The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-06-05
FRANCES LOVE
: FOR AMERICA
IS RECALLED
Touching Medal From Govern
ment Presented to San
Francisco
INTERESTING STORY OF THE
CONCEPTION OF THE PLAN
Presentation of Franklin Medal to the
French Government Took Place on
the Day the Golden Gate City Was
Stricken by Earthquake Calamity.

manifestation of the historic goodfeel-
ing between France and the United
States was expressed today when Am
bassador Jusserand, on behalf of the
French government, presented to the
city of San Francisco handsome gold
medal, commemorative of the restora-
ton Of the city from the destruction
wrought by the earthquake and fire of
1906. The exercises took place in the
Orpheum building, beginning at half
past ten o'clock this morning. The
medal was accepted by the mayor of
the city, who responded fittingly to
the tribute of the French nation.
Impressive as was the medal itself,
the manner and words in which the
French ambassador presented it in
creased many fold the lesson of the
day. That the feeling of the represen-
tative of the republic of Europe for
her sister republic in the west was
reciprocated by the citizens of San
Francisco was evidenced by the ap-
plause that greeted the ambassadors
closing remarks:
Accept this gift, Mr.. Mayor" he
said, land receive it you all, Ameri-
can citizens, in token that what once
was. still is; that we. French, con-
tinue, as of old, to feel with you in
your moments of happiness or of an
guish. and if may be permitted to
appropriate the words of Mr.. Elihu
Root, let me say in my turn, that we
have in France feeling for America;
and sentiment, enduring among a
people, Is q great and substantial fact
to be reckoned with Long live your
city, and may continuous prosperity
be the lot of the American nation"
Origin of Plan
In explaining the origin of the idea
to present the medal to the city, the
ambassador reviewed the continued
intimacy of the two nations. "Since
the early days of American independ-
ence, no great event has happened in
this country without awakening a
friendly echo in distant France" he
said. He told of the many express
sions of regard, given by both France
and by America to the other. finally
coming down to the time three years
ago when the United States presented
France medal commemorative of
the way in which the European ma
tion received Franklin when he came
to tell the woes of the struggling thir-
teen states. On the day of the presen-
tation of the medal detailed news of
the disaster that had befallen San
Francisco was lacking. Jusserand said
that as he rose to accept the medal.
the thought flashed through his mind
that the next token of friendship be-
tween the two nations might commem-
crate. the resurrection Of the city.
when I had thus spoken, on the
Goth of April. 1906. we knew but very
imperfectly in the east. what was
happening in the west. but I knew too
we'll the American temper to have
any doubt as to what fight against
ing. and as to what resurrection they
would see later. The past life of a
city, where pluck. energy. fearlessness
are more common than even gold in
her banks, supplied the decision. All
behaved as men and women on heart
and honor. The page written by the
inhabitants of San Francisco on the
moving ashes of their dead city is not
one that any wind will ever sweep
away"
Mr.. Jusserand explained that the
sentiments he expressed upon the pre-
sentation of the Franklin medal were
so we'll in accord with the French Re-
public and San Francisco had been
so quickly resurrected that a medal
had been struck by his government
and he had been ordered to cross the
continent to present 1t.
This work of which one single copy
in gold has been made" continued the
ambassador, 'is destined to the Ameri-
can people and the town of San Fran
CISCO One side emblematically
shows your city rising from her tomb,
and. powerful and handsome as ever.
throwing off her shroud: on the other
side the figure of France is seen pre-
senting branch of laurel to Ameri-
ca"
AMERICAN MASONS