Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1914-04-17
N0RWECIANS TO CELEBRATE
TOOTH ANNIVERSARY OF AD0p-
TON OF CONsTIruTroN-Ar
STATE FAIR GRouNDs

" AAeI, norway was
ceded to Sweden following the over
tnrow OF Napoleon with whom an alli-
a anee mad been formed by the King OF
uenmark with which Norway had been
anited Tor almost 500 years. The Nor
weglans' when the anti-Napoleonic
powers gave Norway to Sweden, held
a convention at Eidsvold and planned
to safeguard their riohts as a nation.
This convention adopted constitu.
tlon winch declared Norway to be A
tree and Independent kingdom and
which established Representative
government for the country.
Ih1s constitution was sipned IN
Nay II, 1914, and since then the dav
nas oeen observed as a national holi
gay, Norwegian Fourth of july. Nav
1th next will mark the one hundreth
year OF the existence Of this constitu-
tlon and will be celebrated by Nor
"eglans all over the world. i
for nearly hundred years Norway
and Sweden were united under thc
same king, but in 1905 Norway with
urew from this agreement and since
then mas been pursuing her DESTINY un-
der king of her own, the same con-
stltutlon still remaining the sunreme
law OF the country.
This year the great celebration of
the day in the United States will ho
held at the Minnesota State Fa;r
Grounds, midway between ST. paul
and Minneapolis. There are nract;ca1.
ly million and half American cit;-
zens Of Norwegian birth or descent in
the United States and this celebra.
I,on Will De the principal one held in
the United States. -
Ine initiative in the celebration in
Amerca has been taken by the "Bys-
oe1ass, organizations of persons who
trace their origin from some particular
clvlc or geographic division of Nor
way, similar to our states or countries.
Ihere are now organized some thirty
OF these organizations representing
practically every portion of Norway.
These organizations have combined
Tor the great celebration at the Fair
Grounds. There will be a three day
celebration. Saturday the 18th will
be devoted to meetings Of the various
Bygdelags' concluding with gen
eral meeting and a display Of fre-
works in the evening. On the 18th,
Sunday, the exercises will be of a
character beftting the day. A number
Of bishops Of the Church Of Norway
will be present and will conduct
religious services. In the evening
great concert will be held in one of
the largest buildings on the grounds.
On Monday the great civic celebra-
ton will be held. Hon. II. Bryn, Nor
wegian minister TO the United STATES,
has been specially delegated to repre-
sent the. Norwegian government at
this meeting and will bring. message
from Norway. An attempt is being
made to induce President Wilson to
attend the meeting and he has prom
ised that if he is unable to be present
he will send a representative of the
government, probably Vice-President
Marshall. There will also be present
a number Of governors, members Of
congress and other distinguished
people from all over the states that
have large Norwegian populations.
Senator Knute Nelson Of Minnesota,
who was born in Norway, will probably
act as chairman at the great celebra-
tion exercises and many other promi-
nent men of the Northwest will take
part.
The railroads are making special
preparations to handle the people who
will attend the celebration and it 1s
expected that from 10000 to $4,000
men, women and children who are
proud Of their Norwegian blood will be
present.