Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-17
His Mother and Sister Still Believe
Him Alive and Well
BUT His WILL has BEEN PR0BATED
His Own Limit When Hope Might
Cease Has Expired.
OLD HOME Is A SHRIN Z

Nop5fiSht, lsof, Dy D D mcclure to-D
Written for The Evening Star BY Eugene Lime
dorfer.
Four years have passed since s. a. An
dree started for the north pole in balloon.
The Swedish courts have declared officially
that the daring explorer is dead, Andree's
own extreme limit OF time has passed, all
geographers are agreed that the intrepid
balloonist is lost. his own brother has ac-
copied the requests made to him in An
dree's will-only two women know that the
man who had the courage OF his scientific
convictions and was willing to risk his life
In the demonstration Of his deductions is
still alive and will return.
Two women living in the little town of
Grenna. far away from the noise and
strife of big cities; living In place where
the mere appearance of a stranger evokes
a great deal Of curiosity and oomment two
women. leading simple and uneventful
lives far back in the interior of Sweden;
two women-the mother and sister Of An
dree-gire no credence to any demonstra-
ton of the tmprobability or impossibility of
his return. Two women-his mother and
his sister-are ready to receive him any
day or night, and these two faithful women
dust and clear every morning the very
rooms In which he perfected the plans for
his expeditions, and expect him to appear
some time or other and to tell them what
produce the most convincing proof that
Andree must be dead bring forth the
strongest arguments in favor Of your con-
tention, the mother and sister Will listen
quietly. and when you have finished they
will simply say: Han iefver och will oter-
wanda" (He is alive and will return).
1t is not mere hope, merely a strong de-
sire, that makes these women so absolutely
certain Of the return of their son and
brother. 1t Is faith. the most infinite, I'M
shaking and unchanging faith in their be-
lief that 5. A. Andree went forth to seek
the north pole and to find it in fulfillment
Of mission given to him directly by AL
mighty God himself. And the Lord has
never yet forsaken one Of his servants" Is
the way they explain 1t.
What manner of women are these two
Fru Minna Andres is nearly seventy
years old. though her clear. ruddy face. her
erect carriage and the continuous smile
that plays around her face makes her APP
pear much younger Her rather robust
daughter, Fru Emeiine Spanberg Is a
lively, good-natured woman and mother
and daughter impress the visitor as pair
OF the most intimate friends. The cottage
they live In Is a roomy, one-storied build
ing, furnished simply, yet in good taste
Most of the furniture is substantial oak,
and an etching or two relieves the somber-
ness Of the walls.
Fru Minnie Andree lives where she has
lived through five and thirty years. ever
| since she became a widow. Hers is not an
expensive household the pension she re-
ceives from the government In whose ser
vice her husband died is not sufficient to
allow her to make any ostentatious display
| even were she SO inclined, which she is
not. Her income. however, is large enough
to dispel any fear Of want, and the cottage
in the midst of large garden Is CHEEKY
and pleasant to look at. In the town Of
Grenna the Andres have always been held
In high esteem, and whenever a stranger
finds his way to the town the Andree cot
| tage extends to him it's hospitality.
Attractive characters.
Fru Andree. as we'll as her daughter, are
very pleasant hostesses. Although they
have suffered some from the wanton and
idle curiosity of a few globe trotters,"
they receive their visitor with such cor
diallty as only the real Swede or Norwe-
gfan possesses. I shall never forget the
| establishment they expressed when told
them that I had come from America and
that my sole object in visiting Grenna was
to learn something Of the personality Of
at their gate. ''You will find that we are
In no way remarkable" said Fru Emelins
Spanberg to me- I'VE are Swedish women.
like the rest OF them, and what you will
see In our house you can find almost in
every house OF our village. Of course,
brothers rooms land it did not take me
long to discern that when she spoke Of
brother she referred to S. A. Andree) are
good many instruments. maps and books,
still there Is enough left to show that
brother was not an idler. But, then, see
for yourself. And, suiting the action to
| her words, she asked me to go In.
An Interesting Household.
I do not know exactly why, but there is
| a sort Of subtle, religious air around the
house. Not that anything would force it
self on the visitor. but, taking 1t all in
| all. one Is at once impressed by the fact
| that theirs is religious household. There
| Is q large Swedish Bible on the table Of
| the sitting room, and through the open
door / could see beautiful reproduction
| of Leonardo La Vincis Last Supper"
which graces the wall Of the dining room.
| Presently tea was served, and under the
| influence Of this brew-which. by the way,
| both ladies strengthened with just a dash
OF brandy-the conversation became less
| formal and more interesting. So interest
| ing, in fact, that the time which was left
| to me proved to be too short to reach my
| railway station and accepted the invita-
| tion to remain over night
| It was in the evening that I saw the