The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-12-31
sslfSElSl1(S| ms

| II was the peasurabe privilege of the
| Observer Saturday evening 10 be present
on an occasion somewhat different from
anything In the course OF his variegated
| experience.
The Hon. w. w. Thomas. Jr., ex-U United
States Minister to Sweden and Nor
way, ex-Speaker OF the House
OF Representatives OF the State
OF Maine. etc, delivered an address
that evening in Y. M. g. A. Hall on the
After the lecture he was entertained at
dinner In Tillinghasts assembly rooms by
a representative gathering Of the Swedish
American citizens OF Rhode Island.
1t was this occasion that was pafticu-
larly notable.
have no doubt that every .Swede who
knows anything OF the later history of his
people IN their relationship with the
United States OF America knows ex- Min
ister Thomas by name and loves him.
Perhaps no single American citizen has
done so much for the Swedes in the mat
ter OF this relationship, or for the mother
country by making his home people
acquainted with it, as has Mr.. Thomas.
And the gathering at table Saturday
evening was tribute to the esteem and
affection in which he is held by the Swede
everywhere.
Iotsohhiiy MI. lnonAs IL remhrkaoly
attractive man. He is big and good look
ing, with splendid head set
on his square shoulders and
a big, Viking-like, irongrey beard, parted
to flow In long "siders" over the lappels
OF his coat. His face is strong, yet OF
most kindly expression. He Is the kind
OF a man who attracts men. A thorough
man of the world, good fell
low, good diner, good
story teller, speaking the Swedish tongue
huently, eloquent in his speech and dig
mined IN his manner, IL Is not surprising
ernment under the Harrison ad-
ministration, he came to be one
mighty good terms with big King Oscar,
and can count the handsome monarch of
sweden and Norway as a personal friend.
The banquet itself was a fine repast
There was tilet de halibut with pomme
Hpllandese, filet de boeuf, cLampIgnons,
potatoe croquettes, a Bit OF delicious
abundance OF accessories on the bounti-
ful Swedish plan. The menu card was
adorned with a beautiful design showing
the American Eagle with the flag and em-
blem, and the Swedish flag and emblem,
all entwined with laurel, the work OF Mr..
III. Stat.
The committee appointed by the
swedish American people to arrange for
the affair were j. Frederic Haller,
nj. d., who offlciated as chairman
and toastmastsr; Mr.. Joseph Sundin and
Mr.. 70. Almgren.. The responses to the
presiding officers cleverly- expressed toasts
were made, some in Swedish, some in
English, by Mr.. Sundin, ("Our Native
Albert a. % Baker, in ' the S0''0isb- ABB
sence OF Mayor Olney ("The City of
Proyidence"); Rev. q. A. Bergstrom
Inn m ~ h. sak
cans In tine Religious, Political and Social
Life and Development Of America",; Rev.
Eric Forsberg ("Lessons and Vir-
tues We Learned in Sweden'O;
Mr.. Oswald Klindt ('Swedish-
American Busines, Men ~; and tribute
few words as to the press by the
editor of THE News. There was
an orchestra, made up of Brown
University students, which played finely
aud accompanied the singing of the
Swedish national hymn and Swedish
songs with excellent spirit.
In the course of the feast of
reason and flow OF soul Toast
master Hallor presented Mr.. Thomas
magnificent portrait medallion OF King
Oscar, the artistic work OF Mr.. Stat, who
II, by the way, a designer at the Howard
Sterling works. This called for
response from MIR. Thomas,
who spoke in both English
and Swedish and his words were warmly
received. The present was gift from the
Swedish-American people of this COM
munity, and will be treasured la their
home In Portland Me-, by Mr.. Thomas
and his wife who, by the way, is daugh-
ter OF Sweden.
The toasts were drunk standing and what
with the singing OF Swedish songs and the
warm expressions OF mutual goodwill the
occasion was decidedly inspiriting.
None OF the speakers failed To express the
obligation of Sweden and the Swedes to
Mr. Thomas for what he had done for their
native land. Mr.. Thomas first went to
Sweden just after leaving college.
That was during our Rebellion
days. He was one of Lincoln's 80 "War
Consuls." He came to love the country
and TO be devotedly interested In 1t and in
its people. He won wife in Sweden and
that linked him still more closely to its
destinies. He brought over to New Eng
land, In 1870, the first Swedish immi-
grants that came to these parts.
Before that the Swedish tide had
flowed West. He recognized how much
New England could do for the Swedes,
and how valuable the Swedes would be
to New England, and he established
colony in the Maine woods which
Is known as New Sweden 1EFaHa- this
colony have branched the Swedes who
have settled IN the larger communities all
over New England.
~ 0no