Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-09-09
LITTLE NORWAY AND ITS GREAT
IBsEN.

Owing to the recent political changes
in Norway that little country has been
brought into considerable prominence.
MIR. Boyesen tells of the events that
led up to the disruption, how for 900
years there was "internecine warfare.
how at the end of this period when
Norway was PROSTATE" the willy
Dane stepped in and placed her son
on the throne, how the Treaty of Kiel
was not accepted. how even the good
Bornadotte kings were the objects o.
Norwegian complaint and hatred.
1.-THE disagreement have been caus
cd not SO much by any attempts at
aggression or violation Of the consti
tuition by the Bernadotte kings, for
they have been in the main enlighten.
cd and broadminded sovereigns." but
by the tendency Of the Norwegian to
disagree. There has not been a per.
manent content in the country since IL
began. The reign of Oscar II, good
king. has given rise to conflicts
which would undoubtedly have caused
disruption of the union and war but for
the wisdom and moderation of thu
king" Much may be excused of q
people that has had no language or ill.,
erature back of II. II would be nat
ural for such a people to be extreme
ly susceptible to criticism and entire
ly to misinterpret the meaning of this
written record.
II takes a wide background to re
lieve anything worth while, and par
ticularly so in the setting of literary
values.
When, at last, in the 10Th century
by right of Birth, Norway could claim
a genius-Ibsen, the Great,-he came
with Scotch, German and Danish blood
In a recent paper, Amelia Won Enid
discusses the poet and his relations t
Norway. She does not save the Nor
wegian people, and, with reason, side
with the man who could arouse 81
much feeling in the Northland, wher,
he was born.
Ibsen's "Cataline" as the production
of youth was well enough received
but when the more mature intellect o
the Master gave evidence Of its powe
before the National Theater of Chris
tiania, there was no response. 9Th
: The people had come to stand
still" With the highest Of ideals II
, sen himself could work, but he coul
not make even the better educate
, few see the value OF these ideals. Hi
: Norwegian friends discouraged him.
= some even attacked him, and wrot
!. him bitter letters about his bad lite
! airy propensities. 1t was the Norw'
gian way. or these Ibsen wrote:-
. Friends are an expensive luxury
II one invests his capital In a profo
sion or mission in life, one has NJ
= the means to keep friends. The lu,
TRY Ia not in what is done for then
.. hut in what is left undone out of co,
y : s.dCration for them"
What insight into the Scandinavia
n temperament! They would force tn
great man to their conventional leve
/. II he prove recalcitrant he should l
:. stoned or made a mere literary hack
Luckily for the world, lbsen did nj
leave his work undone out OF conside
alton for such valueless friends"
He listened to the inner voice r
CARELESS of cat-cries. And with vel
human feeling Of contempt and pc
haps of anger, he reused himself I'M
the execution of more radical writin
h The air about him was filled wit
j. strange words" says Danish write
t. People talked Of eternal love, of dee