Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-04-05
Recent Occurrences of Interest
in Sweden, Norway and
Denmark.
MANY NORWEGlANS IN AMERICA
Press of Norway Should Heep it@ic
tions with Emigrants ar sJ..
dial as Possible,
NORWAY.
Christiania.

Says NJ. Alger, the Christian cor.
respondent of the Minneapolis Journal:
Not long ago well known Nor
wegian wrote an article in one of the
leading Chrstiania papers. urging up.
on the press of Norway the Importance
OF keeping the rela ton with the emi.
grated Norwegians as cordial as pos
sible. He also suggested that the Nor
wegian papers should pay more atten-
tion to news regarding their country
men In America There is not the
slightest doubt that his views were
shared by the larger number OF the
Norwegian people, among whom you
no longer hardly can find single
family. or ! may even say q single
person, who has not relative, or at
least friend or acquaintance now liv.
Ing In America. One OF the leading
Christiania papers, acting on the sug.
gestion given, started In with col
umn of news each week about coun-
trymeu In America. do not doubt
that the items were read with much
interest. but already after a short trial
It seems as II that column contains
American news more Of a general
character. and that was not exactly
what was meant by the above men
toned gentleman who wrote on behalf
Of the cause, because there is no par
tcular reason to complain that the
Norwegian press does not give rea-
sonable amount Of American news OF
the ordinary kind. 1t would lead too
far even to try to explain all the why's
and wherefores i'm this connection, but
1t should. nevertheless, he remem.
bered that for years the prevailing idea
among the leading classes in Norway
was that those who emigrated were
only farmers and day laborers, in 9th
er words, classes not worthy Of much
consideration whether they stayed at
home or went abroad. Late years
have seen emigrants from what Is
known as the best families I'm the
land and the view has been somewhat
changed. Another thing is that it is
only of comparatively recent date
that the people whose opinions count
for anything In Norway, have taken
trouble to investigate what their coun-
trymen in the far west really have ac-
complished. and there Is not today a
man In Norway, whose opinion Is
worth hearing. that will not admit that
they have done very well i'm more than
one sense. AS the time passes, also on
this side, men will devote a greater
portion Of their time and studies to en-
tighten themselves In regard to what
the emigrated Norwegian really has
done both for himself and for the
mother country, as well as for the
country which has become his new
home. The native Of Norway may find
his reception when on a visit to the
old country to he something different
from what he had pictured and hoped
for when he left his American home;
he may not find the sympathy, appre-
citation or even hospitality, which he
though was due him, but this does by
no means apply to Norway along. Ap.
proach an American, born almost any
sNucle III EuIOpe, OH lUe question ana
you are pretty sure to learn that his
observations on his return to his ma
tive land were not much different from
that OF a Norwegian born returning to
Norway, and If you question him as to
the regard his fatherland has for its
emigrated children you will be sure
to learn that he is not much more sat
isfed in that respect than the average
American of Norwegian descent"
Some Of the foreign diplomatic rep
reSentatives are still living at hotels,
but the greater number Of them have
either rented or purchased residences
The British government has bought a
beautiful place from one Of the old
Cbristiania families. for a sum of 500.
600. Besides a fine house. there is
quite piece Of ground with large gar
dens. From the house fine view of
the bay may he enjoyed.