The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-02
FOR DANISH-AMERICAN UNION.
4 Proposed Alliance OF Literary Folks
OF the Two Countries.

After an absence Of thirty years from his
native land Mr. BJerregaard of the Aston
Library recently paid visit to Denmark.
On his return he has brought to American
authors the greeting of a circle of the
younger Danish writers, with the pro-
posal to form an alliance.
This alliance was discussed at a dinner
given to Mr. Bjerregaard by large num-
Der Of prominent literary men at the Tivoli
Gardens in Copenhagen. At this dinner
were twenty-odd representative men and
women. The calling OF literature was dis
cussed and opinions on world literature
were expressed.
As result Of this discussion the question
Of placing Danish authors in a friendly
relationship to those of America was warmly
considered. Various methods were sug-
gested. such as the interchange Of books,
letters, ideas and photographs. .....
Il was able to tell them about the charao-
teristics of the American said Mr.. Bjerre-
gard. Our age here in America stands
related TO the idea Of energy.
Energy il the redeemng element in the
American life We do not represent art
and the beautiful, philosophy and thought,
religion and devotion. These ideas at
tanned their heights and dominated in the
past ages.
America does not express it's soul by art,
by praise; il expresses its soul by man.
Man is the sign Of the present thought.
The man who can do work-not labor-who
shows that he has hand, an active thought
this is the man Of the hour
I'VE see abroad the faces Of foreigners
who wear the came old stolid expression
seen for generations. They change when
they come here. They cannot go back
they could not take root again in their
native lands, they could not stay there.
FOREIGNERS are SO fascinated by this energy
that they must become Americans. 1t il
irresistible.
W hen went back was a phenomenon
lated with the same force. The large
majority of people here are self made.
in America you have to forget what
YOU are, highest or lowest. II YOU We're
peasant YOU are raised, if a kings coun-
cilor, an army officer, member Of the
diploratic corrs, you are so no more. 1t
must he for often if you would survive.
-Would-be Ame' leans have not only to
learn new civilization in Anne lea, they
have to unlearn an old one. This is much
harder. Very few who have been educated
have the moral courage.
IAN this l told my friends, the Danish
authors. The authors at the dinner, heard
very little about Anne lean conditions,
American letters, the school of nature
study. Thoreau, homrson-Seton. John
Burroughs, school which is emphaticaly
After my speech Johannes " Jensen
spoke He is the author of the work The
Gothic Revival, which is another effort
toward renewing the exhausted soil of
Continental influence.
AS | spoke for the vitalzing Influence
Of the Anne. icsn he spoke for that tf the
vigorous G Id Morse life its force, it's energy,
which is very great and of pr imitive fresh
.There is a preparation Of bacteria used
To revive old exhausted soils If ref eshes.
puts new life into the wornout tn. And
40 II is with these old, overcivilized places,
these hyper mentalized races, They need
new energy, for their physical soil is ex-
hausted.
Therefore they need America, they
need the primitive Scandinavia.
sIhis book, The Gothic Revival. Is to be
a sympathetic voice for Americans. IL
i is an tba
Scandina Wan forces, some such method
might be resorted to in order to establish a
helpful alliance between our country and
Denmark.
energy, this fresh force, we, in turn need
them, need the lesson, too, of how to hew
out OF our time something big and crude
and strong " lille the American soil is
not impovel ished, it is in need of a vigorous
art ideal
nresent among others. Karl Ewalt, Emma
Cad, dramatist whose plays are pro-
duced in Copenhagen and the provinces;
D. 4. Jensen an idyllic poet; Maria Bjerre-
oaard sister of the guest OF honor Mrs
Sungersen, who is called the mother Of all
borg Andersen editor of n jemmet, the
most famous women paper in the north
had Of the conservatory besides being
literary critic, and Drewsen.
.Drewsen Is the man, explained Mr.
pi.rreoaard awho once, when he was In
America hearing that BOURGEOIS had
mranbmann. took passage to Denmark
thrashed the bourgeois and returned forth
with to America. quite satisfied
In the course OF the coming season II is
,rnposed to gather together American
authors who are representative OF modern
suance of the idea get forth by the friendly