The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-05-18
CELEBRATION ONE
OF SUCCESS AND
ENJOYMENT
Observance of Norway's indie
pendence Day One to be
Remembered.

Norway's independence day has
come and gone and the observance Of
the same in this city yesterday was
one of patriotic fervor and satisfaction
generally. Last evenings trains car
.ried away many of the visitors and
the expressions of satisfaction were al
most universal at the success of the
celebration. Many of the visitors took
home with them copies of The Even
ing Times containing an extensive
write-up of the days proceedings, cuts
of the speakers and synopsis of the
speeches given. The call for extra
copies of the paper was great and the
efforts to please our visitors evidently
appreciated. Congressman Gronna re-
ceived many compliments upon his adj
dress and it went straight to the
hearts of his hearers. President Mer-
rifield, in his address, encouraged the
Norsemen in their success as substan-
tial American citizens and the entire
days program and events were such
as to leave a happy memory in the
hearts of the sturdy sons of the father
land.
Inc afternoon program was opened
as the forenoon program by selec-
ton. 1T happened in Nortlland," played
by the University orchestra.
President Webster Merrifield of the
State university presided over the
meeting and addressed the audience
briefly. There are two purposes of
the meeting today, said President
Merrifield, the first of these is to cele-
brate the university of Norway's free
doms day and the second the dedica-
ton of the Scandinavian library at
the university. 1t is fitting that North
Dakota should have the largest and
the best Scandinavian library in the
United States for she has a large
percentage of her population either
OF Scandinavian birth or descent.
President Merrifield mentioned few
marked characteristics of the Scandin-
avian Americans which did credit to
that sturdy people comparing then
with the early Puritans of our New
England states.
In education the Scandinavian is
also very strict as is shown by Nor
ways percentage of illiterales and said
President Merrif1eld their small per-
centage of criminals. He also gave
many very good reasons for the large
percentage of insane people the chief
of which was that the vast change in
environment made the immigrants
morose.
The Scandinavian students have
carried off very good records and
honors and in fact more than their
relative members would demand. Stu
dents have been rather Indifferent as
to the study of their language but
this is beginning to change.
Norwegian business men have
throughout the state showed their SUI
periority over other nationalities and
the other American people must finally
adopt their business methods, if this
country is to progress
Courage, patience, independence,
honesty, regard for others, self respaot,
love of home and love of God mark the
Scandinavian population of North Da-
kota and with these qualities what
future there must be in store for us.
The Bjarne chorus which also sang
in the morning, rendered very beauti-
full Norwegian song, The Deepening
Blue of the Fjords" and upon being
encored sang another Norwegian piece.
President Kildohl who spoke in the
Scandinavian language in the morning,
addressed the audience in English.
A person must be born right and this
the Norwegian is and thus has many
advantages. He is we'll fitted to be-
come citizen of the United States be-
cause of their citizenship in Norway.
A person must also be brought up
right in order to succeed and this ad-
vantage the Norwegian has in a su-
perior way. With these two great adj
vantages there is great deal ex-
pected from the Norwegian and it is
for the Scandinavian to live up to this
expectation.
Congressman A. J. Gronna gave
short address, printed in full in these
columns yesterday.
The Grand Forks college choir sang
the Song of the Viking" and it is in
deed a credit to the college to have
choir of such ability.
Following the song by the choir
Prof. Stub of Hamline addressed the
audience. Prof. Stub compared the
celebration of the 18th of May by the
Norwegians to the celebration of the
4th of July by the people of the United
States. He said that we are all of the
same blood originally and therefore
we ought to celebrate them both. AS
his speech in the morning was full of
fine thought lights and sentiments so
his afternoon one was full of pith and
was appreciated very highly by the
entire audience.
Congressman HOugen from Iowa was
detained in Washington and it is re-
GREETED that he could not have been
here to speak. After few remarks
by President Merrifield and the singing
of our National hymn America" the
gathering left,