The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-20
A VISIT TO BJORNSON.
The Great Norwegian Writer
i'm a German Beer Garden.
HIS AMERICAN TOUR IN 1880.
A Public Grafton in the Valley OF Roms-
daI-Literature Discussed Over
Foaming Book.

Paul Heyse said to me as L entered his
study in his residence on the Ludwlgs-
strasse 40, Munich.
Ihelped him on with his overcoat.
"Bjornsterne Bjornson with mis- son will
be at the Achatz today" he exclaimed.
The Achatz was well-krOwn Munich
resort frequented by the celebrities Of the
city who INDUCED in an early drink OF
block beer" and discussed the topics OF
the day.
So walked by the side of the German
poet who, despite his go years, looked very
young and attractive, which he attributes
to the Schweninger Kur.
What is the correct pronunciation OF
Bjornsterne? | asked.
'jurn-st-yearney B'jurnson: the word
Burn means that he is quite bear!"
At the meeting place, a simple beer gar
den with wooden tables and benches under
shady trees, there was quite large COM
pany assembled-Count Setback, the owner
of a famous picture gallery; little, dlgnlhed-
looking Professor Carriere, the art critic,
who can give half dozen. lectures on
some old Italian master OF whom most
people do not even know the name; Fellx
Uahn, the author of a series OF historical
novels like "Attila"; Professor Berndai,
professor Of literature in the Munich uni
versity, and Henrik Ibsen, who was
dressed in gray suit apparently of Eng
lish make, and whose couture was as
strange as usual, his gray whiSkers stick
ing out on each side and his stiff halr
forming regular quadrangle with them.
"He will soon be here" somebody re-
marked, and they waited for his arrival to
order the beer.
A tall, imposing figure, with broad
shoulders, in a dark brown trock coat,
soon strobe up to our table. His face was
clean shaven, with a slight resemblance
to divinity student. The quick, pierre
ing glance of his eye was peculiar; it
seemed to penetrate to the bottom OF the
soul he met.
He was at once surrounded and greeted
by his old friends and acquaintance with
great affection and cordlality.
''Now and then l have to leave Gansdal
(his farm in Norway and take a breath
in other zones" he remarked.
His son, Born, resembles his father
very much, and gives US an idea how the
author of "Arne," looked when he was
young.
He is an excellent actor in character
parts, and was improving his art in Ger
Saxon Meiningen company, and played
with them during their memorable stay at
Drury Lane.
Both spoke German f1uently, the son
without any accent.
81 am always attached to Munich. The
south German humor is really unique. 1t
is never bitter, one-half Is wisdom and the
other love. But it would not do in all
Wa SOrnotirraS pooI in
dignation up there in Norway, do We not,
Ibsen?"
The author of "Hedda Gabler' made
scarcely perceptible movement of APP
proval. Ibsen was decidedly eccentric,
while Bjornson's manners were as simple
as his stories. They show that his per-
sonal experience until manhood had
hardly reached beyond Norwegian peasant
life.
Some Of his latest works were praised
and discussed.
"People think read Auerbach before l
wrote my stories. | did not know him.
Besides, he would not have been my fancy.
He is too philosophic. We Scandinavian
authors should always remember that We
are writing for a peasant people," and be
threw piercing glance over his spectacles
at Ibsen.
Ibsen looked up for a moment, but re-
manned silent, his taciturnity has become
proverbial in Munich, which has been his
voluntary exile for so many years.
Hearing that 1 came from America,
Bjornson shook hands with me and spoke
of his American trip during the winter of
ISS0-S1.
you are quite success in the states"
I remarked.
"Success?" he asked. "Hardlyl Nv
books are not old enough yet to have an
audiencel"
looked somewhat astonished. "a book
at its publication has only friends or foes.
To have an unprejudiced audience it must
be at least twenty years oldP
"Well, who can wait so long?" asked
one of the illustrious beer tipplers. for
their glasses were constantly filled anew
with foaming "bock beer"
lbsen growled: "a truth lives only
eighteen years; that is, until a new gener-
alton springs up which demands new
ideall'
That may be true so long as one treats
political and social questions of the day."
said Paul Heyse, the poet OF friendship
and love.
Then controversy arose between the
UeFihaH ana scandinavian writers. The
Germans affirmed that those human pas
sions were more worthy TO be depicted
which has remained unchanged In ali
ages.
Somebody remarked: "The Scandina-
vians are IN the minority"
Ibsen grinned: The minority is al.
ways right"
Pardon me for disagreeing with Won
but the majority is always right" replied
Blornson.
Everybody laughed.
Then, also, those authors should feel
elated whose MSS. can be weighed by the
ton, calculated Ibsen, angrily.
II they go at that rate they will soon
ne unable TO carry their authorship and be
buried under it, was the apt reply.
rms animated conversation went on for
an hour, devotIng much time to the Scan
dinavian literature.
How eloquent were Biornson's words
ABOUT Christian Winter. a lyrical poet of
the oLd school, perhaps the greatest Sean
dlnayia has produced.
HE understood the shaIlowness, the
lngenuine enthusiasm of the city folks:
he understood the hardness, the patience,
the independence of the lower strata OF the
population, and that led him to his poeti-
Cal description of nature
HE warbled with the birds, he seems to
nave known everyone by its name His
verses are free, easy and light-Iike
swallows twitter," said Paul Heyse.
And more" resumed Bjornson. ale
was the Interpreter of the erotic life of
mowers, and the nckle butterfly was his
continual admiration"