New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-11

Americas entrance into war, yet the
presentation OF the statue was as
simple as a May party in Central PARK;
There was not soldier or sign OF
the trappings OF war There. were
simply 10000 children standing on tip
toe to catch a glimpse OF the red
capped figure. and shouting their little
hearts out when they saw him.
Long before 9 o'clock the North
Meadow burst into thousand bios
SONS Of red and blue stars, and the
long green lanes which led over the
hills were filed with threads Of IRE
and gold. as one after another the
schools Of the upper city sent tnel
delegations TO the festival.
Carpet Hides Grass
When the marshal arrived they had
made for him a great carpet Of red
white and blue, which quite Ind the
green of the meadow, and must nave
made the visitors wonder if American
grass all grew to flags in war time. In
the centre of the field was an arbor,
covered with flags, and leading TO tins
was an open lane. guarded only by
few officers and Boy Scouts.
The mounted police and motorcycle
guard remained in the road outside the
meadow, and only two armored cars
preceded the marshal to the stand. lie
came simply close enough for the chn-
dren TO see his calm smile. They cOuid
see the kindly twinkle in his eyes as
the first shout went up, fifty thousand
lung power loud.
Mayor Mitchell and many OF the Off
a. -
there TO greet him. as il was The
World" which carried through the plan
to present the marshal with minia-
ture copy OF Bartholdi's Statue of Lib
erty. The gold statuette was the gift
of the people of New York, collected in
small amounts mostly, to the man
who symbolzes to-day the friendship
of the two countries. It stands on a
silver pedestal. mounted on q base OF
oak taken from the timbers OF
Fraunces's Tavern.
Girl Added to Picture
For the ceremony Of unwilling and
presenting the statue, little Teddy
Rousseau, son Of Mayor Mitchels sec
rotary, was selected by the committee,
but the marshal himself added little
girl to the picture. The tiny boy. clad
in sailor suit. with cap of the
United States steamship Maine. was
standing with one hand on the trlcolor
Of France in which the statue was
wrapped, when n small voice from the
crowd shouted give, Joffre." All the
Frenchmen smiled, and the marshal
bent his sturdy figure to find the owner
of the voice. 1t was the golden haired
girl, in a Zouave costume, held high on
her fathers arm, waving the flag OF
France with all her four-year-old
might The next thing any one knew
the little girl was being lifted over the
rail Of the platform, and took her stand
beside the small sailor boy. Later. she
told the reporters in a combination OF
lisp and French accent that her name
was Jennie Milsine.
Mayor Mitchell made the formal
speech Of presentation for Teddy Rous-
seau, whose voice wouldn't carry so far.
This memento Of your visit, sir" he
said. "is a gift Of the citizens Of this
great city, purchased from a fund
raised by popular subscription through
one of our great and patriotic news
papers, The New York World II will,
we trust. serve always to remind you
Of the high esteem in which your ser
wees 10 humanity Will always De helu
by the people Of New York"
Marshal Joffre nodded his head and
the children broke into cheers, but
there WAS TO be even more. The mar
shall himself was TO speak to them-his
first public speech in this city. His
words were French. and were spoken
in a low, simple way.
~ am profoundly touched By the re-
markable souvenir which with such
delicate attention you offer me-" he
said. 81 feel the value OF this emblem
which comes TO me from the common
people OF America, from the people as
a whole, and thank you. thank you
from the bottom OF my heart. and
ask you to thank the people for this
gift, which | shall keep all my life,
which | shall carry 90 my home. which
| shall have under my eyes every day
to remind me of my love Of America
and what America has done for
France"
The road Of Joifre away from Central
Park was a winding path through
forest Of red, white and blue, where
the flags touched his ear. and more
than one tiny amateur photographer
got n closeup of the genial. smiling
face and white mustache of Papa
Jofrre. the children's friend"