The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-03
ScaDdinaviap News

A. Kuliperg chair No. IL became vacant
q few months ago. TIE academy has mn
ally selected Kuliberg's successor IN the
person OF Prof X. A. Melin.
Chair No. Is has been occupied formerly
by Count Gustav Fredrik Gyilenborg. 1856
1soS. Frans Michael Franzen, 1s1S-1Sts. BERN
hard Eles Malmstrom. lSis-lsse. and Kari
Anders kullherg, is65-1sss.
Prof Mein's election to the vacant chair
was proposed by the secretary of the acad-
envy. DIR. c. ID. af Wirsen. Count Snorl-
sky labored now as he did at the last Va
cancy for DR.. Victor Emanuel Omau. waiie
a large faction advocated the election or
Prof. Weibuii Every member of the acad-
envy bears the title of colonel in the king.
army distinction of less note than the
mere fact that he is one OF the eighteen
immorsals."
The week commencing March aeih the
Norwegian capital gave CD 10 lbsen cult.
the occasion being the SEVENTEEN birthday
OF the great playwright. which was ceie-
brated throughout Norway. Denmark,
Sweden and Germany with Ihsen perform
ances. Ihsen fetes and lbsen juoilees Iae
poIitna. differences between Norway ana
Sweden were forgotten. at least temper
arily. Ibsen blists and pictures were dis
PLAYED in every store special ihsen edi-
tions were published by the newspapers
and an immense 1bsen souvenir WAS puo-
Iished by a leading publishing house. con-
tanning sketches, essays and criticisms on
the plays of the great author. The editioh
was profusely illustrated by prominent ar
lists.
Henrik Ibseu was born in the town or
Sken. March 10Th. is2s. and comes from
Danish family of mariners whose first rep
resentative in Norway was a Peter lbSsn-
who i'm 1720 came to Bergen, where he took
out his citizen papers and married the
daughter OF German immigrant.
The poets father. knud Ibsen. was at
the time of his sons birth weil-io-do
merchant and a lavish host who main
tanned hospitable household until the
bubble finally burst. Henrik was then only
eight years old. The only thing left the
family after the estate had been settled
and creditors satisfied was a small country
villa. where the family lived in frugal
i,y and seelusion which formed queer
contrast to it's former splendor- This sud-
den change from affluence 10 poverty
stamped its mark on the boy and made
him realize fully the earnestness OF life.
Henrik attended the high school or Real
school at Sken. studying the ordinary
branches and Latin. Religion was one or
the studies which interested the boy most
~. At the age of sixteen Henrik LETT the
parental roof in order to do battle With the
wcrld for living Being situated as ne
was there was no question as to a choice
the first chance which was offered and Sc
cured a job as an apprentice in drug
store In the neighhoring town of Grunstad.
Here he stayed five years In the labora-
tory of the Grunstad drug store he COM
menced his literary work. The Dano-Prlss-
sian war had broken ont and IN glowing
sonnets the young druggist sang OF war
and the duty of Norway and Sweden 10
hasten to the suecor OF Denmark. mucn TO
the Indignation of the citizens OF Grun-
ssan who did not care 10 be tuioreu by
a man in inferior position ana boy
apprentice at that Opposition and crili-
cism however only tended to put him in
fighting trim and an avalanche of satiric
epigrams and carca,ures directed against
beading citizens followed Ibsen's inten-
ton was 10 prepare himself for medical
course at the university and IL was dur
ing his leisure hours that he wrote his
first drama. "catalne.'' which was a poet
zeal expression of hts own thoughts al that
particular time. The play was received
very coolly and the author could neither
md publisher to print IL nor manager 10
stage IL. friend finally put up the neces-
cary funds 10 defray the expenses or put
ting the play into print. Full of hope and
expectation the author and his friend
awaited the tremendous sales which were
bound 10 follow as soon the book was
placed on sale in the book stores. They
wsfe doomed 10 disappointment. Finally
they were compelled to sell the whole edi-
tion 10 Il grocer for trade.
in adulti3n 10 "Cataiiilr, Sssverai poems
ar. known from the Grunstad period; they
abound in idsalisn.
In the spring OF 1850 Henrik ihsen came
10 Chrsiiania 10 complete his stadles, ell-
terng Helihergs Latin school. An.ong
his classmates We're lAasmuud Dsafson
Niujs and Bjornsi jerne Biornson. shortly
after his arrival he wrote his second play,
an t-f II hoe s+h f.n
WAS produced during the fail at the Royal
fhea;er. During the summer Ihsei grad
uateG. but gave UP medicine fOr HtsIa-
turc Now followed a life OF poverty and
abnegation. Dinner was for "a long lseriGd
luxury In 1851 he wrote "N,sma," AID
contributed articles to a weekly pa per-
During the fall he vas appointed manager
OF the Bergen theater. ana WAS given "a
stipend Of ses crowns for a trip abroad
10 study foreign tnaaiers. ibssa was con-
necied with the bergen tnetitnr for fiss
years during which period he wrote fos.r
historical plays. '.Fru Inzsr I'll Os:raat."
st, Hans Natlen," 'fsiidet pea Soib9ugs
and "O.af LIjekraas.'
In 1857 Ibsen assumed the management
OF the Royal theater at christianla. and
the following seven years he devoted 10
establish his reputation an author
Ia 1855 he published vikings az He,ee.
land. which was produced in 1851. His next
play was the COMEDY Of Love" tiss2s
which caused a storm of indignation with
The public. Mad at the reception hts play
had received. Ilsscn went home and COM
pisted in six weeks Ese "Pretendefs." the
mast pre;eniloms play he had as yet writ
ten. But he could ROT gain recogg, t,er
and his application for autftrf's ssix1y was
denied HE oiS get. stipend however
and went 70 Rome In the spring OF lssa
Prom Rome be sent h0ms hss Brand
which produced the greatest sensation
both In she Scandinavian countries and ia
Germany. The battle for recognition han
been waE. lie had san9ered the f.ffsss Of
narrow criticism with one felt blow. Then
followed Ia quick suecessisn all those IA
nsoas pays which have TnaAe Henrik 1sysan
ore OF ne greatest sisamafists n fhs sf-
eraiere 81 the wor-d az author yha al
ways haA sleen ard Ill be for a losas, TING
cause OF dissertation Ia fise realm Of art,