The Discovery of America By the Northmen, 985-1015: A Discourse Delivered Before the New Hampshire Historical Society, April 24, 1888 (Classic Reprint)

On the 29th day of October, ISS7, a statue erected to the memory of Leif, the son of Erik, the discoverer of A merica, was unveiled in the city of Boston, in the presence ofa large assembly of citizens. The statue is of bronze. 1little larger than life-size, and represents the explorer standing upon the prow of his ship, shading his eyes with his hand, and gazing towards the west. This monumentâ suggests the subject to wluch I wish to call your attention, viz., the story ofthe discovery of this continent by the Scandinavians nearly nine hundred years ago. I must here ask your indulgence for the statement ofÂa few preliminary historical facts in order that we may have a clear understanding of this discovery. A bout the middle of the ninth century, Harald Haarfager, or the fair-haired, calne to the throne of Norway. He was a young and handsome prince, endowed with great energy of will and many pe sonal attractions. It is related that he fell in love with a beautiful princess. His addresses were, however, coolly rejected with the declaration that when he became king of Norway in reality, and not merely in name, she would llf it be admitted, as it is almost universally, that tl1e Scandinavians came to this continent in the last part of tl1e tenth or the early part of the eleventh century, it is eminently fitting that a suitable monument should mark and emphasize the event. And it seems equally fitting that it should be placed in Boston, tl1e metropolis of New England, since it simply commemorates the event of their coming, but is not intended to indicate their landfall, or the place of their temporary abode. Pacifi eN. W. History Dept . PROVINCIAL s=.A=av fl d9 10 vicronm. B. c.
(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)

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