The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-25

of Mr. Frederick Hegel OF the Copsn-
hagen firm, who said OF him ten years
ago: II predict that in ten years time
he viii have more readers than any oircr
Scandinavian writer" The propho ~ has
certainly come true so far as Scandinavia
is concerned. lie was born November tbs
g. 1888. at Hongsund, in the country parish
OF Eker, near Drammen, In the south Of
Norway. At the age OF five years he was
removed to the port OF Tromso. In the
Arctic regions, his father having been
appointed sheriff OF that town. lie re-
manned there until he was thirteen years
old. enjoying SAYS his biographer, IAN
untrammelled childhood among the ship
ping OF the little Nordland capital. and
gaining acquaintance with the wild sea-
farng life which he was afterwards TO
describe In his early stories. lie had
a great wish as a boy 20 go TO sea. and
in 1916 he was sent to the naval station
AT Fredricksvaern to become cadet. His
extreme ncar-sightedness, however. I'M
fitted him for service. and after a few
months training he was sent to the
Latin school at Bergen. There he re-
NAMED until lS49. Two years later he
went up 10 the University OF Christiania,
where lbsen. BlOrnson and Ninge were
among his fellow students and ultimately
among his friends. OF the quartette,
each Of whom was destined 70 attract
the worlds attention, Lie was the only
one who did not show a native bias to-
ward literary production. lie pursued
his studies as a lawyer. took his decree
In 1888. married and settled down In thu
meantime the other three were winning
fame. His first -pOems-en enjoyed no
success. but the voice within which said
write" would not be stillcd. so on.
against vicissitudes. Lie went The world
to-day enjoys the result.
lie Is becoming more and more widely
known more and more widely honored
Ills first great book-that which called
forth from his publisher the prophetic
utterance referred to-was entitled The
Pilot and His Wife, and was written in
a small mountain town IN Italy A COM
rade OF those years has recorded thar
It's composition was accompanied by 50
painful a nostalgia for the sea that Lie
became almost III with longing. and one
summer day, throwing up his work.
trudged many miles through the blaz.
ing heat that he might knee for n few
moments by the tapping Mediterranean,
ana wash his eyes and mouth I'm tho
waves. This intense devotion 10 the sea.
ana preoccupation with marine instincts.
gave a peculiar character TO he book
which IS one Of the Safest" ever publish.
ed.
1T IS odd says Mr. Edmund Gosse fl
ms admirable preface that q book 80
full OF cool foam and fresh wind should
have been written in "A hot Italian inland
village. Lie" he proceeds, Stands. as
a novelist. with those minute and I'M
obtrusive painters Of contemporary man.
ners who defy arrangement IN this or
that school. He is with Mrs Gaskell or
VI. Ferdinand Fabre he Is not entirely
without relation. in some OF his books.
TO that Old-fashi0ned fay0rite Of the pub.
lie Fretrika Bremen. II would be n mis.
take 10 call him n great creative artist.
He has slowly discovered his vocation.
and late In life has secured an audience.
His truthfulnoess. HIS simple pathos. his
deep moral sincerity. have gradually con-
quercd Tor him a place IN the hearts 81
his countrymen and countrywomen which
no one can dispute with him. His style.
which IS colloquial almost 20 a fault.
presents certain pecuiiarifies which the
translator Of NiObe has attempted 70
preserve. English readers may be pleased
10 read one OF the most characteristic
stories Of a writer who is innocent OF
any ism" and processes TO teach no
"gospel' but who is the best beloved Of
the living novelist OF this fatherland.
In Novembcr. 1893. Arne Garborg pub
lished Jonas Lie, en- UdHklingshistOrie
Oechehoug: Christiania). an culogstls
critical biography OF our author"