Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-12

Mr.. Thomas took the stump for Nc
kinley and sound money in 1896,
speaking in Maine from the opening of
the campaign until the State election
in September, and thereafter in the
western states. At the special re-
quest of the Republican National
Committee. he made an extensive and
successful tour through the Scandi-
navian settlements Of Minnesota and
the Dakotas addressing large audi
ences in Swedish.
| President Mckinley appointed Mr..
Thomas Minister to Sweden and Nor
way in December 1897. When he pre-
sented his credentials as American
Minister. for the third time. at the
Palace at Stockholm, King Oscar threw
aside all ceremony and greeted him as
an old friend, exclaimfng, Il hoped it,
| felt it, | knew 1t; and now you are
here"
On the occasion of the unwilling of
the bronze monument to John Erics-
son at Stockholm on September IA,
1901, the 18th anniversary of the re-
ception Of his revered remains in Swe-
den, MIR. Thomas delivered the Grafton
in the Swedish language. in the pres
ence of the Swedish Royalties, Court,
Cabinet and $4,000 people, and was
publicly thanked therefor by the
I Crown Prince of Sweden and Nor
way, representing the King.
/ On April 10, 1903, Mr.. Thomas pre-
sided at the great international ban
| quet at Stockholm, commemorative of
the centennial of the purchase Of the
Louisiana Territory by the United
States. and delivered an historical ad-
dress in Swedish. Through his untir-
| ing efforts and wise diplomacy he Sc
cured the official participation of Swe-
den IN the Louisiana Purchase FIX
position. after the Swedish Govern
ment had twice declined.
| During his diplomatic career Mr..
1 Thomas three times requested and Sc
| cured the good Offices of King Oscar
| in the settlement of controversies be-
| tween the United States and Great
Britain and Germany.
| Mr.. Thomas resigned his post in
| 1905, after having held the position of
| American minister to Sweden and
Norway for Is years, under the ap-
pointment of three presidents. On his
retirement the American consular Of
ficcrs in Sweden presented him with a
magnificent silver loving cup, in
Scribed "As a token of remembrance
and gratitude" and Secretary of State
John Hay wrote, you have had the
I longest, the most distinguished and
the most useful term of service lin
Sweden and Norway that any Ameri-
can has ever had and l congratulate
you heartily on it,
Mr.. Thomas is a lover of all out
door, manly sports, and a keen fol-
lower Of the chase. He has laid low
the bear in the back woods of Canada,
and the elk in the forests of Sweden.
! On September 80, 1898, when hunting
in company with the Emperor of Ger
many and King Oscar on Hunneberg
| Mountain in Sweden, he had the good
luck to shot four noble elk, as large
and grand as the moose of America.
During the hunt Emperor William was
| exceedingly gracious towards the
American Minister, chatting and Jest
ing with him in the most unconven-
tional and democratic manner; and
soon after returning to Berlin, the En-
peror sent his portrait to Mr.. Thomas,
"as" Ito use the Emperors own
Words "a token of special sympathy
and a souvenir of the personal meet
ing with you on the Hunneberg hunt"
The painting represents the Emperor
clad in hunting costume. wearing the
order of st. Hubertus-the hunters
patron saint-and is inscribed by the
Emperor's own hand Wilhelm, Inn
perator Rex"
Mr.. Thomas is widely known as an
entertaining writer. He published in
1859 a translation of an historical
novel, "rhe Last Athenian," from the
Swedish of Victor Rydberg, with a
special Introduction to the American
public by Fredrika Bremen, for which
he received the thanks of the King.
He has contributed many spirited arti-