Morning journal and courier., 1886-10-25


 From the October Century.
 Bjornson is an early riser. He and his wife are generally found at the breakfast table at six o'clock in the morning. The other members of the family do not make their appearance till one or two hours later, while for guests the breakfast table is laid up to ten o'clock. After breakfast Bjornson is generally found in the ante-room mp stairs reading his letters and newspapers. The mails are delivered early in the morning and the poet himself is the first to examine them and scan the papers, eager to learn the latest news from the great world beyond his peace ful valley. Often in the morning, when l have descended from my little room for an early stroll, have I found Bjornson with a newspaper in his outstretched arms, while a hearty, ringing laugh or a loud outburst of admiration announces the pleasure he feels at hearing of some victory of the Liberal party in his county or of the success of any progressive movement abroad. As soon as Bjornson has finished reading he usually, in fine weather, takes stroll round his farm or spends some time in conversation with any casual guest. He then goes to his study and there he remains hard at work the greater part of the forenoon. His wife is, as far as
 
 truder at this time.
 Toward noon Bjornson prepares to go to his bath. 'FCome and I will show you the finest shower bath in the world,' he- says, and slings a towel across his shoulder and off we start. We pass through field and enter copse, where we soon hear the roar ot rushing water. We descend by a path through the underwood and emerge sudden ly upon a small river full of rapids and min iature waterfalls. We walk along the bank short distance till we come to most pie turesque spot, mountain glen in fact, through which the river rushes wildly be- tween the boulders and monster stones that impede it's course. Right in front of me l behold with awe the ''shower bath" of which I had heard From some distance above a volume of water had been led through a conduit supported on lofty spars, discharg- ing itself at considerable height just above & wooden platform which has been erected here with strcng handrails around it. A part of the water has of course in it's de- scent been transformed into spray. but the main body of it falls with a deafenlng roar on the platform below. Toward this plat form I soon discern the nude herculean fig ure of the poet making his way along the plank-laid gangway that leads from the rus tic dressing room in shady nook to the platform. He steps under the waterfall and seizing the handrail with both hands turns his back to the foaming current, which wildly and angrily rebounds from his un- fiinching figure, sending the spray and splash in all directions. It is a shower bath with vengeance and no doubt "unrivaled in the wsrld," suited only to hardy constitutions and strong nerves. The force of falling wa ters is enough to wash any commonplace mortal away into the shallow pool below the platform, where an ordinary bath can be en- loved undisturbed To nature like that of out poet this daily bath in the cool noun tain waters must be highly congenial and in yigorating. Bjornsons health Is remarkably sound and strong and he does everything to preserve it. He has entirely given up smok- ing and is almost a total abstalner. Since his visit to America, where he was struck with the constant absence of wines and splr- it's from the dinner tables of the upper class es he only on very rare occasions partakes of any alcoholic beverages.
 After dinner Bjornson takes half an hours nap, and during the warm summer days everybody seems to follow his example On fine days the members of the family and their guests assemble after the short slesta for the afternoon coffee at large table In shady corner at the back of the house, where a lively conversation is kept up for some time, Bjornson himself joining heartily in it. Round this table all the burning questions of the day, political, social and religious, have been debated with that fire and enthusiasm which is a characteristic trait of all the mem- bers of the poets family. Bjornson cannot as rule, while engaged in any conversation or discussion, sit long quiet; he will rise from the table, and putting his hands in his pockets will pace backward and forward, keeping up meanwhile running fire of talk and repartee, and stopping now and then in front of the person with whom he is discuss ing when there is anything he is specially anxious to impress upon his hearers. Sud- denly breaking off in the midst of his talk, he will take a run across the lawn with his