Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1900-03-08
A GIFT TO LoUBET.
President of France Is Presented with
the First La Fayette Dol
lar Coined,

IuoLupson, secretary OF the Lafayette
monument commission, as special com
missioner of the United States repre-
senting President Mckinley and in his
name, presented to President Loubet
Saturday morning the first of the La
Fayette dollars, which was inclosed in
casket costing $1,000. The presenta-
ton took place at the Elysee palace.
MIR. Thompson, accompanied by the
United States ambassador, Gen. Horace
Porter, drove from the embassy to the
palace in the ambassadors carriage.
On arriving at the Elysee at 11:45 a. m
they were received by NJ. Mellard, sub.
director of the protocol, and Capt
Haguet, of the French navy, who was
the officer on duty. The Americans
were conducted to the presidents
cabinet (study), where NJ. Loubet was
awaiting them. By his side were M.
Delcasse, the minister of foreign af-
fairs, and Gen Baillaud, the chief of
the presidents military cabinet Sew
eral members of the presidents mil
ltary household were also present.
Gen. Porter introduced Mr.. Thomp-
son to President Loubet, and the pres
cntation of the dollar was then made
by Mr.. Thompson in few appropriate
remarks. He said: ::
"Mr. President-In the name and on be-
half of his excellency, the president of
the United States, I have the distinguished
sentative of the people of France, saluta-
lions and greetings of friendship.
ION the 10Th of October, 1898, the ami
versary of the victory of Yorktown of the
French and American arms in the cause
of liberty the American school youths
were invited by the president and govern
ors of the several states of the United
the erection of the monument in Paris to
son of France, our great and venerated
ally, Gen. La Fayette.
1.-The response of the children was uni
versal, the movement a splendid success.
In further aid and honor of the work, an
issue of $4,000 souvenir silver dollars was
appropriated and struck by congress.
"Of these $4,000 La Fayette dollars the
first to issue from the mint was especially
preserved for your excellency, by the presd-
dent of the United States, and I have now
the distinguished honor, Mr.. President of
presenting to you this coin, a simple and
sympathetic token in his name and for
the people of the United States.
II voice the sentiments of my country
men when I express the hope that this
memorial dollar stamped with the likeness
of Washington and La Fayette, may re-
main always, as it is to-day, an emblem of
the amity and unity of purpose of the two
great republics of the world"
In reply the president said he wae
deeply touched by the kind thought of
Americas president and people and
particularly by the gracious manner
in which the coin had been presented
to him by Mr.. Thompson. He begged
the latter to be the interpreter to the
president of his warmest thanks and
sentiments towards President McKin.
ley and the American nation which
animated the president and govern.
ment of the French republic. NJ. Lou.
bet added that he congratulated him
self on receiving this souvenir, which
was a fresh pledge of the reciprocal
ties of esteem and friendship which
had so long united France and the
United States and which he hoped to
see draw closer and stronger more and
more.
President Loubet concluded with
saying that it was especially agreeable
to him that the mission was intrusted
to Mr.. Thompson in view of the in
itiatory part which he took in the sub
scriptions of the school children of the
United States to erect monument to
Gen. La Fayette in Paris.
Tie French president then invited
Gen. Porter and Mr.. Thompson to stay
to luncheon, at which Nine. Loubet
and NJ. Delcasse were present.
The casket is of sterling silver, finished
in French gray and gold, and stands upon
rosewood, oval base upon which is
shield bearing the following inscription:
First Lafayette Dollar, presented to the
President of the French Republic, NJ. Emile
Loubet. by the President of the United
States of America, William Mckinley, 1900,
A. D."
The coin which figured in this little act
of international good fellowship reposed
upon lining of royal purple velvet.
The detail of the design of the casket is
in every respect in keeping with the occa-
sion Of the presentation. The receptacle
is surmounted by wreath of rare deli
cacy of execution.
Upon the front of the cover, in the GEN.
Ter, is IueudlllOIl III the foreground OF
which are female figures representing Co.
lumbia and Gallia, clasping hands. Column
bia holds an olive branch, emblematic of
peace. Near the figure of Columbia are
of the United States shield
and Bartholdi's statue of Liberty Enlight-
ening the World. Back of Gallia are the
shield of France and the Eiffel tower. In
the foreground are a cornucopia and the
caducces, or Mercury's wand, with the en-
twined serpents. A steamship, emblematic
of commerce, appears in the background.
On either side of the medallion are the
leaves of the oak and the laurel.
On the back side of the cover are the
raised letters, in monogram, r. F., U. s. A.,
with oak and laurel leaves. The
ends of the cover show the shields of the
United States and the republic of France
A front view of the casket itself shows
medallions of La Fayette and Washing
ton, in proflles. The corners are beau
tifully ornamented with highly chased
raised work. The general effect of the dec
ora ton is one of simplicity, but close ex-
animation shows that the work has been
beautifully and painstaking,y carried out,
down to details that are almost mocro-
scopic.
Well-knOvvn Physician Dead.
Dubuuue Ia March 5-Dr r.