River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-01-10
NORWEGIAN LITERATURE.

den Aid Society New Years Eve by X. Oyre.
gard, a student in the River Fails Normal
published by reques OF his friends
We stand tonight on the verge Of
the nineteenth century, ready to en-
ter the unknown realm Of the TWEEN
tieth, and as we can scarcely escape
the soiemnity Of the impression Of
passing from the labyrinth Of the old
into the palace Of the new we collect
our thoughts TO take a RETROSPECT tive
survey Of the evolution OF the human
intellect and the results developed by
the genius Of men.
Once more in the book Of eternity a
new blank page is opened, but no one
knows what will be written upon it.
What strains and strophes OF unwrit-
ten verse pulsate TIN ugh my soul
as | think Of the bright moon steal
ing silently out Of one century into
another, while IL glides smoothly over
the mountains towering up behind
the ancient house in which / was
born! AS you are contemplating,
listen with me for moment: We
may hear the sound Of distant church
bells, waited by the arctic wind across
the glistening glaciers and foaming
seas, reechoed and reinforced by the
grotesque mountain giants from a
far away land across the sea. 1t Is
Norway, the land Of our fathers,
rock-bound Norway, ensconced by the
ocean, buttressed by the rugged coast,
periodically bathed in the midnight
sun. 1t is in remembrance OF the
songs and stories OF her sons and
daughters that we shall consecrate
these few minutes In which | am per-
mitted to speak TO you. Our atfec-
tion for Norway IS not only because it
is our fatherland but more because
her poets sing In a racy homelike
tune recognized and loved by her
children abroad.
The Norwegian is modern nation.
1t is yet in the springtime OF life,
while the visions OF imagination are
clear and vivid. During the four
centuries that Norway was united
with Denmark king rule was so gentle
that the Norwegian people having
limited Nobility with which TO con-
tend fell into political and literary
slumber The vital, active and ad-
venturous spirit OF the vikings seemed
TO have departed from the Morse
people; but, when the receding waves
Of the French Revolution broke the
ties aud shook the boundaries OF the
nations OF Europe, and when the
powers forced Denmark TO relinquish
Norway as mere province to Sweden,
then the Lion Of Norway began again
to breathe
10 1914 the Norwegian nation was
regenerated when the Edsvold as
sembly gave tia constitution which
made Norway free, self-existing,
indiylsible, and independent king
dom, united with Sweden under the
same king. AS with an individual,
so also with nation, IL seems as II
at different periods OF its existence
IT'S intellectual life shows itself in
different ways With reference to
literature, Norway is al present what
Germany was a hundred years ago;
and what America was fifty years ago.
but when Morse literature appeared
on the worlds stage it came with the
force, strength and thought which
characterized the revived viking.
Prior TO 1914, Norway, being obliged
TO send her students to Copenhagen
participated wlthDenmark In intellec-
tual life. But as soon as Norway
could begin to educate her students
at home in its own national univer-
sity, built in 1871, her writer's began
TO celebrate the virtues Of the free
and independent peasant, and to
glorify the fiords, rocks and water
falls Of their native land. Two dis
tinct parties were formed, the clash
- FAANSN al may Slill Ut
heard.
Heinrich Wergeland, born at Kris. |
tiansand, In 1908, may be designated
the first distinct Norwegian poet of
modern literature Wergeland was a
son Of patriotic clergyman. but had
imbibed the views Of Rousseau, and
the poem, The Creation, Man and
Messiah" as gigantic lyrical drama
expressing the fermentation OF the
French ideas of the Eighteenth cen.
tury. Though lengthy and not well
arranged, it contains passages of
great majesty and beauty; and the |
author was hailed as the first expo. |
nent Of distinctly Norwegian litera. |
ture. Wergeland, man or large .
stature had a marked personality.
and used his great abilities in promot- I
ing the education and welfare OF the
common people. Being strictly
Morse, he distinguished himself in on.
DOslnU eyarVthing bovirv , ~,