The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-10-01
BURIED IN NORWEGIAN WILDS.
Grieg, Famous Composer, Picks Scene of
Life's Labor as Final Resting Place.

While we were in Bergen we were in
vited out to 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 to the big gate leading
through the garden we were shown a big
tree where Grieg always had sign in
four languages, reading, MIR. Edward
Grleg is not at home to any one before
| p. M" You know he was a sick man,
and he was so, bothered by tourists that
he found it necessary to protect himself
that way. Nine. Grieg received us in
the big Ivlng room, which loving friends
had fairly filled with blooming plants for
her first lonely homecoming, the day be-
fore. Naturally she was very sad, but
as we were all friends who had known
and loved Grieg it 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-
ception of Nine. Grieg, went to visit the
| little house where Grieg did most of
his composing. We had to descend steps
and winding walks until at the end of
| the big garden ON the edge Of the lake
we came to a plain little house consist
ing of one room, the ''holy of holies."
Opposite the door was one large Win
dow. in front of which stood a plain
deal table with a small armchair and a
footstool. On the table were his pens
and pencils, pot of glue, blotter, paper
weight-everything that he used. The
whole room had the air Of being left
only for short while and Of waiting
for his return. On each side of the
window was place for set of shelves,
where he kept his scores. BY the door
was another set of Shelves, where were
all his manuscripts. l asked if it were
not dangerous to leave his original
works SO unprotected. | was told that
the Norwegian folk are so honest that
no one would think of taking them.
As an example of Grieg's humOr we
We're 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 my
manuscripts, which are of interest to
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 q little old
cracked upright piano that he. said was
good enough to compose on"
| From there we went across the gar
den, past the house, where we saw Nine.
| Grieg's face smiling sadly at us out Of
the window down to the other side OF the
water. In the side of a cliff about Do
feet high lying about % feet from the
ground we saw stone slab cemented
solidly in the cliff with the inscription
Edward Grieg.'' There, looking out
over the beautiful lake, in the midst OF
pine trees, with only nature for his COM
panions, the rough, rugged Norwegian
nature that gave him his birth and whose
beauties he made known to the world
in his music-there he wished to lie, and
there he lies.
Below us, on the edge of the water,
were two workmen shoveling broken
stone into the water by the landing
place. We were told that Grieg wished
to be alone there, and that was be-
ing done to prevent boats from landing.
The slab is about ) feet square. Be
meath it we hung the wreath with the
American colors which we took with US.
After a half hour or more with Nine.
Grieg we walked to the station and
took the train to town. AS we rolled out
of the station we saw that lonely little
black figure waving farewell from the
MISUNDERSTANDING News.