Year: 1872

AhsoLD.


For an imaginative man, the scene pre-
sented yesterday at the Central Park-when Shakes
peare's Statue was unvaed there and formally dedoa-
cated the presence OF at least 900 persons-was n-
pressve to a degree that sober words can but family
suggest Obvious elements OF the beautiful mingled In
It with positive and extraordinary elements Of tho
sublime To pageant Of natural oyelines Is added tho
pomp OF a solemn ritual-uttering the triumphant hom-
age of human hearts alone toward the greatest OF


men, but toward whatever is glorious in the bor and In
the destiny Of nature. The day was worthy OF
the and OF the occasona day In the strong aud
lovely infancy Of our American year. Tho grass and
foliage were freshly green, aud deciously odorous
Tie sky was blue, massed with kindly cloud
The wind was soft and cool. ont OF every
thing, near and far, breathed the spring
time spirit OF faith and hope. All around tho
lovers OF the worlds pOet-assembled to honor
themselves and their in paying yet one more tribute
to his ustrous and immortal memory-extended pas
toral landscape sweet and dreamy any in which
Perdita wandered, Amiens sung. Poetry could not
suggest farer picture; and, upon these manifoh at
tributes beauty associations OF the oftest order laid


halowing charm Of ina aginaton, intellect, and sen-
ment Those associations varying for every mind WERE
needless say such out OF subject that
endless in It's fertility Of suggestion. What was the dom
idea they inspired would be difficult TO but
all VINO there present must have recognized In
stincvey and with delight the perfect harmony Of the
ceremonial with the and with the spot No time
surely could be filter doing homage to Shakespeare
than the time Of power and promise in which he camo
upon the earth-a symbol of eternal Spring.
perpetual in the wild flowers which not
more brilliant and bounteous than his fanciesj
in the eepless spirit of the woods which is not more
subtle his magnatOn in the free winds OF heaven,
which are regal than his intellect; and In the
high thoughts and hopes, and aspirations Of mankind
which he perennally invgorates and sustans NO place,
surely could for such homage than the green
heart OF this great capital OF the most vigorous and
hopeful OF nations The youth OF the world Is here;
and that may well lay ts love at the feet Of the poet
who more than any that wrote, has contrib
ued to Keep earth the immortal youth OF heaven.
When the vail rent from the statue and the bronzo


image of that glorious head revealed TO vew and
triumph must have thrilled every sensitive heart in
the assembage. 1t moment for truly recog-
nzing the grandeur of shakespeare-and that means
moment for being really conscious OF the souls celestial
origin and destiny. No wonder that deafenng cheers
arose, and that many eyes dim with tears


For the unma ginave man, also, the OF the ded
cation was full of interest and meaning Its accessories
all picturesque; its spirit was vital; Its incidents
were numerous and lively To these, accordingly, We
pass crowd such fancies might have throngci
a Roman amphitheater-the great Coliseum itselt-was
there assembled eager and happy, under the peaceful
trees As early o'clock began to tho
smoOth-shayen green-sward and all around the boarded
and decorated Pavilion At first though, II did not seem
that attendance would be very argefor the heavens
threatened little, and and shadow fought together
sor the MASTERY. Little by little, though, the tdo
poured in. One shower, and that very
light one, fell, at few minutes after O'Clock,
and this occasioned slight stampede. After
that all went well. At 12O the seats outside the pavilion
were declared open to the public and the multitude i'm
mediately began settle into place and order Within
the next hour every available spot occupied Those
who held tickets Of admission to the inclosure mani
=, 10
early than the seemingly less favored moras unpro
yded with the potent paste-board The latter after all,
had the "coign OF vantage" From the front OF
the amphheaer which thus assigned to the general
public, the spectator could contemplate ncosed
arena, tentshaped, and gayy decorated with flags,
having the vailed statue OF Shakespeare in its center,
the pulpit speakers in front OF the statue tho
musicians gallery at the rear, and seats for 2O per-
sons ranged in tiers around At right and left Of tho
large entrance waved the flags of tho
United States aud Great Britain. On brown
and white poles erected at intervals
along the sides Of the structure hoated other bauners
there were thrtyeght of of other
nations Of the world. Between what may DO
called the balconies and the parquette OF the pavilion
extended a semclrcular wall Of flowers, Of every hue
and odor-their line OF varegated color linlly
broken by large palke plants, decorated pedestas
The benches, both above and below, crowded.
and amongst the crowd in the soft and
clear light, more like that of an English April
morning than an American afternoon, could readily
be dscerned persons OF the foremost eminence
in every high walk of human activity. circle OF trees,
the flags nutering in their eaty tops powered in the
whole beautiful picture. With these surroundings. and
under auspices OF OF the most honored men in
this community the OF Shakespeare unyaed
One the oldest and most iusrious poets now living
pronounced the inaugural Grafton, and commemorative
poem by one of tho sweetest and most imaginative OF
the younger bards OF the country spoken by OF
the foremost actors Of the age.


The dedcatory exercises were commenced little after
the appointed hour, by performance OF the King
Lear overture by Berlioz This done by Mr. Theo-
dore Tnomas's excellent band


Judge Daily, rising the committee stand the base
OF the statue and very cordially greeted spoke as fol-
lows:


ADDRESS OF PRESENTATION BY JUDGE c. p.


DAILY.


LADIES AND GENTLEMEN In the early part OF the year
1884, intelligence having been received this country OF
the intention to erect permanent memorial both in
England and Germany 10 commemorate the occurrence
that year. Of the three hundredh anniversary OF the
birth OF Shakespeare 10 TO several gentlemen
of this city that would be especially appropriate for
English speaking race to whom the poets works
belonged part Of the property OF our Ian
guage TO take part In that movement by erecting here
a monument the chief features Of which should
person that IL might be In the power oil the
artist TO produce Applause. The period ladies and
gentlepsn, you WI all remember, not, for US.
civil war wsged for the preservation Of the Union Yet
this dscouragement IL was resolved TO
take the lniatory steps and, on the 2d OF April ls,
the three hundredth anniversary OF shakespeaes birth.
few gentlemen In the presence OF small concourse of
spectators laid the foundatonstone OF the proposed
Booth wheatIey, &aliscE and Haciett the latter Of
pletion OF in which he took great Interest


that to the efforts Of these gentlemen are due the