The Washington herald., 1908-08-02
WHERE GRIEG LIVED.
American Woman Tells of His Visit
10 Widow of norwegian Composer.


oirs- Charles Cahier. in Indianapolis News
/ While we were in Bergen We were invit-
ed out 10 luncheon with Nine Grieg-
Their home lies out in the country. about
a half hours ride from Bergen and on
/ the banks Of a big lake We were re-
/ ceived by Nine Grieg at the station, and
after a walk Of twenty minutes We came
! TO their charming villa.
As We came 10 the big gate leading
/ through the garden We were shown a big
I tree where Grieg always had a sign in
/ four languages. reading. Mr. Edward
| Grieg is not at home to any one before 1
P. m" You know he was a sick man.
and he was so bothered by tourists that
| he found it necessary 10 protect himself
I that way. Nine. Grieg received US in the
| living room. which loving friends had
fairly filed with blooming plants for her
I first lonely Homecoming. the day before
Naturally she was very sad. but as we
were all friends who had known and
loved Grieg ii was her sad pleasure TO see
US and to talk Of him She showed US
every little detail Of the room.
After our coffee We all, with the ex-
cepton Of Nine Greg, went 10 visit the
little house where Grieg did most Of his
composing We had 10 descend steps and
windins walks until at the end Of the
big garden on the edge Of the lake we
came 10 plain little house consisting Of
one room. the holy OF hoIies" Opposite
the door was one large window. in front
Of which stood a plain deal table with q
small armchair and a foOtstool On the
table were his pens and pencils pot Of
glue. blotter, paper eight-everything
that he used. The whole room had the
air Of being left only for a short while
and OF waiting for his return On each
side OF the window was a place for a set
OF shelves. where he kept his scores By
Jhe door was another set Of shelves
where were all his manuscripts asked
II il were not dangerous TO leave his
original works SO unprotected 7 was
told that the Norwegian folk are so hon
est that no one would think Of taking
them.
As an example Of Grieg-s humor. we
were shown a slip Of paper on his desk
on which he had written the following.
To any one who may enter here Please
take anything that may please your
fancy. but kindly leave me nay manu-
scripts which are Of interest 70 no one
but myself. He always left that slip
there when he went away The rest Of
the furniture Of the room consisted Of a [
sofa, two chairs. and little old cracked I
upright plano that he said was good
enough to compose on.
From there We went across the garden. I
past the house. where We saw Nine I
Grleg's face smiling sadly al US out OF
the window, down 20 the other side OF I
The water In the side Of a cliff about
fifty feet high lying about twenty-five I.
Ieet from The ground We saw a stone slab I
cemented solidly IN the cliff with the in 1
scrlptlon Edward Greg There. look 4
ing out over the beautiful lake. in the
midst OF pine trees. with only nature for 4
MS companions, the rough. rugged Nor
wegsan nature that gave him his birth
and whose beauties he made known 70 I
the world In his music-there he wished 4
20 lie. and there he lies.
Below US. on the edge Of the water.
were TWO workmeu sLOvelslE broken stone
INTO the water by the landing place. We
weE told that G-ieS wished TO be alone
there ard that was being done 10 prevent
boats from landing The slab IS about
nNe feet square Beneath il we hung the
wreath with the American coiors which
Ne took with U.s. After a half hour o~
more with Nine. Greg We walked 20 the
station ana took the train 90 town As
Te rolled oct OF the station We saw that
lonely little black figure waving a fare
well from the platform