Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-08-03
Peter Skartvedt Writes of His S<orqvay Visit

saw the University buildings, Stor.
thing, National Theatre, Kings Pa,
lace and several Parks. The singers
invited us to an excursion to Holmen.
kollen villa at five O'Clock and this
was a really great affair and is pro.
badly the most elegant we shall eX-
perience in our stay here, which is
saying a great deal. The singers AS,
sociation numbers among its mem.
bers some Of the most influential citi.
ZenS in this country, and the fact
that big bunch of them went tC
such trouble to entertain us shows
that they take this visit of ours quite
seriously. They had chartered special
cars and took us to the city limits,
From there we walked up through
some very picturesque evergreen for
eSts to villa that is built in immita-
tion of "Saeter." The style of
architecture is certainly odd and
nobby and would be quite stunt for
some millionaire to start III the Unit
ed States. From there we got a fair
view of the scenery below, but we
went little higher up and struck
another similar place where we stop
ped and had some lemonade. Then
we went up to the highest point
where there was a tower from which
to view the scenery. Up in this tower
| we had next to the finest view we
have had so far. 1t was the grandest
and most magnificent, as it included
a birds eye view of the whole city OF
| Christiania together with the suburbs
and adjacent Fjords. 1t was a sight
worth going many miles to see, and l
am sure that | will have very vivid
recollection of it. for many day.
From there we went partly down and
came to the Kings Winter palace.
| finest view that / have ever seen, and
l believe that by this time l have
seen little at any rate. Oh, but you
could never dream that such para
disc could exist on earth. The color
ing of that valley was something
bordering the supernatural. 1t near
ly sets a person crazy with pleasure to
look at such beauty. 1t is too bad
that you can't all be here to enjoy
these beautiful things with me.
From that place we went down to
the Holmenkollen tourist hotel.
have heard that it is supposed to be
one of it's swellest of it's kind in Nor
way and they have a good many fine
ones. Here after siege of photo
graphy, we went into the finest and
most elaborate banquet l have ever
seen. 1t consisted of two heavy
courses and desert. after which fol
lowed wine and cigars with lemonade
for the temperance part of the bunch,
which in this case was the St. Olaf
band. Right here l might as well
say that the drinking was the peculiar
part of the banquet. Most of the
singers drank wine and the band boys
drank milk. There was much toast.
ing to the band, President kildahl,
our director, Mr.. Christensen, the
singers, their director, the Norwegian
Americans, Good luck to our tour
and one to strengthen the bond OF
fellowship between the NOrwegianS
on both sides Of the Atlantic. 1t was
comical to see part Of the crowd re-
spending with wine and part either
not drinking at all or substituting
coffee, milk, water or lemonade or
whatever it might be, but that did
not interfere with our cheering and
Grating ability. Several hours of
speedy climbing up and down hills is
certainly conductive to an abnormal
appetite. The edibles were piled up
on tables in the center of q large din
ing room. We helped ourselves, then
retired to small tables In fours or
eights as the case might be. The
seats were cushioned easy chairs and
were mostly paired with the singers
and it was good thing because not a
soul of us knew how to go at the
thing as far as Isound out. Besides
all the eatables, there were SO many
foxy decorations that you could not
tell for the life of you what was eat
| able and what wasn't
The first course consisted of several
kinds of fish and peculiar potatoes,
etc. The second course was fine port
erhouse steak, potatoes and several
unnameable articles. Desert was ice
cream and several kinds of Norweg-
ian cakes. Then came the cigars.
| When they had been passed around
we went outdoors and the singers
stood on the steps of the hotel and
sang some of their finest songs. May
be It WASH Il treat. The best singer
of them all was Mr.. Rode, who sang
us solo. He is a better singer than
either one of those who performed in
America last year, according to the
verdict Of the singers themselves. He
was unable to be with the singers on
their American tour. To think that
lSuch great men as they are and such
wonderful singers should go to such
trouble for us seems so incredible
that am almost afraid / shall awak-
en- and find it a dream. The strang.
est part is that all seemed tickled tx
death to do us the honor. Several
of them had been down and listened
to our rehearsels and had given VI
some nice compliments. Their di
rector, Grondahl, said that we neec
not worry about making a success, i
we only play as well as we did last
year. OF course we have improved at
least fifty per cent since that time
but there will always be room Tor i'm
Iprovement, Promptly at twelve
|o'clock, the banquet came to an END
and we left for the hotel which was
nearly am hours ride distant, O
course before it broke up, the usua
amount Of cheering took place. The
street cars usually quit running at
eleven o'clock. 1t was on account OF
the influence of the singers that they
got them out after twelve, and ou
caps bring US free transportation on
the street cars. One thing i was go
ing to mention and forgot was thai
the sitigers had two American ban
ners at the headSof the procession on1
from the ship. The flags were pres
ents received in America the year be
fore. They were the first American
flags we saw over here, besides ou
/ own and they looked good. Outside
of the hotel there are five or six yer.
large Norwegian flags in honor OF on
stay here. They are a good help il
showing us where we are at, although
Christiania is by far the easiest cit.
in which to find your way OF any CIT.