Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-24
THE PASSING OF IBSEN
CAREER OF NoRWAY,s GREATEST
POET AND DRAMATIsr.

~ eapiesram from Chrlstiania, Norway,
last night, gives further particulars Of the
death OF Henrik Ibeen. Norway's greatest
poet and dramatist. whose death was re-
ported In The Star yesterday
Although Ihsen's literary activity ceased
some years ago. when an apopIectic seizure
forced him to refrain from mental effort.
he had continued to be familiar figure
In the life OF Chrtstiania. and was frequently
seen driving In the streets with a compaa-
ion. His sudden removal therefore deeply
fmpresses the capital.
From time to time lately, as fresh apo
piectfc attacks came upon him. 1t became
obvious, especially In view of his advanced
years. that his death could not be far dis
tant. His condition last week was very
disquieting Tuesday night another seizure
ieit MIN unconscious, and his physi-
clan, DR.. Bull. announced that he had only
Few hours to live At o'clock this after
noon the patients respiration weakened,
and the nurse in attendance SUNNI onad
Mime. Ibsen. Sigurd Ibsen his SON and tho
latters Wife, who remained at the bedside
TIL the end The poet died without a strIg.
gle He was seventy eight years of age.
King Haakon, Immediately upon receipt
OF the news OF Ibsens death, transmitted
10 the widow his own and Queen Maud's
sympathy and coincidence The storthlug
ana other public bodies are formally re-
cording the national grief at the loss of
this foremost figure in the literary life Of
the nation. All the theaters were closed
toIlight- The Authors Union has placed n
wreath on the Ibsen monument outside the
National Theater. 1t is understood that
the funeral will be a state function
Ibsen's Career
Henrik Ibsen was born March 10 1874
at Skien. small town In Norway, forty
miles from Christiania. His great grand
mother was Scotch, his grandmother and
mother German, his grandfather's grand
rather Danish. They were a family of ship
masters. His father. Knud lbsen a mer-
Chant, met with reverses in Henrfk's boy
mood, which compelled the youth To mass
SIX years-lS36 to 1s42-in great poverty
III the latter years of this period he at
,ehded scientific school at Skien and
late In 1s43 he became an apothecary's an
prentice in Grimstad. where he remained
until 1919. writing "Catiline" niay in
three acts, published In 1850 and some
poems poems he now sought the University OF
Chrlsttania to study medicine bur i'm 1874
ne was diverted by the successful nrodur-
ton or his Warriors Mound from aca-
oenhc studies TO the drama In 1851 he
heIped to found a short-lived weekly
man IN which appeared his political
satlre' Norma" In November ISL he
was appointed stage manager at Bergen
WIN IeaVe OF absence for three months
70 study the art he was to practice These
he spent in Germany wiring the unsuc
cessful and unpublished st Johns Night
In 1896 The Banquet at Solhany rho
hist Oh ms national dramas. was produced
IN the theatrical centers of Norwa,, ana
sweden. 1t won him enthusiastic anulausa
ana national renown. In 1851 he hecane
director of the Norwegian Theater ar
III stlaIla' put five years of his manage
ihent reduced Ii to bankruptcy Here were
produced Lady Inger of Ostraat" a sape
orama QSo5), The Vikings of Helyeland'
uso9 and Loves Comedy Qsf2) In TINS
period period ne wrote the longest of his minor
poems, "on the Mountain Plains nseo,.
Accepted a Pension.
In 1s''2' after the bankruptcy of the thea
ter lbsen accepted from the university
small grants for researches in folklore and
Al iooo pettioned the storthing for the
poets pension (about $500 He racai,,a1 q,
1864 travellers scholarship and rho -,
sion In 1886. Meantime. embittered by deiav
ana the political situation he left fnr r3np,a
s -, aIos. whence he sent back Gs66, the
rome Tor Dresden. where he remained till
io'1. AFTER voluntary exile OF ten years
ne ne Went back to Norway. In 1891 he made
ShIiStlania his home. On the seyentietb
birthday anniversary the oet-dramatfst re-
ceived gifts and greetings from everywhere
IN the world. A bronze statue OF him was
September, 1893 "
BESIDES the dramas above named. Ibsen's
We, W.. rs iiciude: The Pretenders' GS64), "a
LIlslorlcai drama: Peter Gynt' Gs76). a
dramatic poem; The League of Youth a
polite comedy 0SGD: the bulky twofoId his
torleal drama, Emperor and Galilean.
Slst3); and. beginning with 1877 the vet
better known series Of dramas that are
characteristic of what passes for Ibsenfsm:
The Pillars of Society" Qs71). "A Dolls
House" Qs79l. Ghosts 0Ss1), IAN Enemy
% peat me reople tlss2l, The Wild Duck"
Qss4), 'Rosmershalm" uSs6), The Iadv
from the Sea" uSsS, "Hedda GabIer;'
lSsoo: The Master Builder 0s92), Little
Eyolf tie94l. John Gabriel Berkman''
C1S96 and when We Dead Awaken" f1o1n
All his later plays have been translated
into English.
lDsen,s dramas set the pace for the So
called modern drama of today Just as
victor Hugo overturned the old dramatic
unlties and paved the way for the romantic
Drama SO Ibsen knocked out romance lola
was preaching naturalism In France wher
Inc hrst plays of the Norwegian began to
become known outside of Scandinavia
Ihey furnished the practice that the
frenchman's precept needed. and since then
naturaiism has been the cry of the day.