The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-17
SOME MORSE HISTORY.
NOrvvay's Great Poet, b. BjOrnsOn
Defended by q. Countryman.


To the Editor of the Globe.
Certain articles have appeared OF late in
Minneapolis and Chicago papers In which must
insulting and damaging attacks nave Deen
made upon the celebrated poet and h0nored
liberal leader of Norway, Bjornstjerne- Born
son. stating that he is hated by the majority
OF his countrymen and that he suffers from
chronic insanity, ignorant of Morse history,
etc. The Times, of Minneapolis, for instance,
found 1t proper to give space to some rot
that had been refused by the Tribune, and
by ignoring a just criticism of the very rot
1t had seen fit to publish.
In the interest of truth then, and for the
sake of our misinformed American friends
few facts about BJornson will speak for them
selves:
Bjornson made lecturing trip this summer
Norway. Never in his whole life did he re-
ceive such ovations and signs of esteem and
honor by his countrymen. Everywhere he was
greeted and cheered by the thousands that
thronged to see and hear him. During the
great festival when the 9o0th anniversary of
the city Of Trondhjem was celebrated, few
weeks ago, Bjornson the star speaker,
and the enthusiasm and applause from the
hundreds of thousands present when Bjorn-
son rose to speak was SO tremendous, the
Norwegian newspapers state, that anything
similar is seldom witnessed in Norway. And
not once those present showed their sympathy
and honor, but greetings came to Bjornson
from distant parts Of Norway, among others
atiyes of liberal societies. Does all this show
that B. Bjornson has made himself detest-
able and nearly hated. as one of these ma
no two men in Norway of today are more
beloved and honored than Bjornson and DR..
hansen.
The person who takes upon himself to
further inform the Americans and the many
personal friends and admirers of Bjornson in
the Northwest that B. Bjornson is suffering
from chronic insanity, grandiose mania, will
be allowed to have such statements stand to
his credit and as evidence of his skill as a
diagnostician, but was such statement made
by doctor of medicine it would not be sur
prisng if he one day would wake up to find
his clientele, be it Norwegians or Swedes, gone,
as everybody knows that BjOrnSon is as sane
a person as any one on the Scandinavian
peninsula. 1t appears that these unscrupu-
lous writer's are not satisfied with the robbery
of mans honor, they also must try to rob
ones sanity. One of these comments upon
Bjornson's poor knowledge of Scandinavian
history. However, his comments fall severely
back on himself. st. Olav was educated in
us that st. Olav was brought up at Ringer
ike, Norway, and there is no record nor au-
thority to show that he even as viking, ever
saw Scotland. See page 1876, vol. l., Over
lands Norges Historic. About st. CLAWS son
Magnus, the same scribler exposes his ignor-
ance again. when he says: eff it had not been
for the assistance of the Swedish king Olav
Styrkonung," ETC.. this poor prince would
never have been king of Norway" 1t is a
well-known historical fact that Olav Styr-
konung, the Swedish potentate referred to,
died two years before this poor prince was
born.
About the founder of old Nidaros or Trondh-
jem, the following false statement is made:
He (St. Olav) only rebuilt it; it far more
ancient than that, being before both his and
Olav Trygvason's time a place of Importance
as an offerplace to- the Aeser gods.
can quote no better authority upon this