New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-10-06
IBSEN AS HE is.
AUSTERE AND RESERVED WITH HIS
EQUALS, BUT COURTEOUS TO
HIS INTERIORS.

certainly IN -
the dramatic poet, whose works are the SUBJECT
OF controversy wherever they are read He is an
old man. and recently suffered a stroke Oh par
aIvss from which he has only partially re
covered His condition is not serious unless ne
should have second stroke lie Is gaming
{ strength gradually, is able 10 drive out every
day although his physicians Will not permit MIN
to receive strangers everybody IN NOr%aS
knows all about Ibsen. His name is a household
word even among the peasants and his eccen-
! tricities the topic of conversation IN every
drawing room and at every dinner taoie- ne Is
q fected to an extreme. and most people belleve
il to be for advertising purposes, or at least 20
emphasize his originality and Individuality the
characteristics of which he is himself most
proud. Ibsen considers himself a man with a
/ mission, and his ecentricities are part or ms
stage business. He has himself said that tne
strongest man upon earth is ne VINO sltntS
most alone which doubt is the Key 10 ms
exclusiveness. of which the people complain 10
his EQUALS he is always auStere and reserved
but he never fails to treat his Interiors with
great courtesy. .
| A prominent Norwegian told me that lbsen
was admired but disliked; that he was eminent
but unIoved; that the people had a reverence
and respect for his ability. but despised him for
his vanity and seIfshness. His pictures appear
in every shop window. however. and II the NUM-
Der of copies sold is criterion he IS the mos,
pra If Ibsen's peculiarities is his dress. He
wears very long black broadcioth coat, reaGn-
| ing nearly to his heels with silk hat carefuiiy
polished a broad white muslin tie. and trims ms
hair and beard in manner that suggests HOT
ace Greeley. He is said to be very particular
about his person and takes an hour and haIi
every morning dress. but during TINS tltlle ne
does deal OF thinking, and makes peiicl eet
notes upon a tablet OF paper WhIe ms p't
and long suffering valet stands by with ms shr'
or collar or trousers IN hand awaiting MS "
Ibsen is so regular in his habits that the peo-
pie of Christiana can set their watches Dy ms
coming and going. He leaves MS mousse Wh'cu
is near the centre of the city, every morning. at
precisely \ 80 O'Clock and always walks down
the same street at lesurely pace. with great diS-
nifty but an air OF abstraction Al lI;4', ne
reaches the university buildings. ana never rams
m SION and compare his watch with the clock
no
surrectiOn from curiosity II ne should ran 10
appear at the stated time every morning nav
ing satisfied himself 10 the accuracy or MS
! watch he proceeds To the Grand Hotel where he
enters the cafe. takes special seat In a corner
| which is scrupulousiy reserved for MIN anu
drinks a glass OF what they call ''pjOlter "a sort
of high BALI of whiskey and soda -
| III anybody should be occupying MS seat the
| walters would clear il for him. but such thing
has never occurred. Every frequenter OF tne
place knows the old mans habits, but hooouy
speaks him. and he seldom speaks 10 any V,e
while there. lie sips his 'pjOlter ana readS the
! newspapers for hour exactly. III any othef
| patron happens to be reading the paper he
wants the waiter demands it, for Herr Ibsen
cannot be denied anything His WISHES nave
| become co VOL known and his habits
regular that it is not necessary Tor nm 10 give
any orders He wants a certain he"spdpe.
when he takes his seat: when he has READ th;le
he wants a certain other paper. and then a thl.d
He takes the Christianla dalleS IN the s% tf
order every morning. and if he has any time iett
gazes blandly over the company in benevolent
way as if say: Il am here to be looked at. ana
you have only a few minutes more to sratiiy
ycur curiosity.
Having finished his newspapers he walks TO
the pOStOffice. gets his mail. and then perhaps to
| a bank or Il book store and does any other er-
| rands that may be on his list. and then returns
To his home for > o'clock dinner.
Ibsen has wife and one son, SiGurd 1bsen.
now about forty years old. who has been in the
consular service, and / believe spent several
years Washington secretary of legation
He is AT present occupyine, a subordinate posi-
ton in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sigurd
married daughter of Bj0rnStjerne Bj0rnsOn. his
fathers most formidable rival in literature and
popular estimation. The two authors not
friends They very jealous of each other
Ibsen envieS Bj0rnSOn'S great popularity and
prosperity. while the latter regards IbSen an
affected old donkey" and often calls him such.
In front of the theatre in ChriStiana
bronze statues of both men in heroic size. which
We're erected at the expense of the public and
generally admired. hut are unSatiSfaCt tory To the
subjects. few days after his statue in
position lbSen varied his morning walk by stroll
ing over in that direction. For several moments
he stood gazing at the effgy of himself. showing
his long coat. his bushy hair and whiskerS and
his big eyeglasses. then shook his head sadly
If in diSapprOVal and went his way. He has
never been near the statue since
BjOrnSOn. being man of impetuouS manners
and quick temper, expressed his dissatisfaction
in more emphatic manner. When he first saw
himself in bronze he became greatly excited.
and geSticulated wildly, declaring that il was IA
!; permanent injury and must come down. but his
son. who is the manager of the theatre sue
. Ceeded i'll cooling the old gentleman down and
the latter has become recOnCied far as To
make jokes about the statue.