The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-04-05
GREAT DAY
FOR FARGO
Continued From Page one.

which will give the city of Fargo a
place unique and distinct among the
cities Of this continent.
In addition to the large number of
Scandinavian residents Of not only
the state Of North Dakota but the
whole northwest. who are expected
here in large numbers, there will be
present the mayor of the city of RoueH,
France, which municipality presents
the statue as a gift to the Scandina-
Wan people of this continent, and four
representatives from. the French city
besides the French ambassador to the
United States at Washington, who
comes. on the personal invitation of
Cong. L. B. Hanna.
The Rollo statue association of Far
go is busy now laying the final plans
for this great fate day which will be so
notable in the history of the city. The
above invitation in the French tongue
is being engraved to be sent the dis
tinguished foreign visitors who are
expected.
The translation of the invitation that
is to be issued to the Rouen city Off
Gals is:
The mayor of Fargo, the governor of
North Dakota, the president of the
Rollo association, request Mayor Lee
Blond, Castor LIE Breton, Jean Revel,
Gehan Soudan de Pierrefitte and the
Marquis de Rochethulon ct Grente to
do them the honor of assisting at the
dedication of the Rollo statue founder
of Normandy presented by the city of
Rouen to the Normans of North Amer
lea on the occasion of the celebration
of the millennium of Normandy on FRI
day, July IL. 1912, in the city of Fargo.
The guests from over the sea will be
Marie LIE Blond of Rouen or his per-
sonal delegate in case his duties as
the head of that municipality prevent
him from coming at the last moment;
CASTOR LeBreton of the art museum
of Normandy, and a member of the In
stitute of France; Jean Revel, the
recognized authority on Norman
history and Gehan Soudan de Pierre
fitte. They will greet the French am
bassador at Washington, M. Jusserand,
on their arrival in this city.
Sir WiIfred Laurier Expected.
One of the distinguished guests on
the occasion of the presentation of
the Rollo statue to the Normans of
North America and it's unwilling in
Fargo will be Sir Wilfred Laurier,
former premier of the Dominion of
Canada, who is the honorary president
of the Rollo Association Of Fargo.
The meeting of all these dignitaries
in this city, which will make the event
n of international Importance, can
not help but turn the eyes Of the
whole nation ard the world on the
city of Fargo, giving it probably the
greatest advertising n American
municipality will have received since
the signing of the Portsmouth treaty
between the Russians and the Japanese
in 1904.
1t is expected that the city council
of Fargo will name a park after the
statue and it has been suggested that
a street should be appropriately called
boulevarde de- Normandie or Norman
die b~oulevarde as was done last year
in the city of Rouen following the
millenial celebration that was held
there.
Progress Being Made.
Considerable progress is being
made by the Rollo statue committee
for the Normandy celebration in
Fargo, July IL, when the unwilling of
the Rollo statue will take place." said
DR.. j. C.. r. Charest, secretary of the
association, to a Forum representa-
tive today.
1.-THE city Of Rouen, France, which
gave the statue of Rollon, as it is
pronounced in French, to the Nor
mans of North America, will send four
delegates to this city for the unveil-
ing ceremonies. They will present the
statue in the name Of Rouen and
Normandy.
1.-THE Norman millennium was cele-
brated last year in France. The city
of Rouen erected a statue to RolIon,
a Viking born about the year $50 in
Norway. He made a descent in Nor
mandy, which was coded to him by
Charles the Simple, king of the
Franks, in oil. Rollon married the
daughter of the French king, embrace
ed the christian religion and became
the first duke of Normandy.
"About 155 years later, in 1866, his
descendant, william the Condueror,
invaded England and won the battle.
Itof Hastings which gave him the Eng
lish throne. The city of Rouen pre-
scented a replica of the RolIon statue
to the Normans of North America.
Several cities have competed to OBJ
tain it, but Fargo won as it was con-
sidered the most important Norwegian
center on this continent, and together
with the important pioneer work done
by the early French settlers in this
western world, Fargo vas found to be
| entitled to the statue.
Credit Given Fielde.
Thanks to the efforts of DR.. H. D.
Fjelde of Abercrombie, the Norman
celebration will AXE place in Fargo
on July IL in connection with the ma
tionaI convention of the Norwegian
saengerfest which will have on thai
occasion a chorus of 1000 voices.
Large delegations will be sent here
from the French national societies in
the United States and Canada, some
of these societies representing a mem
bership of from 5000 to 10000 people.
"Sir Wilfred Laurier Of Canada is
honorary president of the Rollo as
sociation of Fargo and o, J. deLen-
drecie. Of this city is president. Con-
gresham Hanna is a member Of the
committee and has succeeded in his
efforts to have Ambassador Jusserand
from France accept an invitation to
attend. Many may not know it but
the Fargo congressman is OF French
descent, as his mothers family, whose
name was Pelletreau, came from
Il Etranea MANY wears ago. Much In