Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-25


as OF herculoan stature, body like
wrestler. the arms e an athlete. the
voice of s;entor. in moral qualities lie
was possessed or a rare political pre-
science. The conquest Of England was NOT
the fancy of an adventurer. but work
which had been M..elv nd ed and pre-
pared. He had the force OF character
necessary for the enterprise and knew
how and when 20 apply 1t.
The tapestry Of BaNeux has imraor-
talzed these valiant Norman Chevaiiers
with smooth, beardless faces. short hair.
bare necks, armed with a casque and
coat of mall descending Ia the knees.
An interesting incident of the fetes was
the successful execution OF project
formed by five students OF Chrstianta to
follow In a 'drakar," or Norman bark the
sea voyage accomplished by the ancient
Nornans. The voyage CONSUMED Just
Rouen, using sails and oars. The ovation
given them on arrival by the assembled
thousands amply repaid the students the
pains of their difficult and somewhat dan
gerous undertaking. for Notwithstanding
that all Scandinavians are good sailors.
nevertheless they did not possess the
great muscular strength of their maritime
ascendents, the followers Of Rollo.
y
II is the creation OF such commemora-
tive fetes as those al Rouen which may
lead to special studies
Mystery and Investigation, and
r.ll unfold the secret which
oASoASeu. is still hidden in the voice.
less stone OF the statue of the Norseman
erected In America. 1t is a marvellous
story. this Norman conquest. and Dudon
de st. Quentin. in his History Of the Dues
de Normandie. written upon the order OF
Count Raoul d'Ivry. brother of the Duke
Richard. said:
20 France thou who was crushed and
thrown into the dust. here has come TO
thee from Denmark a new race. An al
lance is concluded: peace between her
and thee: that race will carry thy name
and thy empire UP to the very heavens"
William was crowned King of Eng
land at Westminster. On returning from
his conquest of England he re-entered
Rouen as a conaueror: fetes We're given
in his honor. proving thus that the Nor
mans were proud of the victory. The
Bishop of Evreux in saluting him de-
clared that he had valiantly extended
Norman power and had elevated the ma
ton far above that achieved by any other
duke.
That formidable push given to a con-
Querng race had for result the extension
Of Norman influence I'm Italy and the
orient. and with this the propagation OF
customs. civilization and language of Inc
French.
In the commencement the Normans had
''devoured' the land they conquered
a horde of savages. But later they ae-
quired honors. riches and civilization and
this directed them into the road of wis
dom and penitence.
The Normans possessed marvellous facil
tiles Of assimilation and a vast sense OF
opportunity. William the Conqueror and
his successors, who had a foot on each
side of the channel, were veritable states
men. The Norman possessed thousand
years ago all the qualities required to or
ganize .conquests.
The Domesday Book did not establish
a caste. 1t made no difference between
conquerors and conquer
No Caste ed. the Normans and the
Saxons. Certainly there
CIeateu. is nothing more curious
than the history of that Norman feudai-
ity transplanted into Greek and Mussul-
man countries. which was so clever as to
replace populations speaking different
dialects, which respected their laws and
religions without seeking an impossible
fusion.
Normandy was conquered in 1904. the
king at Paris, Philippe-Auguste. prevailed
over the king at Rouen, Jean Sans Terre.
the duchies of Maine, Anjou. Touraine
and the Potion, passed to the crown OF
France.
The thousandth Norman anniversary
which has just been concluded, Is an
event OF serious political and historical
Importance to ALL and especially TO the
peoples who were directly influenced by
the Norman conquests. In the congresses
which constitute a great part of such
fetes, scientific societies Of the Scandina-
Wan countries. as of France. Italy and
America, contributed valuable literary
linguistic and scientific communications
to the archives OF the different societies
interested in the study of an invasion
which challenges our admiration and Is
yet In many particulars mystery.
NJ. Verdier. for example. submitted q
precious study concerning the charter or
Louis lie Hutin or Louis Y. King OF
France: DR.. Chervin. paper on the med
ical geography Of Normandy. etc.
NJ Olaf E. Ray. lawyer, OF chicago
member of the committee or the Amer.
can-Norwegian association "Sonner ar
Norge" (Sons of Norway, presented an
address to the committee Of the Thou
sandth Norman Anniversary Association
of Rouen. expressing the thanks OF the
American Norwegian association fcr ths
honor done to the people of NorroHa
and for the souvenir to the vikings.
Mr.. Steenstrup, the savant professor
OF the University of Copenhagen, deciar-
ed to the congress that the
The Iurv institution OF the jury In
courts of justice was due 10
OySteM. ancient Scandinavian insti-
tutions. The professor. with other things
cited the legend OF a Judgment rendered
by Duke Rollo. who caused peasant
woman to be hanged because she had
stolen a plowshare, and the husband.
who was condemned to the came punish
ment because he had not whipped her
sufficiently for the offense." The Norman
OF today is attributed the particular char
acteristic OF extreme caution, and he Is
always portrayed thus: "Un Normand a
SON dit ct son dedit," or what he says
he unsays. If. for example. you ask him
If the apple crop Is good this year ms
will leave you mystifed by answering
somewhat ae follows: For a year where
there are apples there are none. but for
a year where there are no apples there
are apples"
made a pilgrimage to the little village
of ST. Claire-sur- Epte. where they placed
a commemorative stone In the historic