Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-16
rom THE HAND
Of THE PRESIDENT
Medal Of Geographic Society
Awarded to Peary.
GATHERING A NOTABLE ONE
Banquet at Ne" Willard in Honor of
the Explorer.
.nnRESS BY MR.. ROOSEVELT
.DDREss BY MR.. ROOSEVELT
.,nss of the Man Who Attained
=. .Farthest North"-Compli-
mented by Italy.

Commander Peary, famous as an
arctic explorer, last evening received
,be first award OF the Hubbard
medal Of the National Geographic
Society. The presentation was by
the President of the United States.
r.,,, rhe hand of the President of the
,..,,od States. Commander Robert Peary,
.,o,ic EXPLORER. last evening received the
ala medal of the National Geographic So
J.tv for his achievement in reaching the
r,,rtbest north eighty-six degrees six
minutes The gathering in the banquet
nom Of the New Willard was a notable
me The attendance included the members
q, the Diplomatic corps and of the cabinet
and high officers of the army and navy.
Scientists. travellers and explorers of all
rsgious were In the gathering. The guest
n, honor is a straight, broad shouldered,
sandy mustached man. apparently not yet
IN middle life-the individual who eclipsed
all previous records by his latest dash to-
ward the pole
The occasion was notable also as marking
the first award of the Hubbard gold medal
Of the National Geographic Society. Its
intrinsic value is cOnsidera BILE, it's artistic
value more 50, and its sentimental value
heglnable The inscription is simple,
being ITO Commander Robert Peary, pre-
sntei by the National Geographic Society
IN recognition of his achievement in reach
ing the fartheSt north"
Or the reverse is the seal of the society,
which is a map OF the world, and on it is
Indicated, by a sapphire, the most northern
point reached by Commander Peery.
President Roosevelt was not one of
those VINO participated in the banquet. He
arrived late and remained only a short
time. In fact, his entrance cut short a de-
seripton by DR.. Cook of how his party
reached the top of Mount Mckinley. DR..
Cook had been the last speaker, with one
exception, on the program when Prof
Alexander Graham Bell appeared at the
entrance to the banquet hall, and, rails
hg his hand as a signal for silence, ex-
planned that he had the honor of an
nouncing the President of the United
States
The 500 guests arose to bid the Presi-
dent welcome, and amid the applause of
sloVed hands and the clinking of glasses
Inc executive moved along the floor al
most at run. the form of Prof Bell
Speeding after him
Frof. Willis l.. Moore of the weather bu-
iesu' The POSTMASTER. proceeded to the
doorway 10 also bid the President vel
come and escorted him to his place at the
mead OF the central table.
President Roosevelt's Address.
resident Roosevelt lost no time in get
ing down 10 business. He said that he
'dS emphaucally honored by being given
q q, cnahce to honor Commander Peary.
The President added:
count myself fortunate in having been
ssaeu 70 De present this evening at such a
s'uerlhe and on behalf of such a society
paS tribute of honor to an American
.p eihphaucallv deserves well of the COM
Civilized people usually live
+ conuluons Of life so easy that there
certain tendency to atrophy of the