Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-11-27
NORWAY.

Even some of the great American
newspapers have commenced to dis
cuss the Norwegian language ques-
ton. Their information is apt to lean
this way or that way, according to the
side taken by the party furnishing the
information. Prof. G. Bothne of the
University of Minnesota puts the mat
ter as impartially as can be done by
any man who has himself taken sides.
He says: "The existing official Ian
guage, the Riksmaal. dating back to
the time of the union with Denmark,
more than 400 years ago, is modifica-
ton of the Danish, brought about by
the influence of environment. 1t has
taken new forms, and is today differ
ent In many ways from the language
of Denmark. However, a movement
has grown up In Norway, as in Ireland,
for not revival only, but restoration OF
the national language. The Riksmaal
is the language Of the realm while
the Landsmaal means the language of
the land Norway Is occupied by two
rival linguistic camps. Back in 1853
the Norwegian philologist, liver Aasen,
invented the Landsmaal. He based 1t
on the old Morse literary language, the
language of the Sagas-and the Eddas,
the language of the Icelandic classes,
embodying also the best features OF
the dialects spoken in certain dis
tricts Of Norway, mostly in the west.
that more nearly approaches the old
literary tongue. Many of the dialects
of Norway have retained the essence
of the language before the Danish
union. The language that Aasen
evolved had wide appeal to his coun'
trymen, and has been growing in pop
ularity to the extent that its adoption
officially as on an equal footing with
the Riksmaal has become a national
issue. do not say that this issue
amounts to superseding of the Riks-
maal and the abandoning of 1t. The
successful party IN the national cleo
tions last year Mad in it's platform
paragraph calling for the recognition
vi NuG lAdhuSuiddtt hC RiOo-
fdent of the Storthing is a Landsmaal
advocate and uses the language In pre-
siding over that body, but majority
of the Storthing use the other tongue.
The difference is not SO great that
each faction cannot understand the
other. In fact, the Landsmaal has
been taught In the high schools Of the
country for years along with the Riks.
maal, and elementary schools that de-
sired to teach 1t have been doing so,
as such matters are left to local de-
cision. An extensive literature has
sprung up in Landsmaal. OF about &c
periodicals In Norway. newspapers,
magazines, etc. only about 20 use the
Landsmaal."
l.. s. Swenson, who has just re-
turned from long stay in Norway as
United States minister to that coun-
try, gave his impression of the mate
rial progress of the Norwegian people
in the following terms: Visitors to
the centennial exposition next year
may be disappointed in missing some
OF the great scenic features of Norway.
The finest waterfalls In Norway have
been harnessed for industry by the
great development enterprises of
which Samuel Eyde, the Norwegian
Morgan, is the head. Many places
which former residents of Norway re-
member as beauty spots would not
be recognized now. New Industrial
towns are springing up in Norway just
as they have done in our western
states, and where once there was moth
ing but tourist hotel, now there is
thriving city" Mr.. Swenson cited the
Rjukan-fos, one OF the greatest falls In
Norway, which has been entirely d.
verted. Two manufacturing plants use
100000 horsepower developed there.
At Saaheim Ia a new manufacturing
town and at Odda, In Hardanger.
where once was only big tourist no
tel. now there is fast growing manu-
featuring city. The last storthing
granted to an English concern the wa.
ter right at Aura. In Romsdalen, which
Is already being developed and will be
one of the greatest of waterpowers.
The work has even been carried to
leading mountain lakes out of the
mountains In Hardanger and else
where, bringing the water down
through tunnels to drive turbines The
power is largely used to manufacture
from the rocks and the air variety of
fertilizers. carbides and chemicals un-
der the Eyde-Bergan patents. Norway's
shipping facilities so convenient to the
power makes 1t the ideal place for this
development. English and French cap
ital are behind 1t.
At Stjernero Is a married couple
who began housekeeping 33 years ago.
They are still using the lamp bought
at the time of their marriage, not even
the chimney having been broken The
name crockery is still in use. A coffee
cup was cracked at the rim long ago,
but wire was put around 1t, and 1t is
still doing service.
About 100000 copies of the works of
Bjornson. Ibsen, Lie and Kjelland
have been sold in few months and
now new popular edition is to be
published.
The farmers of Norway are going to
keep an unusually large amount of
stock during the winter, expecting
that the 25.G00 Observation-Disclosures
who are going to make n call next wear
will consume much reat. BY the way,
the farmers of the country are increas-
ing the beef OUTPUT SO rapidly that 1t
seems to be only question of time
when they can supply tho demand.
Over 10000 persons stopped at the
stalheim mountain hotel last season,
as many as 500 taking dinner at the
same time.