The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-12-12
TOUCHED THE.
HEART STRINGS
SCHOLARLY NORWEGIAN OR
AToR DELIVERS ADDRESS
TO HIS couNTRYMEN

tleman, scholar hnc orator, ana
former member Of the Norwegian |
parliament delivered an addres IN
the First Methodist church last night
10 an audience that filled the place
To the many Norwegians present
the address was a notable one
many respeets--and one or more
who heard il said they would remenr
her Il all their lives, II was hlled
with Wit and humor, with much
good sense, and with many an allu'
sion TO the Norwegian homeland
The address was Of course in the
Norwegian language,
Mr. Svensen said he was glad to
see so many Of his eountrymen and
women here, and he advised none 'oi
them to return to the old country
Let the young men and the old take
out their citizenship papers, and be-
come good American citizens ne
declared. He said he knew why
they had come to this land--it was
tor bread, and being here they should
become good citizens OF the land oil
their adoption, But he said he would
be glad il they would visit back
home, for thar would be pleasant tor
those who are here and for those
who are still there,
Many, he said, had come out here
years ago and have never gone back
and he did not want them 10 think
tina, Norway has not prospered and
progressed in that time, The prob
lem OF finding bread and prosperity
for all those who are now there IS
being met, he said But LEI the
young men who are here not forget
to write back home to the old folks
MANY times, he said, he had gone
into some poor home in SINE little
village back there and found the old
folks all alone. "And where Is your
sonY' he would ask. "In America
J the answer would come. And then
. would come the sad, the very SAD
story. aNo, he does not write"
"oh, II you would only write
: would only write back TO those lone
lly old father and mothers. 1t would
give them such happiness"
: Mr. Svensen spoke OF the temper
! ance question. He told OF the tenn
; peranee question in Norway There
: the people have voted, practically, tc
c do away with drink altogether.
J. "But we want them TO be sure
we want to go slow-we want th'
people TO be sure. Therefore we vii
have one or two more elections OF
; the question, and then when we ar
IS sure we viii abolish drink" Th
e speaker declared that this question
> should not be gone at upon IN
le groundwork OF emotion He said tn
" way must first be prepared Place
:. must FIRST be prepared for those VIII
le now find in the saloon the only clu
W life, and the only social life, the
er know. He apparently did not thin
rs the wave Of prohibition that ha
1e swept over many states in III
~ country would prove Of lasting (
- real benefit, though he is an arder
ed temperance man. He seemed to |
re afraid it was merely wave of emf
ut tionalism, and that the way for pr
as hibition had not been hrst prepare
ct The way must be FIRST prepared
Astoria, also, he said. He believe
in happiness, in places for anus
IF ment and joy, in happy home III
III and when these things had be-
- found, for young men and old, th'
the saloon can be safely done avn
with. He believed in letting your
girls and young men meeting t
,oc gether in social parties, so that tn
Sc might learn to know each oth'
&c Then when they mate for life the
,4c would be less chance Of mistake.
The address was free. Mr.. Sve
oc sen goes to Seattle from here.