Evening star., 1909-07-06
Takes Part in Lake ChampIain
Celebration.
FAMOUS OLD FORT
Indian Pageants and Speeches Fea.
lures of the Day.
JUssERAND PRAISES MoNTcALM
French Ambassador Reviews Early
Battles With the English Fought
on Historic Ground.

TICONDEROGA, y. Y. July 6.-Old
Fort Ticonderoga, whose famous ruins
are in process of restoration, formed the
setting for today's ceremonies in connec-
tion with the Lake Champlain tercen-
tenary celebration. Here great battles
were fought and won, and the forts were
taken and retaken repeatedly. Here IT
was Ethan Allen made his famous de-
mand for the surrender Of the forts in
the name of the Great Jehovah and the
continental congress- Added Importance
was given to todays ceremonies by the
arrival of President Taft and q party OF
distinguished guests. including the French
and British ambassadors, in the after
noon.
A heavy rain, which set in shortly
after 8 o'clock, gave the gay decorations
bedraggled appearance and threatened
to play havoc with the plans of the COM
missions. The special guest train, which
left Albany this morning. brought the
ture and q party of guests of the New
York Champlain commission.
The party was disembarked at Ticon
steamer Ticonderoga, where they re-
manned for lunch.
The literary program for the day as
arranged, included addresses by Ambas-
Prouty, an historical address, 'The Story
Of Lake Champlain,'' by DR.. Hamilton w.
Mabie of New York, and an original ball
lad, entitled "Ticonderoga." by Percy
Mackaye Of Cornish, N. III.
The Indian pageants, feature of the
scheduled
given during the afternoon and evening
at Fort Ticonderoga.
Ambassador Jusserand's Address.
Ambassador Jusserand's address con-
cerned principally the history of battles
between the French and English in years
gone by in this vicinity. and the bravery
Of Montoalm, the French soldier and vic
tor at Ticonderoga 80 years ago. He said
in part: ;,
I'm this same month Of July, three cen
turies ago, this lake with the fine forests
bordering 1t then on every side, was seen
for the first time by white man, as
good a representative as one could wish
OF the white race. Samuel de Champlain,
the navigator. the explorer, the honest
man, the founder of Quebec. In this same
month of July a century and half ago
was fought on this same spot one of those
battles where SO much valor was shown
on both sides that the vanQuished carried
away with him. while leaving the field,
the esteem and admiration of the victor.
In the long wars between France and
England, whatever may have been the
changeful issue of each contest, such an
occurrence was the usual one. The two
nations could detest; they could never at
heart scOrn each other.
The winner Of Ticonderoga was one of
the soldiers France can be most proud
of. Montcalm, whose life was short. but
every day of which was spent in the serv-
ice of his country, belonged to fighting
race.
He was, however. one of those soldiers
who believed that to be a good fighter
one did not have to necessarily be ig-
norant, and that one could enjoy the
beauty Of verse without the edge of the
spirit being blunted.
Another charming trait in Montcalm's
personality was his fondness for his
mother, for his wife and children. Mar
ried young, and the father of ten children,
he kept his wife informed OF all that hap
pened to him, in witty, good-humored
letters. recalling those another young
French officer. Lafayette, was to write
later to his own wife. also from America.
Frenchmen Not Braggarts.
"The French are sometimes said to like
to bras. Great Shakespeare is somewhat
hard on them on this account. The taunt
may, however, well DC uiSputSu. ~ CCl
tainly does not apply to Montcalnl, either
living or dead. Modest enough is what
our best books of reference (those from
which the public at large gather their in
formation) have to say concerning what
happened on this spot century and
half ago.
'.In his hour Of triumph Montcalm had
rendered full justice to his enemies Wnen
he fell his enemies nobly requited him;
they gave him an equal share in the hon
ors rendered to the memory of their own
general. Wolfe. and the same column COM
memorates in Quebec the similar virtues
Of the two opponents. On the tomb OF
Montcalm. in the Ursuiine Convent at
Quebec. one of the finest inscriptions ever
devised for the sepulcher of a hero has
been engraved; it is in French. and
means: Honor to Montcalm. Fate. while
him by q glorious DEATH What true in
sight into a hero's heart Is shown by the
choice Of that word 'recompensed' This
inscrip ton is due to Lord Aylmer. gov
ernor of Canada in 1881.
Years have passed; on these happy
shores guns have long been silent. the
feelings of the nations represented around
the just-now rebuilt fort of Ticonderoga
have changed; the colonists of yore, who
had played an important part In the hght,
nation. the United States. the friend of
the former enemies. those two liberal
countries. France and England.
las for France and England them
selves, they have of late years given to
the world the example of settling, all at
once. the whole series of their secular
quarrels and difficulties. without even
having recourse to arbitration. In media
val times France and England have
known the horrors of a hundred years
war The time is not far distant when
they will be able to celebrate the COM
pletion of a hundred years peace
President Taft's Trip.
NEW YORK, July 6.-President Taft,
who arrived here from Norwich by spe-
cial train at am. today, left at 1:43
for Albany en- route TO the Lake Champ
lain celebration.
The President slept for nearly FIVE
hours this morning aboard his private
car Mayfiowef. in the Grand Central
depot here
Arriving at Albany shortly after II
o'clock. the Presidents car was attached
to the special train reaching there from
Washington about the same time and
bearing distinguished guests en- route
to the Lake Champlain celebration The
President will spend this afternoon sight
seeing at Old Fort Ticonderoga and at
Plattsburg, and will spend the night al
the Hotel Champlain at Bluff Point
tomorrow the celebration along the
New York shore will reach its climax
and day of impressive ceremonies VIII
ne concluded with banquet rendered by