The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-04-30
bJ0RNS0N IS DEAD
NOUS MORSE DRAMATlsT
LOSES BATTLE WITH
ILLNESS,
WINNER OF NOBEL PRIZE
Was Known as Social Refornner and
Played Large Part in Movement
Which Brought Separation Of His
Country From Sweden.

Paris, April 2S.-Bjornsterne Bjorn.
son, the Norwegian poet, novelist and
dramatfst, reformer and advocate of
universal peace. died here surrounded
by his family. His end was peaceful.
The last serious illness of the nov
elist extended over nearly a year.
He was brought to Paris in the early
part of last November for special treat
ment. He was accompanied by his
wife and daughter, a physician and
nurse, and during part Of the journey
he travelled with the king of Denmark
in the kings private car.
In Paris, however, he was unable to
receive the treatment for arterio-
sclerosis from which he was suffering.
but notwithstanding this he showed
marked improvement for time. due
entirely to his wonderful vitality. Last
February his death was expected mo-
mentarily, but the crisis passed, leav-
ing him less able to Withstand the
next attack During the last week it
was apparent that he could not hold
out much longer and prior to his death
he was unconscious for some hours.
Sketch of His Career.
Bjornstjerne Bjornson was born in
northern Norway December 8, 1882.
1t was soon after he left college that
Bjornson won his first success in lit
erature. He composed a historic
drama that was accepted for repre-
sentation by the directors of the
Royal theater at Christiania.
He already as a boy and youth had
STEPPED his mind in the old Morse and
Icelandic saga literature He had
tried his hand at literary composition
of a lighter sort and had published
stories and tales and dramatic criti-
cisms in the Folkeblad of Christiania
and other journals.
BY the time he was "a years old he
had become leader among the young
men of the Norwegian capital; for in
the year 1856, by means of series of
inf1ammatory and derisive articles In
the newspapers, and by organizing a
large band Of faithful followers, he
was instrumental in largely driving
away from the Norwegian stage the
Danish actors, whose presence there
and influence there were an offense
against his esthetic sense and his pa
triotism.
Career as Social Reformer.
For two years, from 1857 to 1859,
Bjornson was director of the theater
at Bergen, and afterward he held the
same position twice or thrice at Chris
tiania. He was a journalist and an ed
itor both in Christiania and in Copen-
hagen. But the profession he pre-
ferred to describe himself as follow
ing was that of farmer.
Bjornson played prominent part
in bringing about the separation OF
Norway from Sweden.
Bjornson in 1903 received the Nobel
prize for literature. His works trans
lated into English are "Synnore Sol
bakken," "Arne," "A Happy Boy"
1.-THE Bridal March," The Fisher
Lass" Captain Mansanna," "Magn-
hild," I'm Gods Way" 1.-The Heritage
of the Kurts," 'She Gauntlet" and
Pastor Sang"
State Funeral Is Ordered.
Christiania, Norway, April 2S-Eyi-
dences of mourning for Bjornstjerne
Bjornson are universal. King Haakon
and Queen Maud have telegraphed
their condolences to the widow. The
storthing met and decided on state
funeral and Immediately afterward adj
journed as an evidence of public grief
All the theaters were closed.
WarshIp to Convey Body.
Copenhagen, Denmark, April 49,
A Norwegian warship has been or
dered to be in readiness to transport
the body of Bjornstjerne Bjorson to
Christiania The body will be brought
here Saturday and will be borne in a
procession through the principal