The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-08

s RAsMUs B. ANDERSON. .
ixsexxxxs Observation-Disclosures
Norwegians have played a prominent
part in the development Of the north
(, west; they have distinguished them
! selves in various fields of endeavor;
they are recognized everywhere as a
i gifted, versatile, progressive people,
/ and as citizens have won the unstinted
5: praise of Theodore Roosevelt.
A leader among those who have la
bored for the advancement Of this race
in America is Professor Rasmus B.
4 Anderson Of Madison, Wis. He has
i dedicated his life to this work. Like
Senator. Knute Nelson, he has been a
America, and by his success has in
spired his countrymen and pointed the
way forward. .~y ...
Mr.. Anderson was the first Norwe-
gian to teach in an American a institq-
ton of higher learningmat Albion acad-
founder Of the first Scandinavian de-
partment established in an American
university-at Wisconsin university, in
1875. The Importance Of this cannot
be overestimated; it led to the found
ing Of similar departments in many
other universities and thereby added
greatly to the prestige of Norwegians;
. Norwegian selected for a position in
the diplomatic service Of the United
Denmark in 1855. He wrote the first
English work produced by a Norwe-
gian on this side Of the Atlantic
bus,' in 1874 and the Encyclopedia
Britannica rightly calls him the father
Of Morse literature in America. !
..Reared in Southern Wisconsin.
Rasmus B. Anderson was born at
Albion, Wis. JAM u, 1886. His father,
Bjorn Anderson, came from Stavanger
county, Norway, in 1885, at the head
Of a large company Of peasants, who
sought homes in America. He settled
at Albion A7j in June Jun, ls4Q and Was one
Koshkonong settlement: He died in
1850, a victim Of the cholera. He is
Z remembered in Koshkonung as a man
Of positive character, courage and
AS. a boy Anderson attended a com:
the age Of H. Then his restless dis.
caused him to seek his fortune in Mil
waukee, where he earned a precarious
living by selling apples on the streets
He also clerked in a store in Milwau.
1ee and at La Crescent, Mimi. In 1862
he entered Luther college, then nea1
La Crosse, but now located at DEBORAH
Iowa. From this well-known institu
ton he was graduated in 1866 and was
Immediately appointed professor OF
Greek and mode m languages at Albion
academy, near his old home.
He had displayed rare ability in mas
~, 1or
and entered upon his work as instructor
with great enthusiasm. He stayed at
Albion three years, reaping abundant
success as q teacher. Then place was
found for him in the faculty Of Wis
consin university at Madison. Here he
taught languages, and, under the -gui
dance Of an Icelandic scholar, pursued
a diligent study of the old Morse an6
I Icelandic languages, which he mastered
This opened to him the treasures Of the
old Morse sagas and eddas and the doo1
to fame. ~
Scandinavian Department..
Professor Anderson had been at Mad
ison only short time when he bega1
to advocate tie founding Of a Scan
dinavian department. in the university
At first the educators and authoritie:
turned a deaf ear to his proposal. They
saw no needSof such a department. The
Scandinavian languages and literature
what did they amount to? Professo:
Anderson replied by issuing a pam
fphlet full of quotations from .Longfel
Importance Of northern culture, litera
81, ture and history. At the same time h
began delivering his lecture on Lei
Erickson, the Morse discoverer %
81 America. Ole Bull, the great violinist
who spent much Of his time at Madi
son then, befriended the young enthu
siast and helped him in various ways.
In 1874 appeared /" America Not Dis
covered by Columbus" Professor, An
derson IS first English book and the frs
literary fruits Of his study of OF.
Morse. It created sensation in educa
tional circles. The big papers of Chi
cago and the east printed long review
Of it. It necessitated revision of tn
s first chapter in American school histo1
Professor Anderson worked like s
Trojan and a wear later put forth an
other book, "Norse .Mythologv.o ais
the fruits Of his study Of Old Morse
This is a great work, and was SO Pre-
nounced by critics like Longfellow an
=. p. Whipple. Literary periodical
both in America and England, praise
it highly. Gladstone testified to it
value and the unrivalled scholar Ma
Muller liked it and availed himself q
its guidance
Tho the author. does not claim for til
work originality of matter, frankly &C
hitting in the preface that he borrowe
from others, still it exhibits marke
originality of form, and CLOVIS with Ell
S thusiasm. Tt is the work Of gifted
ardent man, thrilling with life. It's gel
uineness and originality is sufficient
proven by. the fact that the great nortl
ern scholar, DR.: Z. Winke1 Horn, sa
fit to translate it into Danish and tina
others have reproduced it in Frencl
German and Italian.
Ambition Realized.
The regents Of Wisconsin universit
no longer hesitated to establish a Scar
elinavian department in the institution
and Professor Anderson. Of course, ws
placed at its head. He had won a victor
for his race, fought with the most ia
reaching results. He labored as profe
sor Of the Scandinavian languages an
literature for eight years, an enthu