THE STATUE OF LIBERTY

Evening Star, Issue 22526, 19 December 1936, Page 2

THE STATUE OF LIBERTY

GOLDEK JUBILEE (From ‘ The Times.’)' The Statue of Liberty in New Harbour, unveiled on October 28, 1886* is celebrating its golden jubilee, anal tho ceremony of rededication is being attended by President Roosevelt, M. ; Andre dc Laboulaye, the French Am* bassador in Washington, and M. FranJ cois de Tessan, Under-Secretary to the! Prime Minister of France. The statue was presented to the United States by; the French people-in commemoration oij the centenary of American indepen* dence. Years later, there is an un* ,kind story, a Frenchman arriving in ‘New York asked what was represented by the giantess with her uplifted,torch,) and on being told replied, “ Oui; nous aussi, nous avons nos monuments aus morts.”

It is said that the idea of the monu* ment was originally suggested at dinner; by M. Edouard de Laboulaye, grandfather of the present French Ambassador, to the sculptor Bartholdi in 1865* to perpetuate the friendship between France' and America fought for by| Lafayette. In 1874 de Laboulaye again; proposed the idea to a group of friends,,’ including Oscar de Lafayette, a grandson of the marquis._ Bartholdi, who had served under Garibaldi in 1870, was sent to America to plan a memorial* and as he entered New York Harbour; received the inspiration for his work. A Franco-American Union wa» formed in 1875 to carry out the plan.. The Americans were to build the pedestal, the French the statue and transport it. The story then becomes a little vague. It has been claimed that the statue was originally designed to represent Progress and adorn the entrance to the Suez Canal; it is even! asserted that the canal authorities refused it and that the owners organised a lottery, out of which they paid themselves back and presented the statue to America. At all events, it clearly could not be completed for the centenary in 1876, and no effort was made to hurry its construction, Bartholdi "went steadily on with it. A MATERNAL MODEL.

His mother, a woman of imposing appearance, was the model. To obtain & form he built a working model about 9fb high and enlarged it to 36ft- Copper, supported by a framework of steel and iron, was the material, chosen to stand the stress of the ocean voyage and the salt-laden air of New York Harbour. The second figure waa studied for weeks, since no further change would be possible. Finally, the plaster was carefully smoothed and the work begun of reproducing it four, times the size. More than 300 separate sheets of copper, 3-16 in thick, from one \to three yards wide, each hammered over an individual mould, went ‘into the visible part of the statue. The framework was built by Eiffel, and consists of four iron posts running from top to bottom like a pylon, from which go a maze of smaller beams supporting the copper sheets, each sheet backed to give it rigidity by an iron strap. The statue approached completion,and in 1884, eight years after the centenary it was to commemorate, stood towering over the rooftops of Paris. But in America appeals for money to build the foundation had : been', coldly received. The. original estimate was too low,' and the total would : not bo less than' £50,000, half of which many had thought would cover the statue as well.The Press wak liiitil *»t • lash * Joseph Pulitzer opened the columns of the New York ‘ World ’ .to violent attacks on the wealthy men who withheld support. Less than five months of campaigning brought him the money required, and General Sherman was authorised to select a site.

He complied with Bartholdi’s request and chose Bedloe’s Island, off Manhattan, a place that had been used as_ a farm, gallows site, pest house, official residence, military prison, and genera! dump. On July 4. 1884, the United States Minister to France accepted the statue for his. country. On August 5 the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New York laid ■the cornerstone _ of the pedestal with Masonic ceremonies.The pedestal, rising 89ft above the foundation, is so anchored to it that a wind would have to overturn the island before it could upset the statue. In, January. 1885, the statue, which had! remained on exhibition in Paris, 'was] dismantled and packed for transport’ into 214 special cases. ' LIBERTY INSTALLED.

The French Government a warship, the Isefe; which was placed in dry dock so that plates might be removed from-the hull, and the cases carried into the hold. - On May 21, 1885,she left Rouen, and on June 19 arrived at Sandy Hook, in the entrance to New York Harbour. The of New York gave her a iumulutous welcome in her progress up the hay. _ ■ But the wanderings of Liberty were not yet at an end. For nearly a year she lay in the 214 cases while the pedestal was finished and the framework erected. Only then could the copper surface be hoisted. on to the. adjoining sheets, and-on July 12, 1886, the, first two rivets were driven, with the names of Pulitzer and Bartholdi inscribed beside them. October 28 of that year was fixed for the inaugurtaion and dedication. It was declared a general holiday and made the occasion of one of the most spectacular celebrations ever held in New York. Bartholdi cut the rope which dropped the flag from the face of the statue. Comte Ferdinand de Lessens, builder of the Suez Canal, spoke,and the statue was accepted by President Cleveland.

The total cost was in the neighbourhood of £120,000. Tho figure, which' has a staircase inside, is 152 f- high and from the foundation to the torch 30oft Gin. The right arm measures 42ft, the hand 16ft Sin, the index finger Bft,and the fingernails are 13in long. The torch is large enough to hold 12 people, and the total weight of the statue i'» 450,0001 b. The remodelling of the torch, now lighted by 15 1,000-watli bulbs, made it necessary to close the right arm, but it is possible to climl* to the head. - In his speech of acceptance President Cleveland said of the statue: — _ “ This token of the affection and consideration of the people of France demonstrates the kinship of republics,- . . . Instead of grasping in her handthe thunderbolts of terror and of death she holds aloft the light which illuminates the way to man’s enfranchisement.We will not forget that Liberty here has made her home, nor shall her chosen altar be neglected.” -.-i.