Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1912-04-18
OF INTEREST TO
SCANDIkAv|ANS
Recent Happenings In This
Country and Abroad.
LAUOS AUGUST STRINOBERG

Writer In New York Publication Calls
Swedish Novelist One Of Greatest in
the WorId-Blind People Of Norway
Well Taken Care Of-Danish Press
Takes Great interest in Germany's
Foreign Policy.
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+ SWEDEN. +
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The greatest living writer ip the
Scandinavian North and one of the
greatest in the whole world, Is the way
Edward Bjorkman of New York char
acterizes August %Strindberg. Writing
In the Forum Of Strindberg and the
main facts of his life Mr.. Bjorkman
tells us that mo artist was ever more
personal in his choice of material,
and none more impersonal in his treat
ment of that material. Thus his life
and his art are, to an exceptional de-
gree, rendered inseparable. And
coming up through grinding poverty
and the most antipathetic surround
ings, young Strindberg's story is the
same one told by one man of genius
after another. Then, suddenly, he dis
covered that he had in him the fine
gift of poetical creation. His first
masterpiece, Master Olaf. an historical
prose drama grouped around the Luz
Their of the Swedish reformation, was
completed in 1872. Forty years of
shifting literary fashions have failed
TO sap its strength or dim its charm.
But while ii still seems great today,
even when compared with the epoch
making works of universal literature,
1t stood unique in Swedish literature
at the time of its completion-a land
mark proclaiming the inception Of a
new era. That play was rejected
scornfully and s%neeringly rejected
by the literary arbiters of the Royal
theater, then the only stage available
for the production OF such a work. No
publisher could be found for 1t. Nor
until five years later was 1t placed in
book form, and then in altered shape,
after it's author had rewritten it FIVE
times in compliance with the edict of
the critics that verse alone was suit
able to the historical drama. Strind.
berg was most unfortunate and unhap-
py in his matrimonial experiences. He
was married three times, always seek
ing and never finding peace and hap
piness in the marital relation. His
second masterpiece, a novel entitled
The Red Room established his p
tation as a writer. 1t was written un-
der the stimulus of the happiness that
came with his first marriage. In a
work subsequently published in 1884
entitled Marriage he endeavored to
present modern marriage as he saw
it-'based not on ideal claims, but on
economic Conditions 1t aroused the
opposition of even the government
and at the instigation Of the queen he
was 'criminally prosecuted not for
immortality, but for 'sacriligious treat
ment of an established religion AS
the years passed the relationship be-
tween him and his wife grew more
painful The tortdres he endured as
this grew worse have been pictured
by ~Strindberg In his photographed
novel. "A FOOLS Confession with a
minute exactness and a psychological
penetration that have probably never
been surpassed. At all times, from
his earliest youth to the present day,
Strindberg has been keenly interest
ed In every aspect of life not only as
an artist but as a thinker Also"
4. i. !.
The state church of Sweden has be-
gun on a small scale what may be
called slum work somewhat In the ma
ture of that conducted by the Saliva
ton Army, but in a different manner.
The initiative work has been started
by Rev. p. A. Wenner and a place in
Stockholm has been opened for the
support and shelter of the poor and
wretched and thus far the necessary
funds for this work have been sc
cured from private funds and dona
tions. The intention is to have some
Of the other congregations In the city
open up similar places in various sec
tons Of the city. A corps Of Sisters
of Mercy is to be trained practically
and theoretically to work among the
destitute and forsaken and minister
to their temporal and spiritual wants
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Henry Coleman May. charge daft
fairies at the American legation in
Stockholm. says: From the budget
proposals for 1913 now before the
riksdag 1t appears that the financial
position of Sweden is very strong and
ccmpares favorably with that of most
other European countries. In spite of
Increased expenditure in several de-
partments, particularly for public in
struction. no new taxation is required.
= loan of $4,000 900 is to be raised
Tor extension Of railways, telephones,
Naterpower stations. etc. about $780,
900 is to be added to the workman's
Insurance fund and $1.750.0o0 IL to be
out into the sinking fund.
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On April II. 1912. the Swedish gov.
ornment introduced a bill In parlia-
-scnt extending to women the parlia-