The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1909-03-04

Paper Read Before the Chautauqua Circle.
"HE author of this paper does
not feel inclined to. deal with
his subject in literary, scie lti-
fic or even semi-learned way.
In his opinion neither he nor his audi
ence would profit by dry, scientific
essay upon a subject SO foreign to
everything that even smells of pedantic
style and a mechanical vocabulary.
Probably he also feels little some
thing of personal inability and the lack
ing of the right kind of qualification.
His education is iml erfect and his
knowledge limited.
Therefore let me roam at random,
please, on the boarder of this won
derful paradise; this elysian garden OF
the highest and nOblest human Ideals
and the purest human sentiments.
Aud if the sights have seen, and the
melodies have heard, and the roses
have picked can lie conJured before
your inner senses so you.can, even but
with your subconscious selves, he re-
moved from your present surroundings
for short space of time, and be made
to forget all and everything of the sad
and dark side of our lives; forget the
weak Wills, the wavering hearts, the
broken minds and the tottering feet,
that led me and you astray, and brought
us here. then will be more than amp
ly rewarded.
Aristotle called the art OF poesy
mimesls, a Creek word, that metaphorl-
cally means speaking picture, the
aim of which is to teach and delight.
NV only wish in writing this paper
is to delight you, if / can. The
teaching part l desire to leave alone,
be(aase | do not feel myself CON-
petent for such a task; neither DO l
harbor the vain delusion that l am
master of learning among you, and
you consequently my unlettered pupils.
suppose will have to say some-
thing about the art of poesy or my
whole paper will be devoted mainly to
the Introductory lart of my subject,
and be sharing in the same tate that
befell certain minister l once WAS ac-
ouainted with, who, among others. was
to deliver a sermon on certain oc-
casion. He was known to be very
dry and long-drawn speaker upon any
subject; and he always had memo
randa of his sermons made out In SO
MANY parts and literas, heade with an
introduction IL at usually was whole
sermon in itself. On the occasion re-
ferrei to each speaker was allotted
thirty minutes time, and he was the
very first one to speak. The president
of the meeting was to sound siive
bell when time was up. The dear min
lister started as usual to notify hi
audience that the subject of his choic'
would be dealt with in three parts, ant
that he would introduce his lecture
with the following remarks based upol
that and that scripture text, etc. well
he introduced all right enough and KEEP
on introducing, but before he was thr
with his Introduction the bell sounded
And there he was. According to tn
rules of the meeting he had to stop an
leave the platform. lie vas down an
out.
very we'll remember how sat spell
bound listening, as q mere child, to m
father when he recited from the nj
tional epics of our forefathers, tn
old Norsmen, the literary poetlc'
treasures of which are called the eld'
and younger Edda. But the poems m
father recited from these grand poet
cal works were translated into o,
present socalled Norwegian languag
which is not the Norwegian languai
at all. but Danish. Our nation, in cor
mon with so many others under Iii
conditions when subjugated by
stronger people for any length OF tim
lost it's mother tongue under its u
fortunate union with Denmark, uni'
that lasted about four hundred yea
The same fate befell the old Britons
England and the old Irish race in Il
land. The real and original NorWegi
language is now spoken and WRIT
by handful of people inhabiting
icebound island far out in the northe