Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-08-13
NORWAY.


Franklin B. Gunther, secretary of
the American legation, has given out
the following statement regarding al
legations made by Norwegian papers
that he assaulted the harbor master
OF Christiania when that official or
dered the steam yacht Pauline on
which Mr.. Gunther was guest, to
shift her anchorage. THE occurrence
in question grew out OF the apparent
great anger and violent attitude Of
a Norwegian harbor police Official be-
cause an English yacht had anchored
In certain location in the harbor.
A prominent Norwegian gentleman
and myself were guests OF an Ameri-
can gentleman and his wife aboard the
vessel. My sole connection with the
affair was that ] insisted that an
American invalid lady on board should
not be frightened and insulted by the
conduct OF the official, who unexpect-
eddy climbed aboard while the lady's
husband, who had chartered the ves-
sci, had gone ashore. There was no
physical clash between myself and the
official. and the interruptions public
ex parte statements as to improper Ian
guage having been used by me are
absolutely false. I was informed by
the captain Of the vessel that he was
perfectly willing at all times to COM
ply with the harbor regulations. How
ever, my Official position prevents me
from giving the facts or expressing my
opinion regarding the conduct of the |
official have declined to deny or
comment upon statements appearing
In the Christiania papers and feel con-
fident that the Norwegian authorities
viii take proper cognizance of the
offense to myself and the others
A bad joke has been played on the
language reformers, or champions of
the Norwegian dialect language, by
son Of one of their leaders. .Jorgen
Lovland, president OF the storthing,
is always pointed to as a shining ex-
ample Of man who speaks the Nor
wegian tongue pure and unadulter-
ated in the royal palace and the
halls OF the storthing as well as in
the hut OF the lowliest farmer. This
mans son was to make a speech at
Voss. To the dismay of the language
reformers he used the common Nor
wegian- Danish language. He had to
explain his offense. But this only
made matters worse. for his explana-
ton was this: THE Norwegian-Dan
ish riksmaal has been my natural Ian
guage. Only after staying for some
length of time In settlement where
good Norwegian dialect is spoken,
shall find It natural to express my
self in Norwegian. And then, OF course,
l shall take up that tongue as my
everyday language" The newspapers
are not only poking fun at young Low
land. but they call attention to the
well known fact that President Low
land himself. though farmers son,
uses poor and unnatural language
when he occupies the chair as presi.
dent OF the storthing.
The "mindegave" memorial gift)
of about $4,000 from Norwegian.
Americans. was presented to the stor-
thing July 4 by Prof. H. G. Stub OF
the Luther seminary. st. Paul Doc
tor Stub possesses all the require
ments for such an occasion, and In
voice which easily reached most of
the large multitude. he spoke In
dignified and scholarly way OF the az.
nd oh
which has prompted the Norwegian
people In America to come bearing
this gift. II was concrete manifesto.
ton of all they felt they owed Moth.
er Norway for what she had been to
them as mother. They present II
with their greetings. and the earnest
hope that the new generations may be
Of the same blood and spirit as the
generations of 1914, and that all those
essential qualities. intellectual. moral
and religious, may go to make peo.
pie truly great, may be united In the
Norwegian people. The president OF
the storthing. Mr.. Loveland, accepted
the folio containing the address and
the gift. on behalf Of the storthing.
About 10000 children attend the
Sunday schools Of Norway. The girls
are more apt to attend than the boys,
the latter being greatly devoted to
outdoor sports.
The Scandira avian East African
steamship line, which was started last
year, Is doing good business. Only
small steamers were used at first, but
now 5000 ton vessel has just been
put in commission. The freight con.
sists mainly Of cement. timber, canned
fish and meat, condensed milk. beer,
hardware. and agricultural machinery.
A factory is to be built at Drammen
for the production OF alcohol from
the waste lye from the cellulose fac.
tories. 1t is estimated that 5,000.00
gallons OF alcohol goes to waste from
the 100000 tons OF cellulose produced
in Norway. II. Landmark is the in.
ventor Of the method of extracting the
alcohol.
Washington.-At the instance of Sen.
ator Lewis, the president has ar.
ranged for the appointment Of A. A.
Anderson Of Evanston, ILL.,. to be Unit.
ed States consul at Christiania.