Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-08-10

raining but crowd second to that at
Christiania was at the pier to greet
us. At O'Clock we were entertained
at the Grand Cafe by the most prom
nent men of the city including the
American consul Mr.. Cunningham
and some prominent foreigners. This
banquet is the Swellest yet except the
tiania. 1t was the first one served
in American style. Speeches of all
kinds were made and it just about
|degenerated into mutual admiration
meeting. 1t looks funny at these
banquetS to see the hosts drink beer
and wine while we get along with
either water or coffee. On the trip so
far the only places we haven't been
banqueted at are St. Paul, Red Wing,
New York and Hamar. Hamar would
have done so but we played there dur
ing the day time, only stopping long
enough to play II numbers in a
double quick time to one of our larg-
est and most enthusiastic crowds.
The numbers best liked making tre-
mendous hits are "Star Spangled Ban
ner" and ia vi Elsker." The people
never tire Of hearing the latter and |
=
five times day since we came, no
wonder we know it by heart. Our
director arranged it for the band.
Tuesday morning: Yesterday and
Sunday were probably the days on
which we were most highly honored
since we arrived. The banquet Sun
day afternoon was more official
affair than anything preceding it.,
altho' the Singers banquets excelled
in magnificence. Yesterday was real
ly our banner day. At 1900 we took
the train for Mr.. Michelson's villa
which lies a short ways outside of
Bergen, arriving there a few minutes
later. Nicholson himself met us at
the depot. Then we marched up to
the villa. This villa ought in reality
be called a palace, because Of its
splender. 1t is by far the most beau
tiful and artistically arranged home
l have seen. The grounds around it
are a regular paradise. Mr.. and Mrs.
Nicholson stood at the entrance
as we cams e In, h a k ! n g
hands and greeting us with the court
ly grace of a king and queen, admir-
ably blended with the rustic simplicity
us feel at home at once, althO' we
greatest statesmen in Europe. Mrs.
Nicholson is as fine lady as her hus-
band is gentleman. She is indeed a
lady in the real sense of the word.
After few minutes spent In admir-
ing the villa we were invited In to
what was called aluncheOn but which
was in reality to a big dinner. In the
course of this event, Mr.. Nicholson
made a speech to us saying he
wouldn't tire us with a long
speech but simply wished to thank us
for honoring him with q visit. In
spite OF all the great things that
have happened to me lately, ! must
confess l was pleased at this. He
hoped this little episode would help
strengthen the bond of kinship be-
tween Norwegians in America and
Norwegians in Norway. During the
dinner ! noticed that Mrs. Michel
son wasn't too dignified or "stuckup"
If may be allowed more exact ex-
preston, to go around amongst her
guests and see that her servants were
doing their duties properly. She even
waited on some OF the ladies OF our
company herself. After dinner the
ed several selections in honor OF our
host and hostess. This event is the
one consider the greatest of all that
has been our good fortune to exper-
ience on this eventful trip. From
Michelson's we took half hours
climb up a mountain to the home Of
the American consul Mr.. Cunning
ham. Here some preliminareS were
gone thrO' with and we were invited
in to partake Of all the fine strawber-
ries and thick cream we wanted. We
played few selections for Mr.. Cum
ningham, who, by the way, is a per-
feet gentleman. Then we took a
long walk back to the depot, then
on to Bergen. Saw a dandy muse
um there. In 1t was Ole Bulls yio-
lin. His daughter came up and shook
lands with Christanson. Everything
in the entertainment line there was
free to us, We had special private
admission to Haakonshallen, an old
fort of the 18th century. Yesterday,
we saw a church almost 1000 years
old.
When we arrived at Stavanger,
where, by the way, felt at home, on
account of it being here that our
father is from. Two ships came out
to meet us, one carrying band. the
other singers. They have very fine
the Stavanger chorus is the best ex-
cepting the Student Singers in Chris
tiania The crowd of people on the
pier was estimated at from 5000 to
5000. At our Bergen concert 1t was
10, 600 or over We are booked for an
excursion at II today. Christiansand
is our last large town before we get
back to Christiania Then for our
ocean trip again and setting our feet
on good old American soil. Hurrah
for that time.
Our tour in financial way has
been more successful than the most
s. 1 - -