Evening star., 1921-12-02
STATUE TO DANTE
|SUNVE|LEDH HERE
international Love Feast Is
OutgroWth of Exercises by
italian Societies.

An international love feast grew out
Of the unyeiling of q statue to Dante
the Italian poet, in Meridian Hill Park
yesterday afternoon.
Tho United States, Italy and France
participated in the ceremonies. which
brought new pledges Of friendship be-
tween the nations. President Harding
was an interested spectator Of the pro-
ceedings but did not speak
Senator Ricci. the Italian ambassa-
dor; M. viviani. former premier OF
France and head Of the French delega-
ton at the arms and far eastern con.
New York. donor Of the statue: and
Commissioner Rudolph, who accepted
it for the city, were the speakers
Among the distinguished guests were
Amba ssador Jusserand OF France ana
members Of the Italian and French del
egations at the armament parley.
Out-Of-Towp Societies.
Several hundred members Of Italian
societies of Baltimore. Philadelphia and
New York came to Washington for the
exercises. Carrying the banners Of
tneir organizations and headed by the
Italian Catholic Society Band. they
marched from 1lth and I streets north
west, to the park. which is located at
18th street and Florida avenue.
A large crowd had gathered at the
park and it quickly recognized and
greeted with applause the distin;
guished foreign guests who walked
across the reservation to the speak
ers' stand. Senator Schanzer Of the
Italian arms delegation and othrs
were given ovations. The President
and Mrs. Harding had to walk
through a long line of citizens to
reach the stand. and they were ap-
Italian and American bands kept the
air lively with the strains of Italian
and American national airs. Judge
John H. Freschi Of New York pre-
sided at the exercises. which were
opened with an invocation by Bishop
Harding. Huge Italian and American
flags that covered the statue then
were released by Minnie Elizabeth
Sheriff. and Clarence Caldwell Sher-
rili. children of Col. c. o. Sheriff..
aide to the President. and back Of the
bronze figure there was run up a
string of fiags which spelled Dante
in the international code.
Thrilled By yivianL.
After Chevalier Barsotti Lad pre-
sioner Rudolph had accepted it for the
National Capital. M. Rec Vivfani
stirred the assemblage with an ex-
position of the oratorical ability for
which he is famous in France. Even
those in the audience who did not
of his speech and Joined in the aD-
plause which greeted nearly every
sentence.
Our words. flying through space"
said the former French premier. will
be heard tomorrow in Italy. AS they
G1 Lat
way to those Of the Italians. We be-
long to the same family and, 80 tar
as I am concerned, shall never forget
the sacred memories and the heroic
emotions which a war waged together
imprinted in my soul as in sanctuary
w4ich / wish you to see.
Il see always through the medium
of the spirit that sinister morning OF
the second of August. 1914. when
through the course of events l was
charged with the destiny of France,
when on my brow were inscribed the
responsibilities of history, and, on my
head which did not bend, I felt the
breath of catastrophe.
Road to Liberty Taken.
"At that moment the door of my Office
opened and Prince Ruspoli, by the order
of his government. came to notify me
of Italian neutrality. l arose. He
arose. His eyes were filled with tears,
as were mine. In that divine hour We
were able to contemplate the vision OF
a member Of the Latin race tearing it.
self from the monstrous pact which had
turned from its real path in history,
stopping at the sinister crossways and
taking the high road to liberty and
civilization.
Later in the month Of April, 1915,
from the tribune IN the French chamber.
saluted the gracious and virile ma
tion which had donned its armour eager
to meet the foe, l saluted and salute
again now, these alert and vigorous
marched through a countryside where
each stone bears the weight Of his
tory, where the blood OF the sons Of
France and the sons Of Italy has flowed,
planting a seed which we believe dur
able and which has been shown to be
immortal.
'rWe are Of the same race: Of the same
blood. Through common culture and
through the same processes of thought
we descend from that ancient Rome
which was the mother Of right before
being the monther Of grace and the
mother of beauty. Let us not forget our
common origin il we wish to achieve our
manifest destiny" .
AS NJ. Viviani sat down., Senator
Schanzer, who occupied a seat next to
him, warmly grasped his hand. 1t
was evident from the applause that
had been given by the members Of
the Italian societies that the utter
ances of the distinguished French
man had created a most favorable
impression. -
Ricci Expresses Gratitude.
Senator Ricci, the Italian ambassa-
dor, then expressed the gratitude he
felt for the sentiments expressed by
NJ. Viviani. He said, in part:
'It is pleasure. for me to address
warm thanks to the eminent French
statesman who carries such an Italian
name. who brought us here frater-
nally, in the language of Victor Hugo,
the homage to Dante from France,
our beloved Latin sister. No glori-
fication is too much for Dante, but
every italian on either side OF the At
lantic. which an italian was the first
to cross, feels with great satisfaction
that you and your great country have
given to this celebration Of Dante o
character of such sincere cordially
for Italy in the Mediterranean and
for the Italians who have coma on
cordiality Is truly exchanged by the
italians both here and in Italy,
Turning to President Harding, Sem
ator Ricci said that "in meeting here
with the representatives Of great Dec.
pies for such q humanitarian object.
to study harmonious means Of peace
wars, you. Mr.. President, accepting
!. today the efilgy Of Dante, show us the
source from which we can always OBJ
tain q word for the mutual gospel Of
human goodness, q voice Of faith in
the highest destiny Of mankind"
P1esentation Of Statue.
In presenting the statue. Chevalisr
Barsotti, who donated II In the name
Of the italian Societies Of America,
q