sliadowing of untested possibilities, and knowing no limit 

 but each one's daring- or dream. While the motive of 

 pecuniary gain was not absent from even noble minds, 

 yet this was secondary and subordinate. A deeper 

 thought was moving them, — to turn to human good such 

 opening store of rich material and marvellous oppor- 

 tunity; to signalize the valor of their race, the glory of 

 their country and their religion; to take a foremost step 

 in the march of civilization, — the mastery of man over 

 nature. It was akin to the chivalry which enjoys per- 

 sonal hazard for a sake beyond self. What generous 

 ambitions, what lofty hopes hovered in those early skies, 

 and since have ''faded into the light of common day!'' 



We come here to recognize the worth of a remarkable 

 man, Pierre du Guast, Sieur de Monts, — to commemorate 

 in a material structure more lasting than any of his own 

 the value of his work and the greatness of his ideas. It 

 is, moreover, a part of the glory of Old France of which 

 we come with one heart to celebrate a passage, — taking 

 this term in both senses of its meaning. Not other than 

 glorious the passage from vision to ideal, — from dream 

 to deed; and although passed are the facts and forms so 

 vivid and vital in their day, who shall say passed the 

 spirit and power, the living potentiality of good, whose 

 course is by unrecorded ways and whose law of mani- 

 festation is unsearchable? 



England was not wanting in bold sea enterprise. 

 Almost a century before the discovery of this continent 

 she had a brisk trade with Iceland. In a single snow- 

 storm in April, 1419, twenty-five of her vessels were lost 

 on that wild coast. But whether the race instinct of 

 colonization was taking a rest, or because of the absorb- 

 ing interest in the mythical "northwest passage to 

 Cathay," she made no effort to follow up the discoveries 

 of the Cabots in 1497 by acts evincing intention of per- 

 manent possession. 



But it was with express purpose of proceeding to 



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