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Geografisk Tidsskrift, Bind 19 (1907 - 1908)Det kongelige danske geografiske Selskab,41 det sjette
Made overraktes Professor Dr. phil. Mødet aabnedes af Selskabets Præsident Hs. kgl. Højhed Kronprins Christian, der bød de Nordamerikanske Fristaters Gesandt Mr. Thomas O'Brien og den talrige Forsamling Velkommen, hvorefter Præsidenten gav Ordet til Gesandten, som holdt følgende Tale til Professor Thoroddsen: Your Royal
Highness, and gentlemen of the „There has been intrusted to me a most agreeable duty — one which, through the goodwill and kindness of your Society, I am able to perform in this public and satisfactory manner. Some years since, the Honorable Charles P. Daly, an eminent Jurist and citizen of New York, created a fund in the hands of the American Geographical Society, the income from which was to be applied to the purchase from time to time of a suitable medal to be given to the person who in the judgment of the Society had accomplished the most noted geographical achievement. The purpose surely was a most broad and philanthropic one — alike honorable to the founder and to the eminent gentlemen wherever residing, and of what nationality soever, who should become the beneficiaries. By the unanimous vote of this Society, Professor Thoroddsen, one of your honorable members present here tonight, has been chosen as the one who has most richly deserved this highly distinguished honor. Thus it will be seen that in the world of science there are no limitations or boundaries, and whatever is accomplished anywhere in an intelligent endeavor to educate and enlighten mankind, is sure to receive from scientific brothers, wherever they may be, a grateful and unselfish recognition. You might, Professor, have employed your zeal in a field of scientific research more familliar and have brought your name into a more widespread and gratifying prominence, as well as have received those substantial rewards nowadays so highly prized. Though your native Iceland is not great in extent or population — although its location is remote and its people have not been attracted by those commercial activities which provide wealth and luxury, yet it has unbounded wealth for the scientist and is the proud* possessor of a history famed of old for wisdom in government and in literary culture. To you has fallen the happy lot not only of maintaining the preemminence of your nation in the present generation, but of carrying still higher its character in the world wide domain of human enlightenment. Nay, more — you have in a conspicuous degree aided in educating the higher instincts of your brother man throughout the civilized world, and have added a bright page to the history and glory of your country. The characteristics of Iceland are such as to lend a facinating interest to your investigations, and in your self-appointed labor of love, you have marked out and recorded for all the future those marvelous physical conditions which distinguish the country. During all these years your investigations have involved difficult and dangerous labor, as well as exposure and selfdenial. There were no admirers of distinction near by to offer applause or compensation. None of the ordinary rewards of life were thought of or expected — you have pursued your steady way with no aid beyond the inspiration of duty, with no fellowship save the everlasting volcanoes, glaciers, the hills, the valleys and the streams. From this companionship you' have drawn your pleasure and your reward. In the thousand years of your country's Christian civilization, there have been many among your countrymen, great in intellectual strength, whose names and works have survived them. To this glorious list your own name will now be added, and in this Side 54
distinguished
company will be preserved for the generations And now, my dear Professor, allow me to conclude hy tendering to you in behalf of the American Geographical Society, this medal — the highest and most enduring token within its pover to grant." Forsamlingen hilste Talen med livlige Haandklap. Gesandten overgav derpaa Medaljen til Selskabets Præsident, der besteg Talerstolen og med følgende Ord og under livligt Bifald fra Tilhørerne overrakte den til Professor Thoroddsen: Mr. O'Brien!
