Denying Liberty
by
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“Mrs. Seguin are you trying to tell me that you were the model for Liberty Enlightening the World? I don’t believe!”
Without providing a definitive answer Mama responded.
“Look at the sketches. They are signed by Bartholdi! Look at my letters; they are signed by Edouard de Laboulaye. They bear his family’s seal – I cannot duplicate that! Look at me and then the sketch, there is no doubt that it is of me. If you had ever been to the statue, you could compare the sketch to its visage. I cannot help you here. But if you were in a position to compare, you would have no doubts!”
Well, after the inspector took a few moments to evaluate and deliberate all that which Mama had related to him, he then attempted to summarize our situation.
“So you are telling me that you are the model for Liberty Enlightening the World, the statue on Bedloe’s Island - which everyone now seems to be calling the Statue of Liberty. Further, a case could be made for the two of you, by way of these sketches, your letters and your relationships with Misters de Laboulaye and Bartholdi that you are, in effect, really Lady Liberty and her son. Consequently, if I turn down your request for citizenship, I would in fact be denying Liberty?”
And then sarcastically the inspector added.
“I have never been faced with such a momentous decision! What shall I do?”
Mama, ignoring the sarcasm completely and remaining ever so gracious, replied:
“Inspector Leary, I have never looked at it that way. But I suppose, no I agree, such a case could be made. But, there is much more to this story. If you are still in doubt as to your decision, I could elaborate and I believe convince you of its veracity.”
“Madame, why would I ever concede to such a waste of time?”
“Because it is a story about you, that is of your country. It is a story of the history of an engineering marvel. And a story of the perseverance and patience of a small group of people, of which I am one, who created a miracle. A new Wonder of the World.”
Strangely, the inspector’s rigid resistance to taking the time to hearing Mama’s story seemed to vanish.
“Please proceed Mrs. Seguin. I needed a rest anyway. But, I warn you do not take me for a fool!”
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About the Book
In 1865, ten year old Veronique was allowed to attend a dinner party at her grandfather’s home near Versailles, France. At this affair, her grandfather proposed a gift for America that was destined to become the Statue of Liberty. How could Veronique have ever known that, from that moment, her life and that of the statue would become intertwined for over three decades? This is the story of Liberty’s and Veronique’s journeys to America. Liberty’s arrival will precede that of Veronique’s and while Liberty may have been rejected by Americans at first, she would eventually be welcomed by hundreds of thousands of people on the day of her unveiling. Fifteen years later in the year 1901, Veronique certainly is not expecting such a welcoming. No, Veronique, with only her son, intends to enter America very quietly and with very questionable travel documentation. She is hopeful that her admittance into America will be allowed because of her special relationship with Liberty. And she is keenly aware that her entry into America could be blocked by her ancestral heritage – a secret which she must be careful not to reveal to the Immigration Inspector. Veronique arrives at Ellis Island intent on securing her passage into America by claiming she is the visage of Liberty – that she was, in fact, the model for the statue. Immigration Inspector Patrick Leary is totally enthralled by her story; but ultimately he must decide is it believable? It will be his decision alone that determines whether America will be Denying Liberty.
About the Author
Ronald Dale is a retired Civil Engineer/Project Manager. As an American, he has long been intrigued by the history of the Statue of Liberty. His fascination with Liberty can be attributed to much more than just his expertise in engineering. Liberty surely was and remains a tremendous engineering achievement; but she means so much more than this to America. Like most Americans, when he began to write his novel, Ronald Dale knew little about the true origins of Liberty – except that she was a gift from France. Why would one nation seek to gift such a creation to another nation? How did she come to exist? Who were the people that could dream of such a colossus – and then to make the dream a reality? Why would anyone accept such a Herculean - seemingly impossible task to create Liberty? What was the intended symbolism for the statue? Through his novel, the author hopes to share his sense of enlightenment as to why Liberty has become one of America’s most beloved icons........
.....And of course to tell a good story!