The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-03-24

- SesAesSASA SoihkAAttSC- a. y AhAAiSAPoA
voter, city councilman, jurynlan and
member Of taxation committees, the
Norwegian woman has acquitted her
self creditabiy. Her municipal vote
has done a great deal to minimize
the drink curse in the country. for
she has taken full advantage Of the To-
cal option Law and has driven the
dfVekeeperS out of business so far
as 1t lay in her power to do SO. The
Influence of the feminine municipal
councillors has been exerted in the
same direction, and also has proved
instrumental in improving the santa
tion OF the cities and the hygienic con-
ditions of the home. AS jurymen the
Norwegian women have been particu-
larry severe In cases where member
OF their sex has been maltreated or
assaulted, in some case actually rec
Ommending such drastic punishment
that no one ever can point to excess
I've emotiOnalism In the weaker sex"
as being bar sinister to her giving
an Impartial hearing to case in
which she may be acting as a member
OF a jury, On taxation committees,
too. the women Of Norway have proved
themselves 10 be capable and cOnsci-
entiOus, performing their duties with
out fear or favor. Not long ago a case
came up before the Norwegian courts
in which husband sought to upset
his wife's official dictum. The man
in question complained that he had
been eXorbitantly taxed by the taxa
ton committee of which his own bet
ter half was the chairman. The
presiding judge, after inquiring into
the case, agreed with the husband
and reduced the amount of the taxes
which his wife's committee had in
fiicted upon him
A recent number of Scandenayen
gives the following brief report Of the
death Of Missionary Skrefsurd, which
comes by way of Christiana. The in
formation was sent to Norway by Mis-
siOnary Bedding, a co-labOrer in the
same field. Bedding had visited his
home country during the past summer
and returned to the mission field on
the 10th of last November. One of
the first ones to welcome him back
was Brother Skrefsrud, who seemed
to be in unusual good. health and
spirits. Ii was not until Dec. 9 that
Skrefsrud showed any signs of indis-
position. This was on Friday. On
Saturday he was still around and at
tending to his usual work On Sunday
he was taken with a fever. and soon
OF the same day. Dec. IL, he fell
asleep. On the following day the re.
mains were taken to the mission
church where services were held and
where Missionary Bedding preached
the funeral sermon. He was buried
by the side OF his co-laborer Borresen,
who assisted in the organization of
the Santal mission. At the grave was
sung one of the hymns which Skrefs-
rud had translated into the Santal Ian
guage. 1t will be remembered that
Missionary Skrefsrud made visit to
this country some years ago and the
stirring addresses he made in those
days in the interest of foreign mis-
sions will no doubt be recalled by
many who heard him. He will always
be remembered moi only as most
faithful and devoted missionary, but
also for his work in translatiug the
Bible into the Santal language and in
making a collection of the literature
of that people.
The stockholders OF the Norwegian
Americas Steamship company held
their annual business meeting Feb
To- in Christiania. Many changes
have taken place in the organization
during the few months in which it has
been in existence. But those who at
tended the meeting were convinced
that the venture will eventually be
paying one. Consul Hobe of St
Paul, the only American member OF
the board OF directors, resigned be
cause the laws Of Norway prevent q
foreign citizen from holding such n
position.
Recent Investigations have shown
that there are 100000 acres of boys
in Norway that can be drained and
made tillable. This is about 100000
acres more than the land under cult
walton in the whole country. In the
western part OF the country some OF
the boys are close TO the sea. In
Romsdal is II settlement that could
support twice the present population
by draining marsh of 700 acres.
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