Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-08-03
r which was started some months

for which was started some months
ago.
Y Prof. Wilhelm Petersen spoke
in the evening on ''Bjornson, With
Norwegian History Of Literature
for Background The address was
exceedingly interesting and in spite
of the late hour the speaker was
listened to with rapt attention.
He said in part: 49,.
II first wish to correct the i'm
preston that Norway is a small
and poor country. 1t is not. Only
four other European countries are
larger, and it being true that that
country is rich in which most of
the people have enough, Norway
must be considered rich indeed.
And whatever lack there may be in
her material wealth, one must not
forget that her sons and daughters
are rich in surplus energy, natural,
physical and spiritual, and these
they have brought with them to all
corners of the earth, always plac-
ing them on the side Of justice and
righteousness.
1.-The poets of Norway have al
ways taken an active part in every
line of progress, but this is espe-
cially true Of Wergeland in the first
half of the century and Bjornson
during the second half. Bjornson
was the most typical Norwegian
that ever lived. He embodied as
no one else the great qualities,
mental and moral, of the country
in which he lived. Like Verge:
land, he was thoroly hated and as
thoroly loved. And like his dis
tinguished predecessor. he was also
one of the greatest, if not the
greatest factor, in establishing Nor
way as free and independent ma
tion."
Prof. Petersen showed how
Bjornson developed as poet, H.
Illustrating this by means of reading
a number of extracts from his writ
ings. He also urged all Of Norwe-
gian descent to study Bjornson as
we'll as other Norwegian poets and
writer's, saying that they would
find an inexhaustible fountain of
literary gems.
Preceding Prof. Pettersen's ad-
dress Mr.. Martin E. Tew made a
few remarks regarding the chautau-
qua movement generally, and the
one established here in particular.
His talk was brief. but emphatic
and to the point. He said in part:
II am sure you all feel thankful
for having had the privilege of lis
tening to the intellectual and must
cal feast which is now about to
close. feel certain also that you
appreciate the thought and time
which the members of the commit
tee have put forth to make this as
sembly a success. | trust the as
sembly has come to stay. 1t will
be one of the greatest educational
factors in this, section of the coun-
try and it deserves your most gen.
erous patronage"
The program this year was the
best first-year program | have ever
seen in my experience on the fchau-
tauqua platform. And considering
the season of the year the support
given the assembly was good. The
future of the assembly will depend
upon the people of Willmar, Kan
diyohi and neighboring counties.
The location is an ideal one, every
speaker Of note appearing on the
program just closed uniting in
praising the beautiful surroundings
and the equipment. Let US pull to-
gether to make next years assemb-
ly better than this year, and the
program and the attendance the
following year still better. We
can do it if we want to, and we
surely want to. In no better way
can we exemplify our motto, "WiIl-
mar Will VIM"
The special features of the dav,
under the supervision Of E. C. We'll
lin, came off as planned, and that
they added much enjoyment to the
program of the day is saying the
very least. The parade formed at
two o'clock. It Was headed by OIof
Railson representing St. Olaf, and
J. B. Boyd, dressed in the costume
of Erick Bloodaxe, prominent fig
ure in the early history of Norway.
Then came the band and the float
bearing 26 girls dressed in costumes
of Norwegian peasant girls. with
Mrs. C Neuberger dressed as
Valkyria in the center. These
were followed by citizens in autos
and carriages. When the process
sion reached the gates to the
grounds, boat fixed up so as to
represent Olaf's ship "Ormen
LANCE" lifted anchor and accom-
panied the procession around the
beach. The men in the ship then
landed and marched to the audi
torium. The viking ship was
rugged up by Albert Lund, John
Skoolheim, O. A. jacobson and Con-
rad istianson, and was manned