Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-03-15

w ue1 lIllS uutPI 1Obkllks, was
released from the tugboat which had
towed it outside the harbOr and left
to face the weather on it's own ac-
count it developed remarkable sea-go-
ing qualities. 1t drifted sideways with
the tide. creating a belt of calm water
to leeward, and the test proved con-
clusively that vessel Of this priml-
tive make might be perfectly sea-
worthy for long voyage. 1t is well
known that the proportionate d.
mansions used by modern ship build
ers are identical with those Of the
diluvian vessel"
The statement recently quoted in the
columns of THE Literary Digest to
the effect that the failure OF Amerl-
cans to receive any of the Nobel prizes
is proof of lack of proficiency in eX-
detrimental science is contrOverted by
an editorial writer in The National
Geographic Magazine, who says" The
reason is not lack Of appreciation
abroad of what we are doing in this
country, but the neglect of Americans
to apply for the prizes owing to mis-
understanding of the manner in which
the awards are made. In the award
ing of prizes only those persons are
considered who are formally nomin-
ated as candidates by some institu-
ton. college or scientific society or
rank and character. Not single
American, we are informed, has yet
been presented for consideration, and
the impression abroad is that Amer
leans are not interested in the prizes"
The duke and duchess of Connaught
announced Feb. % the engagement OF
their daughter, Victoria Patricia, to
Crown Prince Gustaf Adolph, eldest
son of the crown prince and regent or
Sweden and Norway. King Edward
has, it also is announced, given his
entire sanation and approval to the
engagement of his niece. The date
for the wedding has not been set.
Princess Victoria is 10 years old and
is the youngest child of King Edwards
brother. 1t was reported recently
that the king Of Spain had asked for
her hand Prince Gustaf Adolph is %
years old. He is a dashing army Of
ficer and sportsman, and is extremely
popular with both Swedes and Nor
wegians.
Battling Nelson" is the name of
Chicago young Dane, who is gaining
fame in the pugilistic world. What
ever the merits of his profession, it
can be said of young Nelson that he is
considerable to his old mother, for
whom he is now able to provide some
of the luXuries of life. His last en-
counter was with Young Corbett,
whom he defeated a few evenings ago
in fierce bout in San Francisco.
winning for himself a purse of $500.
"Fattling Nelson" halls from a Chi
cago suburb and has just recently
come to the front in pugilistic circles.
Mr.. William Widgery Thomas. of
Maine, who has for a long term of
years represented the United States at
Stockholm with credit and distinction,
has not been reappointed. A few
days ago President Roosevelt ap-
e. Graves, of Minnesota. He is a resi-
dent of Duluth, and president OF the
Graves Manley insurance agency and
also of the Duluth Telephone company.
He is a new man in the diplomatic
service, but one in whom the president
reposes implicit confidence. Mr.. Thorn
as, the retiring minister, has held the
post at Stockholm since 1880, with the
exception of the three years from 1894
to 1897, making twenty-one years of
diplomatic service in the same coun-
try, q record seldom attained. He
enjoys great popularity among the
Swedish people on both sides of the
Atlantic. is an ardent admirer of the
Northland, close student of the
Swedish people and their literature.
The chief literary results of his So
journ there are translation Of Ryd-
bergs great novel, THE Last Athen-
ian," and a voluminous original work
entitled Sweden and the Swedes."
Mr.. Thomas wife is native Stock
holman, and he himself is now al
most fully acclimated Swede. Only
few weeks ago, it is remembered,
Mr. Thomas won additional gratitude
from Swedish-Americans by purchas-
ing the Swedish building at the st.
Louis exposition and donating it to the
Bethany college, an institution main
tanned by them at Lindsberg, Kan.
A press dispatch of few days be-
fore, predicting the event, mentioned
Fridtjof Nansen as the most likely
man in Norway to be entrusted with
the delicate task of forming a cabinet
capable Of withstanding the present
strain. Nansen is pronounced Leftist
He has taken up the cudgels for Nor.
wegian independence In a number of
articles recently published in Verdens
Gang and other prominent journals
The immediate reason for the retire
ment of the Hagerup ministry is
sought in personal message sent by
the crown prince regent to the stOrth-
ing committee without submitting II to
the cabinet. The message read as fol
lows: in these critical times 1 feel
1t my duty to exhort your committee
carefully to safeguard the national in
terests of Norway whatever action