New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-24
IBSEN'S FIRST WORK.
A DRAMA OF HIS BOYHOOD.
HE RELATES SOME EARLY EXPERIENCES.

Paul Ginisty the clever Partisan feuilletOnst, mas
issued annually for a number OF years volume en-
titled "LAnnee Litteraire." containing his prnclph
literary criticisms and essays for the previous tweve
months The fntroductions to the various volumes are
written by the authors friends and colleagues. Thus
Jules Lemaitre. Claretie COppce, Rchepln Anato'
France and others have one after the other written
words OF prnise for "L'Annee Litterairc" and for
inisty and have given to the world interesting facts
about themselves. This year Ginisty asked lbsen to
write the preface, and as n result "L'\nnec Lit
tersre" contains interesting autobographca notice
of the younger years of the Northern author.
"The work." writes Ibsen, with which ] began
nv literary career was the drama 'Catllne,' which
j wrote in the winter OF 1s4S40. when twenty-one
years OF age was then I'm Grmstad and was Obliged
20 find work IN order TO live and TO pass my examina
lions 1t was time Of restlessncss. The February
revolution. the uprisings in Hungary and other coun
tries the Sllesan war. had all made deep impression
upon me and aided I'm ripenng my mind-whch
however despite all these things, remained unsettled
for many years. / wrote inflated verses 10 the
Eungarians. In which called upon them to continue
the struggle. ! wrote number OF sonnets TO King
Oscar, which principally las far as can now remem
ber contained the advice to disregard everything and
place himself at al the head OF army in aid
Of the sister people beyond Silesa's border doubt
now that contrary to my belief in those days. my
winged proclsmations could have done any good for
the Magyars Norsemen, and consider It fortunate
that they remained In the manuscript form.
At the time, by my cpigrams and caricaturcs
made enemies of several persons who deserved better
treatment from and whose friendship should have
appreciated. AS storm OF great events was break
ing forth beyond the borders OF my country found
myself on a war footing with the ideas of the society
TO which condemned by my material condition
and the circumstances OF my life. Such the con-
dition Of affairs at the time when preparing my
self for the bachelors degree and studying the
q
] devOured these works and few months later my
drama finished. 1t was written In the hours OF
the night. so to speak. compelled to steal
time which used for study from good chief to
whom his business erythng. A few minutes
Of these stolen hours used for writing verses. had
no time but the night at my disposal. believe that
this Is the unconscious reason that the scenes in
the play are entirely night scenes. was obliged Of
course to keep the ncomprchcnsible fact that had
written a drama from those about me. But young
poet OF twenty years cannot live without conhdants
and so told two friends of my own age about the
secret work
All three Of us had great hopes for this unfinished
'Catiline' Then came the duty Of getting II copied,
presented under pseudonyme to the theatre in Chris
tisnia and published. One of the two faithful ones
undertook 10 copy my uncoreced manuscript. lie
went TO work conScientiousy that ne did not even
forget TO put in the dashes used when the desired
phrase failed to come TO me AT the time. The other
friend-whose name j give because he Is no longer
among the living; al the time student. later law
yer-Ole c. Schuerud went to Chrlstana with the
copied manuscript in his pocket. ] recall still
of his letters, in which he announced that he had
Just left the Catlne' at In National Theatre lie
convinced that the piece would be produced. lie
was also confident that all the publishers Of the city
would be ready with pleasure to give big sum for
the privilege Of bringing ont the first edition. Ac
cording TO his advice, the only thing TO do TO find
the publisher ready to give the most money.
tbo HrSt disapp nj mo m
The directors OF the theatre returned the drama. ac
companied by a very polite but decisive note declining
It, Then my friend called upon all the publishers
who, after the other, answered as had done the
directors. One offered 10 print the piece for Il
certain sum, hut declined TO give anything for it.
But this failed TO lessen the faith OF my friend
on the contrary. he wrote me that n was the best
thing that could have happened. could publish the
work myself he would give me the money 10 do so
We would divide the profits, he attending to the bns
ness end. In later letter he told me that. In view
his confidence in the future he had about decided
to give up his studies I'm order TO devote himself en-
tirey to the publication Of my works. He believed
that could easily write two or three pieces a year.
He calculated with the help OF table Of probabilities
that from the profits could soon make our long
discussed journey through Europe and the Orient.
"Meantime ! contented myself with short trip 10
Christiana. / found myself there at the beginning
OF the year 1850. IA few weeks before Catiinc' lad
been placed In the show windows OF the bookstores.
"The work had certain Success principally in
student circles, but the critics condemned the bad
verses and declared the book tho product Of
ripe mind a mlder judgment passed by one
alone-but this man was one whose applause was !
especially dear. whom / still hold in deep |
veneration. Only IL few copies Of the small edition
were sold. Ny friend had number Of them, and /
remember that one evening when our common house
hold affairs in especially bad condition. we |
sold all OF them to dealer in second hand books.
During my sOtourn in my native land last year
the various impressions and experiences OF my author
life seemed To appear before my minds eye with !
special clearness. Among other things read 'Caine'
again had almost forgotten the details OF the book.
But in rereading ii came TO the conclusion that il |
contained many things which still dared acknowledge
my own. 1t touches upon many problems with |
which my later works have been conccrned-thc
fict between capabilities and ambition between the |
Will and possibility between the iragicomc efforts
of mankind and the Individual. The thoughts. 1t is
true. upon these subjects were rather ncbulOus. |
decided IL reprint tatiline' and my publisher con |
scented.
at impossible, Of course. reprint the first |
edition verbatim. il nothing than The |
printed OF uncOrTeced manuscript. the first
bered very well what had originally gone through
head ana saw that The chosen form seldom cX |
pressed satisfactorily what mad wished TO say.
therefore decided work over the diam
in way which believe could have done then If |
had had the time and more favorable surroundings |
without changing the ground Ian the action. . !
Many things OF which dreamed twenty five years |
ago have been fulfilled, although not rapidly In |
the way which then hoped. believe that my
Perence with 'Cattinc was the best thing that could
have happened to me. And when i review my life |
do 50 with gratitude TO all and for all things"
. DEPpESSJON IN THE CTOTE TP 1DE