The right hand and torch of this remarkable statue were displayed at the Philadelphia exposition in 1876, and the head was shown at the Paris exposition three years later The com plete statue was formally delivered to the American minister in Paris on July 4, 1880. Bedloe's Isla nd in New York harbor was chosen as the most suitable site for the statue, but this appointed home of Miss Liberty had to be prepared with a costly pedestal, and funds for this purpose were lack ing.
 The apathy of the public toward this gift threatened to become a na-. tfonal disgrace, until Joseph Pulitzer. the owner of the New York World, took charge of the project. With his usual energy he launched campaign to raise a fund for the pedestal. The rich remained indifferent, but |. the masses of the people were aroused to such enthusiasm that the growth of the Worlds fund became a topic of conversation all over the land, and the daily totals were wired to newspapers from the Atlantic to the Pacific. MT. Pulitzer demonstrated that the American people were not indifferent to the gift of France, but needed only to be informed of it. The $100,000 pedestal fund represented the free will offerings of 100000 men, women and children.
 The statue was unveiled 30 years ago today in the presence of Presi- dent Cleveland, his cabinet, and a host of other distinguished Americans. France was represented by M. Bar tholdi, Count Ferdinand de Lesseps, Admiral Jaures, General Pelissier and many other notables.