FOREWORD 
thorough apprenticeship, and his participation 
in the final victory which planted the Stars 
and Stripes at the North Pole, and won for 
this country the international prize of nearly 
four centuries, is a distinct credit and feather 
in the cap of his race. 
As I wired Charles W. Anderson, collector 
of internal revenue, and chairman of the din- 
ner which was given to Henson in New York, 
in October, 1909, on the occasion of the pres- 
entation to him of a gold watch and chain by 
his admirers: 
"I congratulate you and your race upon 
Matthew Henson. He has driven home to 
the world your great adaptability and the fiber 
of which you are made. He has added to the 
moral stature of every intelligent man among 
you. His is the hard-earned reward of tried 
loyalty, persistence, and endurance. He should 
be an everlasting example to your young 
men that these qualities will win whatever ob- 
ject they are directed at. He deserves every 
attention you can show him. I regret that it 
is impossible for me to be present at your 
dinner. My compliments to your assembled 
guests." 
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