The San Francisco call., 1897-04-11
TO PROPAGA
THE MORSE TONGUE
Petition for q Chair of the
Language at the Uni
versity.
It Is Indorsed by President Jor-
dan of Stanford and Other
Prominent Men.
Some Reasons Why 1t Is Partcu arly
Desired That the Literature
Be Preserved.

i petition is in circulation addressed 70
the University of California, having been
issued by the Pacific Skandinav, Danish
Norwegian paper, and the Vestkusten, a
Swedish weekly newspaper of San Fran
cisco.
The petition is for the establishment OF
a chair at the university in Morse Lam
guage and Literature" II is a strong
document, presenting its own reasons for
its existence, as follows:
To the Honorable Board Of Regents Of the
State niuersity-GENTLEMES The subscrl bers
TO this petition appreciatiug tae particular
advantage TO all who belong TO the Anglo
Saxon race on tn S coast, which the granting
OF 1t would afford. respectfully submit the tol-
lowing for your kindly consideration:
Whereas the mythology, ancient history,
language ana literature OF the south OF
Europe-Greece and Rome-haye become an
essential part of liberal education at all
universities and schools OF learning, even IN
this country. yet nothing has practically been
done in this vast dominion OF the Anglo
Saxon race for inparting a proper knowledge
of the more conssnguine, to US far more essen
tial and in NJ wise less stirring and unique
mythology, ancient history, language and
literature OF the north OF Europe-the so-called
"Old Norse"-from which not alone the Scan
dinavians, as direct descendants, but all
English-s speaking people OF the Anglo-Saxon
race draw all OF their Psychological legends,
most of the roots OF their present language
and part of their early history.
The Morse Tongue" has preserved its char
acteristics more intact than that OF any other
nations, perhaps owing 10 the isolated posi-
tion OF the north, which. together with the
wsrlike spirit OF lis people, saved it from for
eiGn dominion and influence
The prehistoric literature which exists in
runic legends ("Ssgas'') possesses a peculiar
vigor which has put its stamp on and mate
rally Influenced even the literature of the
Scandinavians OF the present day.
Yet all those strrlng memories OF old Nlk-
ing times, which have mad sucn marked infiu-
ence on the culture OF the north. are nearly
unknown to even otherwise we'll educated
Americans, who only now and then get
glimpse through stray translation OF some
modern author.
member OF our great common race always
kept abreast in education and civilization. 1t
might now add new laurels TO its record by
adopting this in teresting lore, which has been
curiousy neglected by the older members.
AS another consideration might be mentioned
that the Scandinav an populati tion of Califor-
MIA is numerically strong, and although the
people from the north ever with pardonable
pride remember the glorious past OF the
'oother country, still they last become good
citizens of the new and thorough Americans
Based on the above arguments the subscrfb-
ers now petition your honorable body to ep-
large the scope of education OF the university
by the establishment OF q chair for the teach
ing OF old Morse language and literature anQ
lectures on modern Scandinavian literature.
The petition has been extensively signed
by large number OF prominent men. rep
resenting various influential bodies.
Among other indorsers OF the movement
are President David s. Jordan of the PaIo
Alto University and Edward S. Holden of
the Lick Observatory. Professor Jordan
says:
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIvERsITY}
Palo Alto, Cal }
Editor Pacific SkdndiHGU: 1 am in the fullest
sympathy with your efforts to tablish in our
State University chair of instruction in the
Morse language and literature. Such 8 chair
would place in the hands OF our schola rs
through of the noblest of languages the
key to the highest enjoyment of the work of
some OF the abIest writers OF our time. The
Morse language is poetry in itself 1t becomes
doubly so in the hands of masters such as
Bjornson, 1bsen, Wergeland and Lie
Professor Holden is eo uallv in sympathy
with tue project, saying: The genius of
the English and thus of the American
people, is derived in a thousand ways from
their early conqueror5. To study their
life and their noble literature is to exam
inc the roots of our own DEVELOPMENT.
The Eddas are our heritage also."
Copies of the petition available for sig
natures may be found at the following
addresses: Captain A. G. Freese Public
Administrator, Chronicle building; Henry
Lund, Swedish Norwegian Consul, 2I4
California street; J. Simpson, Danish Con-
sui, 90 California street; DR.. Thomas Bow
son, 328 Mon tgomerv street; Pacific Skan-
dinav, Al East street; Vestkusten, 92l
Mission street