The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1897-09-18
TRAVELS OF A MEDAL.
It Goes All Over Europe to Find
the Winner.
Failure of bright Committee of
Awards to Locate the Young Lady
Entitled 10 Worlds
Fair Prize.

The committee on awards of the
worlds fair, Of which John Boyd Thach-
er was chairman, would be particularly
delighted to learn the present where
abouts of Miss Gyda Sohlberg, formerly
a resident of Evanston.
Miss Sohlberg was an exhibitor in the
woman's section of the fair, and in due
time had the pleasure to be informed
by The committee that a medal and di-
ploma had been awarded her. The years
rolled slowly by. Whether hope con-
stantly deferred by the nonappearance
of the awards or the classical quietness
of Evanston brought about the result
10 man knoweth, but when the John
Boyd Thatcher committee on awards in
considerably startled the public by is
suing the much-longed-for medals the
one addressed TO Miss Sohlberg at Ev-
anston was ruthlessly returned with
the Endorsement Removed" made by
cold-blooded, unsympathizing official
of Uncle Sans post Office department.
And here is where the greatness and
enterprise of the award committee
comes in. Any other committee would
medal and the ten-cent diploma to re-
main at the committees Office until
called for But not the John Boyd
Thacher committee They were Gre
ated for a different purpose, and, given
the opportunity, would astonish the
world. They were bound to discover
the Evanston fair maid or perish in the
attempt as a committee, both collect
lively and individually, or at least with
a reckless liberality eXpend the COM
mittee's stamps and official stationery.
Investigation was started and it was
discovered that lady of her name and
appearance had started for Europe,
with London as the first stopping place.
Ten days later the medal and diploma
were in London, but ten days still later
they were back in Chicago. New eff
forts were made. The next outgoing
steamer carried a package addressed
to Miss Sohlberg, and again it came
back-and in justice it must be said
the committee met it like a man and a
brother.
Half dozen times this particular
package penetrated into various parts
of Europe, but always was too patri-
otto to remain. Did the committee final
ly acknowledge defeat Not they. New
Investigations were made, and it was
discovered that Miss Sohlberg, of Ev-
anston, was of Swedish descent The
medal and diploma were at once dis
patched to the royal Swedish depart
ment of state at Stockholm, with re-
quest that the package would be
handed her with the committees com
pliments, and now the committee rested
on their laurels. But their JOY at theiI
relief was premature. One day the com
mittee was surprised TO receive bulky
foreign package covered with seals anC
tape. Visions of foreign decorations
knightly hOnors, etc. hOated round the
minds of the committee.
The package was opened with trem
bling hands and revealed the Evans
ton diploma and medal, together with
letter in which his eXcelency The
minister of state had the profound anC
agreeable pleasure to return the etc.
etc, but Miss Sohlberg is not a resi-
dent of the country, but, as far as cal
be ascertained, a resident of the cit,
of Evanston, state of Illinois, of thu
United States of America, and there
fore it is returned, etc, etc, with his eX
cellency the minister subscribing him
self the committees most obedien< an,
humble servant, and with the most dis
tinguished consideration, etc, etc.
4 most serious consultation now too
place. The result of The solemn de
alterations Of the committee was tina
the medal and diploma should be re
turned to the Swedish state depart
ment. And as it was ordered so it wa
done.
Some months later, which was fey
days ago, the remaining members of tn
John Boyd Thacher committee were il
formed that the royal department G
state had the honor, etc, to inform tn
honorable committee that his exec
lency, etc, had ordered that the media
and diploma should be deposited in tn
commercial museum of curiOsities c
the department and subscribed himse'
the committee's,with distinguished, Ell
Thus the medal has found a Resin
place, but the fair Evanston maid T,
mains an unknown quantity.-Chicag
Times-Herald.
Rat ExtcrminatOr.