The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-05-18

The Norwegians of North Dakota
and northwestern Minnesota, not at
tending either the big centennial cele-
pfatlons In Christiania or Minneapolis
are in the cities Of Fargo and Moor
neao celebrating the centenary of the
independence Of Norway Appropriate
exercises began yesterday afternoon
end will continue until tonight.
On May II. the storthing at Eidsvold
eIected It's own king, thereby showing
the peoIie Of Norway would not sub
init to the allied kingdoms of Europe
uictating to them any longer.
On May IL the constitution was
signed. And to commemorate the
Geeds of that day 100 years ago, the
Norwegian descendants in this coun-
try are holding big jubilees and cere-
Tnonies.
Decorate WergeIand's Statue.
The celebration began yesterday aft
srnoon at Island park when the Nor
wegian aud Jewish peoples of the COM
nlunity decorated the statue of Henrik
Wergeland, the famous Norwegian
bard whose efforts and verse were di-
rected towa'd opening the portals Of
his native land to the semetic race. o..
The Norwegian constitution OF 1914
prohibited the admission of Jews into
Norway. Through the efforts of Hen
Ttk Wergeland. this constitutional bar
rler was removed, and today this great
Eorsk poet is highly revered by He
brews in sill parts of the world.
At the ceremonies before the Wer-
were made Ly Prof. Guy r. Vowles Of
Fargo college and Ben Lesk, well
known attorney of Lawrence & Muir
ply. Professor Vowles, though an
American, is exceptionally proficient
in the Scandinavian languages and de-
aivered an address on the life of Wer-
geland ths: war highly appreciated by
all the Norwngians at the ceremony.
Mr.. Lesk is president of the local or
der of B'Nai Birth. In behalf of the
Jewish people OF the city, he paid a
beautiful tribute to the great Norwe-
gian and laid wreath on the statue
of the poet. In speaking of the bard
half Of the Jews, Mr.. Lesk said in
part:
Lesk's Tribute.
''The familiar adage that the pen is
mightier than tho sword is aptly illus
trated in thu life of this patriot. Hen
Eik Wergeland was born on June IL
1SGs, at Chr;stiansand, Norway. His
father was one of the leading clergy
men OF the country, a man Of strong
personality, descended from hardy
GARNER stock, and was one of the in
dluantial members of the convention
which at Eidsvold framed and adopted
the constitution of 1914, and he re-
Amained throughout his life an ardent
advocate OF political liberty.
"Wergeland's mother was woman
lof cultivation and refinement. Thus
hhe home in which Wergeland grew up
was one that encouraged in him the
development Of that freedom OF spirit
and humanitarian ideas which formed
the underlying principle Of his writ"
dngs and his life.
HE entered the university at the
early age OF II to study for the minis
try. However, he was not always the
best OF students and entered freely
with boy!sh enthusiasm into the
.oranks and frolics Of the student body.
However. IN four years he graduated
and was eligible to a charge in the e7-
as near as he ever came to being a
clergyman. His radical opinions and
corcible manner of expressing himself
both in word and action. and his utter
disregard OF conventionality repeated
ay blocked his way. Despalrtng OF ind
ing a livelihood in the church, he fin
ally began the study of medicine. But
this plan he also abandoned in order
TO devote himself exclusively to liter
Ature. Later he accepted a position
connected with the state library.
Norway at that time presented a
I6ifferent picture from what 1t does to-
hday. A new era had dawaed, ushered
din by the great events In 1914. put Gil Ihe
Ecountry was still In it's infancy. The
kpeople were still unaccustomed to the
Exercise of political functions and Were
carefully feeling their way. IN the
matter of culture Norway was still
backward, but there wassa genuine de:
(@ire for education. The proresslonal
Bcjasses wers the intellectual and pollt-
EicaI leaders. At the same time. how
lever. the common people, the farmers
l,aqan TO assert themselves as an in
Ffegral part OF the body polite.
aThe main ambition was to deyelop
NORWAY on original lines, to produce
fsomething with root in its own soil
Maeager though that might pe. bu -
lvet this movement had no recognized
lSaader In literature. Such were the
Ernnditions when, in 1926, Wergelano
lentered the university as student al
20 sY4e I wrote on various topics and his
works covered a wide range: bu,
throughout all he was untfring in his
Eefforts to improve the lot of the hum
lb.a TIis name was associated WIFI
kevarvthing which stood for patriotism
Es.rneress and the uplifting of human.
k9y RE devoted himself to the task o.
E}nculcating in the hearts OF MS coun-
Ifryrnen a love for their lnstitutlons
mT
ss.,a nd wide throughout the length
land breadth of the land. couching ms
NJ rings in many instances In ordinary
aanguage and dialect 50 az to be n,o oettei
1T,ife in any form was sacred TO MN
when he found the constitution O
Norway contained prohipltloI
against the admission Of Jews, MS love M
az humanity and freedom was @ tos
great to see a race discrinlnaese e
AGAINST. and he fought arduousiy ps
word and pen for ten long years %
axpunge this provision from the con.
Istitution of Norway. And when M ny
sfforts were finally rewarded and the
rates of norway thrown open to tns
Jews, he, had been called by his MAX
er.
AS d tribute In honor of the great
work he did in their behalf, the jews
pf Europe erected over his grave IN
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