The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-07-13

NATIONS CLASP HANDS
ACROSS CHASM OF time
France. Norway and United States
Beneficiariee of the Glories and Ac-
complishments of the Daring Lead
ers from Land of the Midnight Sun.
Fargo, N. D., July 13.-Thousands
Of visitors augmented the Fargo
crowds who yesterday witnessed the
unveiling of the Rollo statue, the Gift
of the city of Rouen. France, to- the
Norwegians of North America.
At noon the crowd had commenced
to assemble at the scene of the un-
yelling, and no greater gathering was
ever assembled in Fargo than that
which cheered itself hoarse as the
national banners of America. Norway
and France were lifted from the Vik-
ing heros statue. The strings were
pulled by Miss Charest, daughter Of
DR.. and Mrs. Charest, assisted by
seven other young ladies.
The Rollo committee, notables who
We're here to participate in the un-
yelling and leaders of the Singers So
|ciety and the Sons of Norway enjoyed
luncheon at the Commercial club at
noon, and at 2:15 o'clock reviewed
the splendid parade.
At the statue unveiling ceremonies,
Prof julius Olson of the University
of Wisconsin, was the first speaker.
and for an hour he held the close at
tention of an interested throng as he
eulogizc' the honored Viking hero
and spoke historically of the splendid
accomplishments of his descendants
even down to the present day. At the
turned to the young ladies on the
platform and gave the signal to re-
move the three great national BAN
ners from the work of art, which Was
done to the accompaniment of the
various national airs played by the
band.
g. Maugras. SECRETARY to the French
embassy at Warrington. made the
presentation speech in behalf of the
THE French ambassador was OBJ
liged to sail last week for Europe.
but he sent me to tell you how sorry
he is not be among you today.
Having dedicated during his stay
in the United States many statues of
Champlain and La Fayctte. I know
that he would have especially enjoyed
coming here to honor man who. by
a strange chance. happens to be at
the present time one of the many links
connecting America and France.
"What this old Viking is experience
ing today must be most pleasing to his
spirit of adventure and conquest. Un-
firing even in the grave, he has again
put to sea and here he is now stretch
ing out + =; masterfu' hand over the
new world.
At Home in Gate City.
Here as we'll as in Rouen he is at
home among his countrymen. the chill
6ren of his heart. Driven by the same
spirit that animated Rollon and his
companions. YOU left your fatherland
to seek new homes in a distant land.
And like Rollon in Normandy. William
vile in Sicily. YOU founded Norman
colony in the midst of the American
continent. True, Your methods of con-
quest We're different from theirs. AS
passed through your fields with their
abundant crops and through Your fine
industrious city. / rwas eminded of
the proverb current in France during
the ninth century, that where the
Mortimer had been not even y dog
plow has taken the place of the
sword, but the hand that guides it and
the mind that directs the hand are
still the same as formerly. And SO
the success is the same.
This present chapter of Norman
history is worthy sequel to those
whose scenes were laid in Normandy.
in England, in Sicily and in the BY
zantine empire. The venerable city ,f
fellows with loving interest growth
of Fargo and has sent YOU this
statue to be your protecting Norman
deity and to inspire you with far
reaching confidence.
Ten centuries from now there W:ll
still be Vikings. there will be Rollons,
Nansens, Amundsens; and why may
We not dream that in the year 2912
Fargo, rich in years and glory, will
colony of Mortimer settled in some
distant star"
A selection by the band. The Star
Spangled Banner" was followed by
Mayor Sweets address, in which he
accepted the statue in behalf of the
city of Fargo. He said:
Mayor Sweets Acceptance.
"on behalf of the city Of Fargo. l
accept the custody Of this splendid
testimonial of the people of Rouen to
the Normans of America. In doing
so, wish to testify our appreciation
of the significance of the event. and
of our pride that the city of Fargo
should be selected as the abiding
place Of this splendid monument.
1T does not need any great anima- :
ton of the imagination to conceive
the spirit Of the great Rollo. assum-
ing this magnificent image OF himself
as the medium through which to
view the ceremonies Of this occasion.
Our Imagination may indulge a re-
Prospective view and contemplate the
cnncourse of events starting more than
thousand years ago and traversing
the centuries and encompassing con-
tinents; eliminating in these cere-
monies of today
Courage Of the Vikings.
I'VE recall the restless spirit OF
those Vikings Of antiquity whose
courage and endurance carried them
forward from the coast of Europe
upon q career of adventure, discovery,
and conquest; traversing unknown
seas and fragmentaty continents, pen
etrating even the region where we
now stand: as il foreseeing how we.
in the centuries to come. would sig
nalize their great achievements.
1--WE recall also. that arising in the
same period. proceeding from the
same locality. Rollo himself and his
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