The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-03-21
INTERFERENCE.

God pity the nation that would have
crossed the border into Norway with
sword in hand" said Erling Bjornson,
son Of the great Bjornstjerne Bjorn-
son, in his lecture at Mozart hall yes
terday afternoon, when speaking of
the conditions that existed last sum-
mer. From his description Norway
was armed to the teeth and determin-
ed to win or die. Sweden was also
prepared. and war was but hairs
breadth away. Only the higher Gull
ture of the two nations and the inter-
vention Of England, he said, averted
one of the bitterest struggles the
world has ever seen.
The lecture attracted a large audi
ence, representative of the Norwegians
in America, and when Mr.. Bjornson
appeared upon the platform at 4
o'clock the hall was comfortably filled.
Mr.. Bjornson is a tall, robust young
man, with striking appearance.
When he spoke yesterday afternoon he
was in evening dress.
He began by speaking of the natural
conditions In Norway, and how they
had made the people a peculiar peo-
pie. Living in solitude as many of
them do, individualism is strongly de-
veloped, and they are Independent
men. He gave brief history of the
struggles of his country from the
time of the first union with Denmark
in 1919, how the union was dissolved
in 1914, and how Norway, without her
consent, was forced into the union
with Sweden the same year.
Independence Long Wished For.
From that time on" said the
speaker, "the trouble was with the
consulate. A consul is to a nation
what salesman is to a jobber. The
firms do not send the same travelling
man because their stores are side by
side. We wanted our own consuls
to tell the world that Norway was
better than Sweden. This we had
been wishing and waiting for all the
time. But things never looked more
propitious than last summer. The sun
was never warmer, and the seed when
dropped into the ground never sprout-
ed faster. Hope was in the bosom of
the people. One old lady said she
thanked God she was alive to offer
something for Norway. The spirit was
the same all over the country"
The speaker described the strenuous
times which followed the strothing's
resolution for separate consulate,
and when the news was received that
the king had vetoed It, Norway was
poorer than Sweden, but its people Of
fered everything they had for their
country. One man offered his fortune
Of 100000 crowns. A couple just
married sent letter signed by both
Of them promising all of their 300, 900
crowns in case war was begun.
Never was there such determined
people as in Norway last summer. But
what was accomplished couldn't have
been done If it had not been for the
preparations. There was not night
when there was not trainload of
ammunition and provisions going to
the border"
Tells Of Defenses.
He described the so-called wolf pits
which were dug near the border. They
were dug several feet deep and coy-
cred so they could not be seen. In
the bottom were placed bayonets point
ing upward SO that the soldiers fall
ing in would be at once pierced to
death.
That was wicked" he admitted
but what will not people do to pre-
serve their lives? God pity the nation
that would have crossed our border last
summer with swords drawn against
u.s."
Mr.. Bjornson told how old women
were sent as spies from Sweden, but
they were taken and tenderly sent
back across the border. The feeling
was intense. One old man, scarce able
to walk, was asked what he would do
If the Swedish troops came through
the village. II am old, but can sit
in the door and shoot Swedes," he
said. "But suppose your house is
burned?" was asked. What better
bier could man wish?" was his earn
est reply.
'On Aug. Is there was not man in
Norway who believed Norway could be
freed peaceably," he continued. Can
non were being shipped to the border
and on either side of the border were
thousands of soldiers. From the Nor
wegian camp could be seen the camp
fires on the other side of the border.
Had there not been the high culture
of the two peoples controlling their
passions there is no telling how It
would have ended. But these two civil
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