82 A NATION'S HOMAGE 



The function of conferring the degree was impressive. The ceremony 

 took place in the great hall of the university in the presence of a company 

 numbering 1,200 persons, including a number of scientists. 



In honor of Dr. Cook the entire body of professors and students entered 

 the hall in procession. They were accompanied by the Danish ministers of 

 education and commerce and Maurice F. Egan, the American minister to 

 Denmark. An orchestra rendered one of Beethoven's symphonies. 



Professor Torp said that the honor conferred on Dr. Cook was the highest 

 in the gift of the universit3^ 



The professor complimented the explorer on the courage and self-sacrifice 

 which enabled him to go where no human being has even set his foot before. 

 He declared that Denmark and the United States would now be neighbors 

 in the far North. 



Then, warming up to his subject. Professor Torp said with enthusiasm 

 that the Danish people not only admired Dr. Cook for his deeds, but also 

 because he was an American. 



When Professor Torp handed the parchment to Dr. Cook, the explorer 

 arose to reply, but he was unable to speak for five minutes on account of the 

 continued applause. 



A crowd of more than 1,000 persons that had congregated outside the 

 hall cheered Dr. Cook as he left, and followed him to his motor car. 



On Sept. 10 Dr. Cook left Copenhagen by sea for Christiansand, Norway, 

 where he boarded the steamer Oscar II, which sailed for New York the 

 follo\\'ing day. A large crowd bade him farewell. 



When Dr. Cook boarded the special steamer that took him to Christiansand 

 the water front was lined with spectators and the ships in the harbor were 

 dressed with flags. 



Committees from the Geographical society and the faculty of the University 

 of Copenhagen saw the explorer off. A director of the company owning the 

 ship on which Dr. Cook traveled made an address in which he thanked the 

 explorer for the honor of leaving on a Danish ship. He said that while' 

 envy and jealousy had been at work, Denmark believed in Dr. Cook absolutely. 



The ovation to the explorer was continued when he reached Norway. 

 Special honors were shown him by orders from King Haakon, 



The greeting given Dr. Cook savored strongly of the triumphal return 

 to his own country of a victorious warrior. 



