120 years ago today, the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbour from France as a gift to the American people from the people of France. Her creator, sculptor Frederic Bartholdi called her "Liberty Enlightening the World."For generations of new Americans, it was their first glimpse of America as their ship came into New York Harbour; for others around the world it is still a symbol of the advance of liberty.
Happy Birthday, Libbie.
[ See how you score on this Liberty Trivia challenge. I got 94% -- not that I'm boasting of course -- but for some reason it refuses to believe Emma Lazarus is the author of 'The New Colossus.' ]
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
with silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
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