The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-14
RJoERNs1JERNE s.toERNsox
eirsd NovsIist. Powerful Playwright,
FJctic Sougster.

OF Heinrich Ibsen. the popularity OF another
northern author should assert itself OF only in
this country but throughout Europe. In the
opinion vt not few the latter is far more de.
serving OF his reputation than the former; but,
without making invidlous comparisons It 10
safe to consider 1bsen and BiUrnstjerne Born
son as they themselves consider each other.
friends in the beginning rivals and almost
enemies later on, and quite recently apparently
reconciied Iy the marriage OF Ibsen's son to
Bj6rnsons eldest daughter
BjOrnstIerne Bi0rnson was long called the
Victor Hugo Of the North" and he was. so to
speak. presented TO the French public By M.
j. SEIZURE In the Rerte des De,r Mordes the
most hospitable publication to foreign talent,
Immediately aIterward two OF his novels we're
translated into french. but without then meet
ing with the attention and praise they de-
| served. and 1t Is only within the last two o.
three years that full justice has been unspsr-
inRly meted to literary work which will rank
among the finest and purest OF the centu.5.
The translations rapidly multiplied, and will
continue to do so till we are familiar with all
the originals: his plays have been acted on
more than one foreign stage. and II the Thea
ire Lbre" OF Paris has chosen to curtail "A
Bankruptcy" to the first three acts. yet enough
remains to prove that the drama contains
the qualities OF intensity and passion which
are inherent to Biornsons special genius
Born In December 1892. at Kvikne. oester-
dalen. Norway. Bjornson has reached the age
ofUl. His father was pastor OF very small
church. standing in the heart OF desolats,
half-deserted district wild without grandeur.
and lonely without poetry. The climate Is
severe. the vegetation scanty, the atmosphere
either damp and murky or icy cold the
dreary depressing melancholy OF these sur
roundinRs OF his early childhood have been re-
traced by the poet in a delightful sketch
called Blacken. However. fortunately for
him sudden change befel his family when
the boy was about years old: his father
was transferred to Noesset in tho Roms-
dal one OF those enchanting localities
which have made the universal renown
OF Norway. with its noble aords, its piled up
mountain ranges. its dark forests and
smiling valleys. weird and majestic In winter.
and bathed during the su m m or in the luminous
twilight OF the short Scandinavian nights.
Tho influence OF this IN magnificent scenery has
moulded the character and form OF the in
habtants. and given the Norwegian his deep,
intense. but restrained capacity for strong
mental emotions and his powerful frame to
grapple with the obstacles OF a savage nature
to conquer the dangers OF the snow clad peaks
anil the perils OF winter navigation.
The mind OF young Bj0rnson there re-
ceivsd indelible Impressions. Rebellious to
all scholastic drudgery. he wandered alone
through the gorges and ravines. turning over
the pages OF tho great book OF nature and
taking to heart its dumb teachings. He was
inordinatey fond OF listening to Bible stories;
perhaps still more SO to the ballads and
legends transmitted orally from generation to
generation by the rude country folk who &C.
cept with the same simple faith the beliefs Of
Christianity and the myths and heroes OF the
old Scandinavian sagaa
The ten years spent by Bi0rnson in the
Romsdal undoubtedly decided his future
career He had grown thoroughly imbued
with the spirit OF his race. and. as his genius
developed 1t instinctivey reproduced for the
outsider the visions OF his mystical and re-
Elective soul with it's sudden outbursts Of
violent emotion. subsidne as abruptly into its
former pensive quietude.
BJOrnson Is very tall man. with broad
shoulders. athletic and supple limbs, and he
carries his head proudly erect His hair 10
thick: the contour of his face Is more rounded
than oval. his cheek bones are high. and he
offers the robust type Of the Norwegian peas-
ant illuminated by the radiance OF great in-
tellect. As he was Mt twenty he has remained
in his maturity. with the optimism OF conscious
strength. although he has passed through .
life OF varied and sometimes contradictory
experiences.
lie had barely arrived at Christtania as q
student when he already wrote plays and con.
trlbutei to newspapers plunGing headlonR
into the boldest flights OF journalism. He did
not hesitate for one moment to erect himself
as the champion of his race; OF the individual
ity OF the Norwegian genius: the restoration
OF the national tongue in its integrity: the
rights and customs OF his country. and to re-
sist the encroachment OF the Danish tongue.
already influenced by contact with Germany.
lie preached crusade in favor OF Nor
weGian art. and. in order to propagate his
tenets with better effect, he organized Q
series OF public lectures and conferences. He
also accepted the office OF manager OF the the
aires OF Bergen and Christiania. Not satisfied
with his advocacy OF art he strongly sup
ported the views OF the theologian. Grundivig.
who declared his BELIEF in an elementary
Christianity entirely contained in tho hap
piness OF living; but this did not prevent him
from lighting necessarily for religion and mo-
rality. the ruling laws OF his life.
After travelling abroad with a subsidy from
the Government. and visiting Denmark. Italy.
France and Germany, porlng over Stuart
Mill. Spencer. Comte. Taine. and others he
lost his early faith, and his conscience bads
him accept existence in a different light: he
continued TO war for right, but his new aim
was to be social reiormer. He takes . prom
inent share in elections. and pours the tor
rents OF his eloquence over tho masses. In
1870 he advocated u union between Norway
and France. and for tho last ten years he has
been the head Of the national Radical party.
The complete change in Biornson's beliefs.
which occurred In his iortieth year. seems to
mark q very decisive line Of separation be-
tween his Protestant. pastoral aud idyllis
works. and the later ones that have Darwin
ian. realistic. and psychological tendencies.
However. competent critics recognize in all
the qualities OF grandeur, charm. and beauty
that chAractsrizs alike the rural novels and
heroic dramas OF tho earlier period and the
more recent books and plays Whether he stud
les credulous and unsophisticatsd peasants a.
In "synnoeys solbakken." "A Merry CompAn-
lon." 'T The Daughter Of the FisherWomAn"
" The Nuptial March" or portrays in his later
stories higher social level. ms in The Ways OF
God. %" The Flags Flying In Town and Hsrbor."
thsrs IL always the same divination OF the
human heart the same ability OF syoking By
aEiistIe. LubtIe touches the deHelopment Of