Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-04-05

merit only and nationality cannot and
Will not have anything to do with
future distributions of these prizes, to
which most of the learned men Of the
world may well strive for. Undoubt-
edly there will always be more or less
comment.
A banquet was given in honor of
the Tooth anniversary of Hans Chris
tan Andersen at the Auditorium in
Chicago last Sunday evening. 1t was
a brilliant affair and was attended by
representative Scandinavians of Chica-
go. ST. Paul, Minneapolis, New York
and other cities. The name of Hans
Christian Andersen, who gained fame
as writer of Juvenile stories, is dear
not only to Scandinavians and Ameri-
cans, but to the English as well. His
lame has been singularly honored in
all civilized countries and his we'll
known Fairy Tales" have been pub
lished into twenty-seven different Ian.
guages, a record which as yet stands
uneQualled. 1t was therefore especial
ly fitting that the Danes Of Chicago
arranged G series Of festivals in his
honor. Last Sunday AFTERNOON ap-
propriate services were held in Lin
coin park, where stands the Andersen
monument More than 1000 persons
We're in attendance. In Copenhagen
and all through Denmark the Ander-
sen anniversary was generally OBJ
served, appropriate enloghs and
festivities being held tn honor of the
man who wrote perhaps the most SIM
Pile but still the most charming stories
the world has ever known.
On the evening OF March there
was great demOnstra ton tn front of
the "Aftenposten's' building. 1t was
all started by few students who
started downtown whistling some Of
the popular airs. AS they moved on
their numbers increased, and before
any one could realize IT. there were
more than L5OO people, all yelling and
whistling. Finally the crowd became
almost unamanageable and the mount
ed police had to make several charges
before they succeeded in dispensing the
crowds. Several windows were smash
ed in the Aftenposten building, and for
what reason no one has as yet been
able to ascertain.
The royal opera has a yearly SUBJ
vention from the nation and the king
Of more than 100000 Swedish crowns,
or about 100000, and as it is an ex-
clusively aesthetic and educational in
stitutiOn there is no question about
money making or of getting any large
surplus every season. Liberal amounts
are thereforealways spent ON costumes,
scenerfes, etc.. making everything look
fresh, solid and elegant The hberality
in this respect Is even SO great that in
spite Of the subvention and the total
receipts, amounting to about 100000
crowns year, there has been a deficit
at the end OF the season for several
years.
Arthur Hartmann, the great vioiinist
and Ernesto Console, the equally great
pianoist, are the latest foreign artists
that have visited Stockholm. Their
concert was an immense success and
they both captivated the audience by
their superb playing. Unfortunately
they had time to give only one concert
here, but they will return TO Sweden
in the fall (Oct. 10 to Nov. 15) for a
Scandinavian tour, under the mana ge-
ment Of the popular concert direction
Of Gustave Thalberg, where they will
be received with enthusiasm by the
music loving public Of Sweden, Nor
way and Denmark.
DR.. Fridtjof Nansen, the arctic ex.
| plOrer, who is in London to discuss
scientific matters with the Royal Geo
graphical society, being interviewed on
the consular difficulty between Sweden
and Norway. said the situation was
graver than generally understood
abroad and that there was serious dan
ger to the union If Sweden persisted
in refusing Norway's undisputed
rights. DR.. Nansen said the consular
| question involved test as to whether
Sweden was honestly and honorably to
carry out the treaty of union or If
Norway was to become mere Swedish
dependency.
The news of Prince Gustaf Adolf's
engagement to an English princess has
caused NO end Of favorable comment in
Christiania. The NOrwegians feel that
in the event that the prince would
take up his residence in Christiania
and bring his future bride there that
1t would not be at all distasteful TO
them to choose him their king in the
event Of a separation from Sweden.
At any rate the young royal couple
will in all probability become residents
Of the Norwegian capital.
Baron Won Rudberg, who was re-
Gently appointed minister to Sweden
and Norway from st. Petersburg, is a
Swedish nobleman, whose family was
introduced and recognized by the
Swedish nobility in 1893. His fore
fathers have, however, never lived In
Sweden, but have for years been Of
ficers and officeholders In Finland.
Baron Rudberg, although q Russian,
will undoubtedly prove popular In
Stockholm because of his Swedish con-
nections.