Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-02-07
CANTON SOUTH DAKOTA FRIDAY FEBRUARY 7. 1908.
Norzvay
Ita Geography, Climate, Govern
ment, Social Institutions
and Resources.
By HON. r. O. RICHARDS OF HURON.
Christiania, Norway.
- ------ nn OQ 1O01

By HON. r. 0. RICHARDS OF HURON.
Christiania, Norway.
Aug. 26, 1907.
Dakota Farmers Leader, Canton,
s. D: The Lutheran religion is the
state church of Norway and Is sup
ported by the national government.
The clergy is nominated by the king.
All other Christian sects Except Jes-
uits) as well as the Jews are tolerated
and free to exercise their religion.
The Constitution excluded the Jews
from Norway for long time until at
last through the agitation and ap-
peals of Henrik Wergeland, by his
poem 1.-THE Jewess," in which he
pleads for fair play and honest treat
ment Of the Jew In most effective
way, and as result, the Constitution
was finally amended In 1854; nine
years after his death, for which SER
vice, thoughtful and grateful Jews,
outside Of Norway, erected a very
handsome monument over Mr.. Verge
lands grave in "Our Redeemer's
Cemetery" at Christiania, with the
following inscriptions: '"To the tire
less champion for freedom of human
rights and citizenship" In writing
of Mr.. Wergeland, the author and
poet. the writer is reminded of q story
told him this summer of an expert
ence Of this wonderfully human per-
sonage. by friend Of the w Wergeland
family, who vouched for its truth,
which on account of its application to
human nature may seem Of interest
to some to show how little things
change ones whole life, hence relate
It:
"Mr. Wergeland was namely; a per-
son strongly imbued with the COM
mon traits of human nature; he grad
uated In theology from Christiania
University In the early thirties of the
last century and was going to take up
preaching for living. The clergy is
nominated by the king In Norway
and the appointments are announced
through the ecclesiastical state de-
partment. Mr.. Wergeland had just
received his appointment to preach
In some church, up the country,
north from Christiana, of which he
was notified In the afternoon, SO the
story goes, but his commission was
not yet issued. Mr.. Wergeland was
poor In worldly goods but OF happy
disposition ana to end his romantic
studious days, concluded to pay his
boyhood sweetheart, one Amalia, with
whom he had been keeping company,
= call, and finally to wind up at the
cafe and for the last time enjoy him
self In q worldly way before entering
upon the more sedate duties Of dis
seminating the gospel up the country.
WerReland, as q human, acted upon
these natural thoughts and wound up
at tho cafe In the evening, by having
q complete drunk, In which state, 1t
10 said, he mounted one Of the tables
and delivered the most eloquent dis
course on the past, present and future
state of man, to the hilarious amuse-
ment Of all present. Henrik Verge
land, like all others who possess
strong individuality, had plenty of
enemies and the next morning, the
whisperings of the coward soon found
its way to the department., to the ef-
feet that Wergeland had been "glori-
ously drunk" at the cafe and that to
send such an individual to preach
would never do; 50 his appointment
was Withdrawn and poor Wergeland
was left positionless, penniless and
with an apparent marred reputation
and blighted future. The following
evening in his remorseful moments,
fully realizing what he had done, he
again seeks his love, Amalia, to tell
his grief and the two were seen walk
ing out to the old Drammansvein at
sunset. While thus strolling along,
caressing, comforting and coaxing
each other to believe in brighter days,
Wergeland commences to unravel his
feelings in an impromptu poem, The
Red Clouds" Ode rode Skyer), which
was destined to make his reputation
Is . poet and to first portray his
genius, which soon burst forth In
other writings and poems. Among
the latter productions, came the
"Jswess," which brought about the
change in the Constitution and open
ed the door for. Jews into Norway.
Wsrgeland's reputation and fortune
was soon made and his name immor-
talized in the literature of his coun-
try. Had he become a preacher in
the state church and given that work
his attention, he might never have
become the Wergeland, whom the
Norwegian people love for his litera-
ture left them.
The Crawford Rallies.
Murdo Pioneer: Governor Crawford
and Senator Vessey completed last
Monday night series OF eight meet
ings, from Oacoma to Belvidere. At
every point they were greeted by large
audiences, and at most Of them there
was not even standing room. The
q