Norwich bulletin., 1912-03-11

paratus for propelllng boats on canals' |
a hydrostatic weighing machine; an |
instrument to be used in taking deep |
sea soundiI4gs; a file cutting machine |
and our modern steam fire engine De
ing conspicuous. Ericsson in 1886 IN
vented the screw propeller as means
of propalling boats which revolution
lied navigation, and his model, al
though successful. was not accepted
by the British admiralty. This off,
cial blindness cost Europe the services
of TIE inventor, and, as before stated,
he then decided to cast mis- lot with
US.
Built First Propeller,
In 1S41 he was engaged and built
the screw propelling ship of war
Princeton, and thereby Ericsson placed
the United States at the head Of naval
powers in the application of steam
power to warfare, This ship had many
Of Ericssons ideas incorporated in
its construction and was years in adj
vance of any other such craft in the
world At that time, The Princeton
was the pioneer of modern naval con-
struction and the fodnoation of steam
marine Of the world.
The next twenty years this great
mind was continuously busy in devils
to science and the commercial world,
but during all those twenty years he
had teen studs ing. planning and
working to perfect a floating battery
impenetrable by the heaviest ball, able
to resist any attack by land fortress,
or on the sea-" and when that great
struggle came his model was per-
fected. The wise man knew sooner Oh
later the time would come when such
a craft would be necessary to demon
strate this method. He was years and
years ahead Of all others in naval and
similar construction and builded bet
ter than he knew His model was
adopted by congress under strict COLI
ditions, which proved a blessing, for
the Monitor was completed on time,
and 50 years ago this morning COM
menced a fight resembling that of Da-
vid and Goliath.
Came from His Idea.
Here the speaker pictured the jubi-
latiOn in the south and the c0nsterna-
ton in he north following the first
days work of the rebel Merrimac,
changed Sc quickly when the Monitor
appeared on the scene the next day
anu worsted the giant irOnclad in the
combat. Judge Aging described how
Ericsson's inventive genius was next
turned to destruction of jrOnclads re
sulting in the production of his ia
nous torpedo boat after a ten years
study. From then modern naval ar
chitecture has advanced to the pres
ent battleship type, an iron monster
grown largely from the ideas and in
ventions of Ericsson.
Continuing, Judge Aging said:
Gnpb N bYsipf was he vrprl- If floia
great genius. Although at heart he
was ever a child Of the fatherland and
held great love for it. still he at once
attached himself to his new ami
adopted land, giving US far more than
he received in return. No nationality
afflliates any sooner nor adopts more
readily the American institutions than
do the Scandinavian people.
Credit to Both Countries.
What a credit to both his native and
adopted countries! What a bond 10
connect the two! A man of big in
telligence. abnormal capacity for work
and a deep thinker, he lowered far
above his fellows interested in similar
mechanical development throughout
the world. Such men eInbody the de-
sirable qualifications for all time.
To be great is to be good. There
was roLhing groveling low or meanly
selfish that came near the head OF
heart of Ericsson. he lived long
enough in this country, he has done
enough, and has done it so well and
so successfully as to connect himsel;
for all time with the records Of both
Sweden and the United States. He is
now an historical character He
brought honor to both, countries.
The American people have learned
to know, as never before, the quality
Of the Scandinavian stock, and to
value its noble contribution to The
! American character; its courage; its
attachment TO home and state; its love
| Of domestic Efe; its adaptability to en-
! viFonment. and, above all, its constan-
( cy. that virtue without which no peo-
| pie can long be either great or free.
/ In our part of the country We have
! to deal with the great problems of the
( strife between capital and labor, anC
( of the government Of cities where
! vast masses of men born on foreign
| soil Of different nationalities and Of
/ different races, strangers to America
/ principles, to American ideas to Am
| eFiean history, are gathered together
( ana we look to the Scandinavian race
( 10 stand by and assist US in our WorL
/ as brothers and as c6untrymen il
maintaining our American institutions
/ and government, thus emulating thu
/ example Of your noble countryman Err
J lesson, who so firmly established him
| self in the hearts of loyal Americans
| that a bond of brotherhood has beer
cemented between us.
May Present Relations Continue.
May this relation which is now ST
| thoroughly established between the
| Scandinavian and American people
/ due in great measure to this priceless.
service rendered this nation by tn.
master genius from your land. whe1
he bulk US a perfect engine Of defenst
! during the dark and trying days Of oul
! greatest need, continue until the DAY
when Swords shall be beaten int
/ ploughshareS and spears into prunins
hooks when nation shall not lift III
| sword against nation, neither shat
| they learn war any more"
"reminiscences by General Aiken.
After the singing of Du Gamla Dl
! Fra, General AilSsn was introduced t,
respond to the toast "Reminiscences
| which he did in a way TO win the un
| bounded appreciation of mis- hearers
| who more than once interrupted hin
| VIII oui9tS VI dpplduSe. DeslmIn:
when he spoke of the real pleasttr
that it gave him to be in this gathering
OF Swedish people. reminding him a
it did Of his delight in hearing tn
| beautiful voice of Jenny Lind. Their
was a peculiar fitness. he pointed oui
! in the place in which the memoria
TO Ericsson and the Monitor was hello
since in this same building Presiden
Lincoln. General Grant and also Presi
dent Garfield had been guests. Thi
house stood as q memorial to all tina
the men Of that great army Of '61-6
had pledged their lives, their fortune
and their sacred honor. Speaking fror
personal acquaintance of The battle
ground, General Aiken gave thrilIin
description Of the two days fight unit
the Monitor had sent the Merrima
back up he James river never to ne