„We ask you to express to „The American Geographical Society" our heartiest thanks for the honor shown us by giving one of our members the „Daly medal". — We regard it as a sign of cordial friendship in the united work of international science." Hr. Professor
Thoroddsen! „De har ikke blot for Deres uegennyttige 16 Aars videnskabelige Arbejde ved Forskningen af Islands geografiske og vulkanske Forhold modtaget vor Konges Anerkendelse, men De har ogsaa høstet Anerkendelse fra vore hjemlige videnskabelige Institutioner ved at faa tildelt „Videnskabernes Selskabs" Pris samt dette Selskabs Guldmedalje for de af Dem udgivne og paa Selvsyn baserede Værker. De har ogsaa haft den Lykke at være bleven anerkendt af de første videnskabelige Institutioner i Evropa, og hertil kommer i Aften Tildelingen af det amerikanske geografiske Selskabs „Daly Medal14. —Vi ønsker Dem til Lykke med denne Udmærkelse, hvorved det er bleven Dem forundt at høre til den Kres af Landsmænd, som kaster Glans over vort gamle Fædreland." Herefter bragte
Professor Thoroddsen Hs. Jcgl. Deres kongelige
Højhed! Deres
Ekscellence! „Maa jeg tillade mig at frembære min ærbødigste Tak til Deres kongelige Højhed for den store Ære, der er ble ven mig til Del ved, at Deres kongelige Højhed har overrakt mig Medaljen fra det amerikanske geografiske Selskab i New York. Maa jeg ogsaa aerbødigst takke for de naadige Ord, som det har behaget Deres kongelige Højhed at udtale om mine Arbejder. Det er mig ogsaa en Glæde, at Overrækkelsen af Medaljen er sket i dette Selskab, hvortil for mig saa mange kære Minder er knyttede. Selskabet har fra sin Begyndelse omfattet mine Undersøgelser med den største Sympati, ligesom Selskabet altid har vist den største Interesse for alle arktiske Undersøgelser. I Geografisk Tidskrift er der allerede fra mange arktiske Rejsende samlet en Række betydningsfulde Arbejder om det danske Monarkis fjærneste Landsdele, og mange af disse Arbejder har vakt fortjent Opmærksomhed i de internationale, videnskabelige Krese. Maa jeg igen
frembære min dybtfølte og ærbødige „Allow me also to express my heartiest thanks to Your Excellency for the kind words to me, and I beg you to bring the American Geographical Society my most sincere thanks for the great honor which they have done me. Many admirable and eminent works which American scientists have published about the volcanic features of the Rocky Mountains, Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) and other parts of America, have been my teachers and guides on my travets in Iceland, and I hope, that in the future american geologists will find, that the gigantic fissure-eruptions in Iceland and other volcanic features of my native island will prove to have same interest in regard to the explanation of the origin of the vast lava-plains in Western America (by Columbia and Snake Rivers in Idaho, Oregon and Washington). The Geysirs of Iceland have given their name to their big cousins, the magnificent hot springs, in Yellowstone National Park, and the scientist can only in Iceland and America study the interesting and curious mixture of volcanic ice. Vikings from Iceland landed as the first Europeans on the shores of America and so we see that there are some connections between the old Sagaland, the home of the vikings, and the great world-conquering America. I am quite conscious of what a great honor the American Geographical Society has conferred upon me, and let me also express my great satisfaction at receiving the medal from the hands of Your Excellency, the illustrious representative of a great nation, which has done so much for the promotion of science and the exploration of the world." Herefter
fulgte Generalkonsttl Siims Foredrag. Side 55
l Raadsmadet den 28. Maj 1907 valgtes Gehejmeetatsraad H. Hørring til Viceformand for Selskabets Raad i Stedet for Ordenshistoriograf Professor Dr. phil. Troeis-Lund, der paa Grund af Embedsforretninger ikke ønskede Genvalg. Til Medlem af
Bestyrelsen i Stedet for afdøde Til korresponderende Medlemmer af Selskabet vedtoges det at udnævne Generalsekretär der Gesellschaft für Erdkunde zu Berlin, Hauptman a. D. Georg Kollm og fhv. Museumsdirektør Professor Dr. Emile Goeldi, Para, Brasilien. Ved Generalforsamlingen den 28. Maj 1907
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