Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-04-24
new NATIONAL HOLIDAY
Elk Minister AnderS0n's Novel Sug-
geStiOn for United Scandina-
Wan Celebration.
Norwegians, Sweeds and Danes Urge d
TO Come Together Annually in
Honor of Life Eriks0n.
Proposal TO Have the Observance Take
the Character of a Grape FEES
tival-0ct. l the Day.

the Character of a Grape FEES
tival-Oct. the Day.
4 reporter called on Prof. Rasmus B.
Anderson, ex-miniSter to Denmark.
Wednesday, to ascertain the facts concern
ing The Dew holiday which he has recently
proposed for the Scandinavians in Amer
lea. 1t seems that the subject is being dis
cusSed IN the Scandinavian papers of the
northwest and readers generally will be
interested In knowing what is going on
among that branch of our population.
The professor travels about a great deal
ow-a-days, but the reporter caught him
on the wig and had Il brief chat with
him.
Il hope, professor, suggested the re-
porter, that the Stt.ld and sober Scan
dlnavlanS are not contemplating a coup
d etat IN this country. What is the signif-
canoe of this new move on your part ?"
Nc, sir! No danger to American in
stltutlons. The question OF u holiday in
commemoTation CT the Morse discovery of
America is a matter which | have long
been considering. first proposed it pub.
licly in lecture delivered last June in
Central Music hail, Chicago. As you are
well aware the Norwegians have Il ma
tional holiday, the 18th of May, which
corresponds IN many respects to the Amer
lean Fourth of July, and which they have
been IN the habit of celebrating every year
throughout the northwest. The 18th of
June is similar day for the Danes These
holidays are political IN their character
and refer to comparatively recent political
events IN the mother countries.
is there any objection to the Continu-
ance of these celebrations? ?"
The objections MAY not be of serious
character, but in the first place it is diff
cult to get our American fellow citizens to
thoroughly comprehend the significance of
these holidays to Scandinavians. They
have no Internal onal importance In the
second place 1t is but natural that the de-
sCendants of the Scandinavian settlers
should gradually lose their enthusiasm for
political events on the other side of the
Atlantic and become unable to enter thor
OughIy into the spirit of the festivities. In
the thild place-a fact that would par
ticularly emphasize-the 17lh of May, for
instance, represents the separation of Nor
way from Denmark, shortly afterwards
followed by a union between Norway and
Sweden. There naturally is, as there al
ways has been, more or less rivalry be-
tween the Scandinavian countries, and SO
you see that much of this feeling crops out
in the Orations delivered on that day
References to these things may be
proper enough in Norway, Swe-
den AMI Denmark, where each
nation is bound to jealousy guard its
rights, b t the less we have of that feel
ing in this country, the better for all con-
cerned. There should be no race antag-
Cnism perpetuated in America, where the
people from all lands are eventually to
anaIgamate into one grand brotherhood,
and form new race of men,"
Are you sure these difficulties will be
avoi led in your new festival, and will not
tbs NOrwegians claim the day?"
4 see no opportunity In my scheme for
lauding one nationality at the expense of
the others. The discovery of America
took place in the year 1000; that is fixed
fact. You know Left Erikson already
has two monuments in this country, one
IN Boston and one IN Milwaukee When
we go back as far as that in the history of
Scandinavia, the lines between the differ.
ent nationalities are not so distinctly
drawn as now, and writers both N and
outside of Scandinavia have long been in
the habit of treating Scandinavia of the
middle ages as a unity. When we speak
for instance, of the Morse invasions in
France, England, Russia and other coun-
tries, we apply the term NOrsemen to
the people of the Scandinavian north, In
Guiding Iceland, and so when we use the
term Old Morse literature we embrace in
that term all the litel .ture of those coun-
tries, and | cannot conc, re of descendants
of the Norwegians. Sweo> and Danes in
this country picking a 4 1rrel as to
whether the achievements OF ~ ancient
Scandinavians belonged to the ancestors
of the one or the other.
The Left Erikson festival refers DIS
tinctly to an event in American history,
and people are presumed to take an in
terest in conspicuous event in the his
tory of their own country. What event
in the history of America can be more
interesting than the first landing of
white man on the shores of this western
continent? You see that the Morse dis |
cOvery of America constitutes tire first |
link in the chain of relations between |
and America. 1t Is. mUl |
over, the first CHI ter Of the written history |
of America What, i,,an, can be more
DF tHdD LlidU the descendants OF the |
.scoverers living IN America should Gel |
citrate this event, and | may add that |
fully expect that the day will come when |
all Americans will unite in commemorate |
ing in some appropriate manner the first |
landing of whItemen on our shores.
why have you decided upon the frs.
of October?"
Because we learn from the sagas tina, |
Left Erikson came to America IN the /
autumn of the yoar and that ne and his
followers found ripe grapes. and on ac-
count Of their abul dance he named the |
country VinIand the Good. 1t i to be a
grape fes irs' | expect the festivities to |
assume the IUtLI 4 picnics and that the
ladies will honor the slehrations with /
with other refreshments.
What opportunities are there in your
scheme for speechmaking?
The theme Is practically unlimited.
as far as Scandinavian influence
upon medieval and modern history is
The orator mag speak Of
the Vinland voyages, he may kihdie
the enthusiasm Of his hearers with
great achievements Of Scandina-
yians In all times and ali parts of the
globe, he may paint pictures from our
common ancestral mythology. dwell on
the vital Importance Of the literature Of
ancient and modern, and
Inasmuch as the subject touches America
as well as Scandinavia the orator may
spread his eagle wings and soar where
ever he hsteth over the inviting CT
American liberty, progress and patriot
sm
That seems to be a grand idea It
ought TO take among the Scandinayians
Have they shown any inclination 10 adopt
our scheme2"
Practically have been agitatlng this
question only since the first of the year.
1ut the ball Is already rolling and have
lad a number Of favorable responses
10Th In the Scandinavian press and from
scandinavian societies and individuals