Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-06-02
STORIES ABOUT ESSEN
Norwegian Authors Polling of q
 Reporters Snapshot.
UNIQUE TEST OF HIS PATIENCE

Novel Experience While wooing the
 Beautiful Woman Who Became His Wife An Instance of the Drama.
 tist's wrathful but Yet ForgiviHg
 Moods Related by George Brandes. A good story about one of the pho tographs of the late Henrik Ibsen. the Norwegian author and dramatist which appeared in the Christmas num- Der of Swedish magazine, Is told as follows in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. It was the result of snapshot taken by Swedish newspaper man who wis tied Christiania in the summer of 1899 for the purpose of catching the great mans likeness unawares. He chose favorable day for the execution of his coup, placed himself in an ad- vantageous position not far from the entrance to the Grand cafe and waited. Ibsen was punctual to the minute, and soon the miscreant noticed with thrill of joy that he had focused the figure of his victim. But he was intent on getting the best possible view and postponed, therefore, the consumma- tion of the deed until Ibsen was only a few steps away from him. Then he pressed the button and walked away with triumphant steps,
 The disillusionment did not take place until he had developed the nega- tive. which proved splendid success in every way but one. The whole well known figure from the silk hat down to the broad nosed shoes was there, but bunch of paper held up by the poets right arm was all that could be seen where the face should have been. The keen eye of Ibsen had apparently seen the lurking danger in good time. He had followed the movements of the en- emy with the alertness of threatened animal and at the critical moment had interposed the paper-some manuscript presumab ably-between his features and the detested instrument. The photo graph was reproduced and published just the same, and it is to be suspected that the readers of the magazine en- joyed it much more than they would have done if 1t had been more success ful from the photographers point of view. They all recognized the lion in his bushy white mane, which the en- vious paper had been unable to hide from view.
 When Ibsen fell in love with the beautiful daughter of Pastor Thoresen how to make known the fact to her troubled him for weeks, says the Rural Collaborator At last he resolved to write to her. He would come and fetch his answer the same afternoon at 5. Did the lady accept him she would be lat home." otherwise not.
 At 5 o'clock he presented himself. and the maid asked him into the best room. He, was very hopeful, but when he had waited half an hour awful doubts began to assail him. Still he waited on. After two hours he began to be ashamed of himself. At last he jumped up in rage and ran to the door. He was opening it when loud peal of laughter arrested him. He turned and saw the fair head of his adored emerge from under the sofa.
 Her mouth was laughing, but her eyes were filled with tears. "Oh, you dear, good fellow, to wait all this while" she said. T wanted to see how many minutes lovers patience lasts. How hard the floor Is! Now, help me to get out, and then we will talk" In less than week a marriage was ar ranged.
 Here is story illustrative of Ibsen's wrathful but yet forgiving moods:
 Some years ago George Brandes, the Danish author, was endeavoring to raise funds for the erection of monu- ment to the deceased Danish author Jacobsen. He begged Ibsen to head the list of signers, saying that his name and only his would touch the hearts and pockets of the citizens of Copen. hagen, says the Philadelphia Press. This f]attering suggestion was lost on the impassive poet.
 "what others will signy he asked
 "All our prominent authors"
 "Who are theyT"
 'Surely you know" replied Brandes, but he was compelled to repeat the names.
 Well, who else?'
 ''The Swedish writers.S
 For instanceT
 Brandes told him.
 "NextT'
 ''The Norwegians.-
 "Names. please"
 With a sigh of resignation Brandes went through the list When he came to the name of August Strindberg, Ib- sen sprang up in a rage
 T will not sign- he exclaimed.
 And why not, for heavens sakeT'
 He ridiculed my Nora"
 In vain did Brandes strive to explain 1 that Strindberg's ridicule had been d. | rected not against Nora but against some silly women who had entirely Ibsen's meaning. Tn vain 1 did he offer to dispense with Strind- bergs signature. The old poet remain ed in1exible The mere suggestion of ! Strindberg had wounded him sorely.
 The subscription was abandoned
 Some years later Brandes visited Ib- l