Brookings register. (Brookings, S.D.) 1890-1894, 1892-05-13

tlOnallty, Is his translation OF the "FOIh
Songs of Scandinavia" some of which
are quoted in this paper.
He was born at Albion, Dane county
Wis, Jan. IL, 1S46, his father having
been a Quaker leader, who in 1886 head
ed large Norwegian colony for Wis.
consin. From the common school, which
he has always defended by his eloquence
ne passed to college at Decorah, Ia,
which has been the alma mater of many
a learned Scandinavian American. In
1866 he became professor in Greek and
modern languages at Albion academy,
and in 1859 took the chair of languages
in the University of Wisconsin.
In 1872 he made the tour of Norway
with Ole Bull, and delved into the ar.
chives of the universities for the lore
that he has given the New World in his
matchless volumes. In his most recent
pamphlet 1880, he says: The ancient
Scandinavians cannot be said to have
possessed any clearly defined knowledge
Of god outside of nature-that is, of
any supreme god. The highest divinity
was Odin, the father of gods and men,
as he was styled" This is his cogent re.
capitulation of the whole Morse mythol.
ogy:
First-There is q prechaotic world in the south
part of which, Muspelheim, Surt Cthe swarthy,
dark unknown reigns with flaming sword, and
in the north part Of which, Nifheim. issues
forth the venom rivers, the Elivogs, indicating
that Nidhug, the dragon in Hvergelmer, is CO.
eternal with Surt; that is, the good and the
evil existed from everlasting.
Second-Chaotic Ymer is produced by the
blending of cold and heat, fire and venom, sent
forth into Ginungagap by Surt and Nidhug
Odin and the gods are the beneicent forces and
elements in nature. They separate themselves
from the giants which are the evil and destruc.
tive elements and conquer them by their di.
vine powers.
Third-Then comes Cosmos. Odin, Vile and
We create the present world from the body OF
the slain Ymer.
.Fourth-The government of the world is in
the power Of the Asgard gods, while they are
more or less subjected to the decree of the Nigh
ty norns, the weird sisters, dispensers of time
and fate. All that is good, beautiful and true
comes from the gods, but the giants also mani
fest their power in all the evil, disturbing and
destructive elements Of nature. The gods cir
cumscribe, but do not destroy the power of the
giants. The world life Is a ceaseless struggle
between these opposite forces. The gods strive
to defend what advantage they have, but the
giants are continually seeking to defeat them
and bring ruin upon them. The gods frequent
ly employ the giants to elevate and fOrtify
themselves, but this Is a mistake on their part
and they thereby only In the end weaken their
own power. The cunning giant god LOke, the
devil or MephistOpheles Of Scandinavian pa
ganism whom the gods have adopted and taken
into Assard, deceives and destroys them. The
power Of the giants keeps increasing and grows
more and more threatening to the gods and to
The whole world.
Fifth-LASarmonyw with the doctrine of some
Christian churches that wickedness is to in
crease until the last trumpet sounds, so in the
Scandinavian religion the world grows worse
and worse. 1t finally comes first TO the death
Of Balder and then to the great struggle in
Ragnarok, where both parties summon all
their strength for decisive battle, and where
gods and giants mutually slay each other. In
this internecine feud the world and the noble
ash Ygdrasil are consumed with flames hurled
by the mysterious Surt-that is, by the same
original power whence came the first sparks Of
life in heprechaotic world.
Sixth-The world is destroyed only to rise
again in q more glorious condition. In the re-
and regeneration of the world the
victory Of the gods over the giants is complete.
After Ragnarok, Odin, Thor, Frey. ETC., are no
more as individual divinities, but they are all
united in that supreme being, that one who is
greater than Odin, that one whom Hyndla's
lay in the Elder Edda dare not name, and
whom few look far enough to see-that god
who is dimly discerned in the primeval begin
ming, who remains victorious in Ragnarok,
and who is from everlasting to everlasting.
When that mighty one comes to the great
judgment, then the cursed Nidhug. the gnaw-
er in the dark, who has so long tormented the
souls OF the wicked, sinks, together with death
and all pain and evil into the unfathomable
abyss, never to rise again. Such was in brief
the religion that fostered the enterprising
spirit Of the grand viking age In the north. 1t
Is not unworthy Of o modest place beside the
other systems Of heather religions. 1t GER
tainly inspired the ancient Scandinavians to
live an upright and brave life. 1t has many
"broken lights" of Christianity in it. The
in many parts only makes US won
der how it grew. Anyhow, it saves us from
having a low idea of the character Of our rude
ancestors.