The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-10

Henrik Ibsen left Skien where he was
born on March 20, 1928, and his fathers
house at an early age, for, after his con-
hrmation at IA, he was obliged to sup
port himself, his family's once ample means
having been entirely exhausted. He OBJ
tanned employment first as apprentice, and
later as assistant in an apothecary's shop
at Grimstad, where he remained until the
end of lsi9, employing all the time left him
from his clerical duties in preparing him.
self for naturalization at the University OF
Christiania, where in the summer OF 1850
he tried but failed to pass the entrance
examination in Greek, and consequently
his name was never inscribed on the uni
yersity roll. BY hat time, besides a few
minor poems, published in the Christiania
Post, he had written and published "Cati-
lima. a three act drama in verse, which was
fayorably noticed by reviewers. His next
work of any length was THE Hero's Mound
a dramatic poem in one act, which was
produced at the Christiania Theatre in
September of the year in which it was
written 1850, and was also we'll received
by the critics. Toward the close Of 1851
he was engaged by the Norwegian Theatre,
established at Bergen the year before, first
as playwright, and then as manager also.
During the summer of 1852 he went, at the
theatres expense, to Copenhagen, and like
wise to several of the large German cities,
for the purpose of studying art and htera-
ture. From this journey he brought back
with him a new three act play, entitled
est. Johns Night" which later was pro-
duced. In 1854 he wrote Lady lnger OF
Ostraat," a historical drama in three acts,
which was played often in various theatres
and published in Chrlst ania. The Feast
of Solhaug," a three act drama, composed
in 1856, was enacted with much success
In all the theatres of Norway; also at Copen-
hagen and in the Theatre Royal Of Stock
holm, where it was chosen as the Festival
play" for the celebration that took place
on November 4, 1857. The kim at
Helgeland, a drama in four acts, appeared
, in 1858, and received much and remarkably
c~ommendatory notice in Denmark and
Sweden, as well as in Norway. This piece
was PLAYED In all the Norwegian theatres.
In 1853 Ibsen published a three act play in
rhymed verse, entitled Loves Comedy
In the thirteen preceding years of literary
activity he had written a humble OF minor
poems. Some stanzas from one OF these,
penned in 1856, we quote, partly because
the poem ia dedicated to Susanna Thoresen.
whom he was to marry in 1858, and partly
because it bears out Ibsen's repeated asser-
ton that although in his literary career
there had been evolution. there had never
been inconsistency From the time he be-
gan to think at all he seems always to have
taken a tragic view Of the hollowness OF
life. The translation is by the editors:
The ballroom glitters resplendcnt,
Already the dance moves fast:
Ladies' In rainbow clusters
Airily decked go past.
High overhead the music
Scattcrs Its wttchcratt nne:
Each dancers In testal humor,
Each lamp hath a feStal shine.
Hank to the ballroom courtships.
Whispering soft and low,
All mat the moment prompts Of
The dreams OF long ago:
And the ladies smile demurely
As memory'S chart receives
Speeches. impassloned and tender.
Nor speaker nor hearer believes
throughout the crowded ballroom
There's naught but gladness and mirth:
Not one OF them all hath felt 1t
The weary burden OF earth:
Not one OF them all hath felt IT.
Not one that could ever guess
How. under the veil OF rejoicing.
LurKs the horror OF emptiness.
All, yesi there Is one, ole only!
Among so many but one.
Her eyes have a secret sadness;
read In them sorrows begun
read In them dreaming tancies
That rise and sink without cease
A henrt that is longing and throbbing.
An d nnds in this world no peace.