MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 89 
Apparently, the artistic temperament of the sculptor was 
somewhat disturbed by having to furnish such a detailed 
account of expenses, for after an impassioned letter he con-. 
cludes as follows: ‘Finally, I beg you to excuse me for 
having written to you as much about the matter, but think 
yourself in my place who has never received a similar re- 
proach and you will find my excitement excusable. _Never- 
theless, | shall still esteem you as my fatherly friend. May 
you live a great many years yet, may God bestow upon you 
health and prosperity.” 
On July 6, 1884, the marble busts of Wagner and Beetho- 
ven were presented to Tower Grove Park. These were 
both executed by von Miller, and the reference in the pre- 
viously quoted letters to these busts, particularly as to the 
source of the study for the Wagner marble, is interesting. 
After the unveiling, which ceremony was performed by 
Miss Carson, Mr. Shaw and Dr. Wm. Taussig made brief 
addresses. Dr. Taussig, “in the name of the art-loving com- 
munity of St. Louis, thanked Mr. Shaw for adorning that 
beautiful park with the busts of those two immortals, 
Beethoven and Wagner.” The Henry Shaw Musical 
Society rendered an elaborate program made up exclusively 
of compositions of the two musicians honored, and “‘at its 
close the members of the society adjourned to the residence 
of Mr. Shaw, where an hour was pleasantly spent in saunter- 
ing through the grounds.” 
The busts of Gounod and Verdi are presumably the work 
of Ross C. Adams, the same sculptor who did the Victory and 
Juno. The Verdi shows no mark indicating its origin, but 
the Gounod bears the faint inscription “C. Nicoli & 
Adams.” It is believed that Nicoli, of Carrara, who was a 
well-known sculptor of the day, was associated with Adams in 
some way in the execution of the Gounod bust at least, and 
possibly also the one of Verdi. 
The following extract from the Globe-Democrat of May 
16, 1886, gives a general account of the ceremonies attend- 
ing the presentation of these works of art: 
“A typical opening day, a large concourse of people, and a_per- 
fect smoothness of all arrangements combined to make the cere- 
monies incident to the unveiling of the busts of Gounod and Verdi 
an unusual success. The busts were the gift of Mr. Henry Shaw, 
adding another token of the munificence to which is due the ex- 
istence of the beautiful resort in which they are located. They 
stand, with a number of other works of art, upon the outer edge 
of the circular esplanade around the central music stand. Both 
are highly creditable to the skill of the sculptor and the taste of 
the giver. 
