The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-06
WISE SAYINGS
OF HENRIK |BSEN
PosthumouS Volumes Contain
Plots of Many Plays
METHOD OF HIS WORK
First Sketch of Framework Was Con-
sidered Absolutely Necessary to
the Real Drama-Was Set
in His Ideas.


Berlin.-A publishing house has Just
issued In four volumes simultaneously
with the Norwegian edition, a complete
collection OF the posthumous writing of
Henrik Ibsen.
The volumes contain a great deal of
verse, biographical material, and sketches
Of the plots and morals of 1bsens
plays, as well as the text of the plays
as first completed, the last showing the
great Importance Ibsen attributed to care
full planning Of his plays In advance. and
to thorough revision of them. One of
the editors, Herr Julius Elias. tells q
story which illustrates Ibsen's attitude on
this question. A young dramatist came
to him and begged him to read his play.
Show me first the plan." said Ibsen.
There Is no plan." answered the author
proudly. ~ wrote 1t from scene to scene,
following my inspiration" Ibsen there
upon refused to read the play, declar-
ing that writer who did not make an
orderly plan for his drama did not know
what drama was and could not possibly
write one.
The preliminary sketch of Nora" put
to paper in Rome on October 10, 1878,
shows how clearly the figure of Nora
and her history stood out to Ibsen be-
fore he had written line of the play
of the moral of which he speaks as fol-
lows:
Pronounced Ethical Views.
There are two kinds of sriritual
laws, two kinds of conscience, one for
men and quite a different one for
women. They do not agree; but in
practical life the woman Is judged ac-
cording to the law of the man, as II
she were not a woman but a man.
=" A woman cannot be true to her
self in our modern society. which Is an
exclusively male society, with laws
written by men, and with accusers
and judges who regard women's ac-
lions from mans point of view"
The volume contain a number of
aphorisms dealing with many sides of
life, of which the following are char
acteristic:
Men of science sh ould not be al
lowed to fortune animals to death. Let
them begin with journalists and poll
ticians."
Unfortunately. our best thoughts
/ calls"
| THE conscience is not something sta
BILE. 1t varies in different individuals
and in different ages. 1t is be-
tween the out-of- date and the up-to-
date conscience that party struggles
are waged."
Wish and will. Our worst offenses
these two things
at Is said that suicide Is immoral.
But to live a long life of suicide-out
of consideration for those around
us"
There will be new nobility Not
the nobility of gold or of money, or
talent, or of knowledge. The nobility
of the future will be the nobility OF
courage and of will"
First Impressions of Life.
1sben's recollections, covering only his
early youth, contain an interesting de-
scription of his first impressions of life in
his native town of Skien II was born in
a house on the market square-the Stock
manns Guard as 1t was then called. This
building faced the front of the church.
with its high flight of steps and its fns
tower. To the right Of the church stood
the local pillory and to the left the Rath-
aus, with the prison and the lunatic asy-
lum. The fourth side of the square was
occupied by the Latin school and the
burghers' school. The church lay by
Itself in the middle. This was the first
scene that ever met my eyes. 1t was
all architecture, with nothing green; 10
country prospect into open land.
THE hatch In the church tower had
particular interest for me In my child
hoods days as 1t was thence that I re-
4
| impressions. Ny nurse one day carried me
up the tower and seated me in the OPEN
| ing In the free air, held safely In her
| faithful arms. l remember we'll how |
was struck by seeing the people under
meath from overhead; l saw into our
own rooms. saw the window frames. the
! curtains; saw my mother standing at a
window below; yes, even across the roof
| could see into the courtyard. where
our bay horse, tethered to the stable door.
whisked its tall. On the stable wall, re-
member well, hung bright tin pail.
But suddenly there was rushing, crush
ing and beckoning at our house door and
the nurse seized hold of me.
learned later that my mother had seen
me sitting In the tower hatch, that she
had screamed aloud and-as was then
the fashion-had tainted; and when she
had me back safely she cried, kissed and
caressed me- As child never crossed
the market place without looking up at
| the tower