Willmar tribune., 1909-01-06
NORWAY.

The total imports Ct Sweden in 1907
were $1S4.170,000, and the total ex-
ports Sal, 900.
1t is proposed to have an exposition
in Kristiania in 1914, in connection
with the celebration of the one hund-
redth anniversary Of the independence
of Norway.
Mrs. Oselia Bjornson, daughter
in-law of the great poet, was once a
very popular opera singer. A few years
ago she withdrew from the stage be-
cause she thought she was getting
too old. A few nights ago she sang
at concert in Kristiania and did so
we'll that her friends advise her to
return to the stage.
1t is now explained how it happened
that Selma Lagerlof did not get the
literary Nobel prize. Six members OF
the academy voted for her, six voted
Tor Swinburne, and only five voted Tor
Eucken. But the Eucken men worked
so hard that they finally came out
ahead although IL out of II were
against him at the start. The Swedish
academy was not popular before max
ing this choice, and now they are
going down, down, in the esteem Of
the Swedish people.
The monument of N. n. Abel. the
great mathematician, which was put
up in Kristiania few weeks ago, is
queer thing. 1t is extremely SYM
bolic, and common people wha are
unable to grasp the spirit III the
phenomenon think it is simply ugly.
This sentiment has gained so much
ground that the monument has given
rise to brand new eplthet of abuse
Instead Of saying, "go home, you ugly
old thing!" kristiania boy of the
expiring, and of the year 1908, is very
apt to say, go home and get to bed,
you Abel monument"
A society for the preservation OF
the Norwegian-Danish book language
has been organized at Stenkjat, few
miles north of Trondhjen, and 800
persons Joined in a short time. The
movement is gaining ground particu-
larly in settlements where the Norwe-
gian dialect language has been intro
duced in the schools. It is character
istic Of the situation in this part of
Norway that the language reformers
are losing ground after their language
has been tried in the schools. This is
what might be expected. What may
be called "pure" Norwegian is really
an artificia; patchwork of dialects
spoken mainly in southwestern Nor
way, and tens of thousands of people
in northern and eastern Norway will
strike so many words in it which they
do not understand that it spoils the
benefit OF what they do understand.
The ,Stavanger Total Abstinence So
ciety has proposed the appointment
of committee by the stOrting to re-
port on the question of national pro-
hibition Of the liquor traffic, which
the temperance people demand and
which they expect in the near future.
Knut Hamsun has written a new
book, and the first edition of 1000
copies was practically sold out before
it was ready from the press.
The city council of Fredrikstad re-
solved by vote of ~ to "a to fur
nish stationery free of charge to tho
public schools.
The government of France will not
permit the publication, on the Paris
bourse, Of the latest loan of the Nor
wegian Hypotekbank. This peculiar
action on the part of the French gov
ernment is said to be due to the fact
that the temperance movement In Nor
way has very materially cut dow0 the
imports Of French wines.
There was a heavy snowfall on the
Bergen railway Dec. z, and two 70
tary snow plows were kept busy.
The people Of Kristiania have con-
tributed $4,000 to the Michelsen :op
mortal fund