The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-05
NOrnannaheinen
/ MI lllQllllQllIIIIl(Il
ELECT LOCAL men.
The Norwegian-D Danish Press Assoc
citation Honors Minneapo-
lis Editors.
Banquet Last Evening at the Sum-
E mer Home Of Consul .
E. H. Hobe.

Only seventeen delegates attended the
annual meeting Of the Norwegian Danish
Press association at ST. Paul yesterday,
but the most influential papers in the
Norwegian and Danish press were rep
resented and what the convention lacked
in numbers it made UP in brains and
ability. &&1r
All the official portions were by com
mon impulse bestowed on Minneapolis
newspaper men, presumably !, because the
next convention will be heldrat Minneapo-
lis. The officers are Sigvart Sorensen;
Tidende, president; TIL. Guldbrandsen,
Tidende, first vice president; e. G.. Lund,
Nye Normanden. > second. vice president;
A. Sorensen, Ugebladet, secretary;S u.
L. Stavnheim, Nye Normanden, s;treasurer.
At the close of the business meeting the
journalists went to Bald Eagle lake as the
guests Of Consul and Mrs. E. H. Hobe at
their handsome country estate, &Solheim.
About fifty people sat down to- the ele-
gantly served banquet givens% by the
hosts in honor Of the newspaper men.
General Christian Brandt, the retiring
president who acted as POSTMASTER, sue
ceeded in getting a few remarks from
nearly all the active newspaper workers.
The chief event Of the days proceedings
was a paper on Bjornstjer1ne Bjornson by
Julius E.. Olson, professor Of Scandinavian
languages and literature at the University
Of Wisconsin in, which the personality and
carefully analysed.
Mr.. Olson said In part: Il
Bjornson's literary activity since the days Of
the peasant novel has, in the main, been a
elevate his people 1t Is not too much to say
| that he has led the Norwegian people, now
Gliding, now encouraging, as the schoolmaster in
| his story "a Happy Boy leads his .protege
thru the days of happy childhood and disap.
pointed youth into triumphant maturity Fol
lowing general purpose he has worked in
various directions, employing such multiplicity
| of methods as only a great genius can do.
! He Is great enough to be able to violate the
canons Of art with impunity. The modern
drama and novel have been to him sword and
battle He has not used them for display
for the esthetic delight of his people-but tc
do good. His purpose has been esthical, not
| esthetic. sE.E - .EEfs ~ .,2s-
| Thus we see that even from the standpoint soi
| his permanent literary productions Bjornson Is
| not mere poet and dreamer. He thinks it use
less to have high and noble ideals unless seek
\ to put them into practice. (. This he has con
! scientiously and persistently sought to do. He
has not held himself aoof from the people. He
has personally, with both tongue and pen, taker
| conspicuous part in every POLITICAL social and
| literary combat OF his times-and they have beer
fierce and numerous in Norway. Thru his ar
dent advocacy of reform he has. brought upor
himself the wrath Of many, but the gratitude
of more 80 ,g ..t.s..5 alFi
Bjornson has repeatedly been warned that hi.
fame poet is endangered by his active par
ticipation In discussions relating to the ques
not content to rest on his laurels. He is will
Ing and eager to risk the issue Of winning new
ones. And in spite of the evil prophecies of hi
| opponents he has gone steadily on his way. ant
| to-day his crown of fame shines with brighter
luster than ever before.
'The old gray poetic Btornson is, it'll
true 70 and silver-haired, but the epithet ''old'
seems strangely inappropriate, ~ saw him; II
his home a year ago, and surprised to flint
the bloom Of youth on his cheek; he was rudd,
II and strong, and straight as arrow.the fines
specimen of physical manhood at 10 that hav
ever '4@H He Sis now, as he was~at 20 Ha.Ama
OF powerful personality and 1amanding pres
Nature has beerslavish with Bjornson. LIE ma
TT been endowed with the qnintessence Of the
/. virile and poetic forces Of his rugged mountai
home. The roaring waterfall, the rushing river
the placid mountain lake. the lsoughing of th
gentle birch-all are reflected in this mans ms
, ture and art, especially in his oratory. Dor
, and reared in aasmall country, speaking la1
; guage that is understood by but few, his or,
torical powers have not abad adequate scope fl
their greatest possibilities. If he had ha
the great questions to grapple with that Webstt
t and Lincoln had he would have been, known Il
the world an orator rather than as a poe
But he has used well the opportunities that h
people have presented. There 1.are but few
" his eountrymen that have not been, stirred
4 his mighty eloquepce. ,a,r .,ss.-...e.- -.
s have one word to add IN this brief estima
> of Bjornson-a very significant word-he istho
y est, Intellectually honest. The public mangs1
g he author, orator editor. who is intellectual
u dishonest Is despicable character. The hone
z man may be wrong on great questions and issu
: and yet remain reputable and retain the respe
l. of his bttterest opponent. Bjornson's attitude
e religious questions is point in Illustrate
Less than year ago minister of the gosp
I in. Norway addressed poem to Bjornson, d
: | nouncing him for his views on some religion
q question. But exactly half of the poem is eul
8 gy on 'the dear old poet'' for his honest speec
3 his vigiant patriotism and his whole-souled h
u mainly. '.... II. >,".E|r