Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-06-24
Christiaaia, June /, 1914

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Dear Friends
1t occurs to me that you may be
interested in reading something of
our Norway trip. We sailed from
New York on the Kristianiafjord"
promptly at three o'clock, Tuesday.
May 9Th, with twelve-hundred pas
sengers and a crew of two hundred
and seventy.
Owing to unsettled weather our
voyage was not as pleasant as we
should have liked. OF course on
the northern route rough, rainy
weather must be expected at this
season. Still the courtesies we re-
ceived at the hands of the crew
made this trip very enjoyable,
We had a personal letter to Cap
tain Hjordahl, who showed us ev-
cry possible consideration. By the
way, Captain Hjordahl was in the
japanese service during the Russian
war and is regarded as being oIe
of the best military men in the
world as we'll as fine navigator.
1t was he who carried to Japan.
General Stossil, the man who sur
rendered Port Arthur. .,,., ,..,,,
Our neighbors in the next cabin,
on the "Kristiapiafjord were Mr..
and Mrs. u. P. Nelso.i of Chicago.
with their three G.. lldren. maid. and
chauffeur. Mr.. Nelson took, with
him to the old country, two autos;
This is, quite a contrast to his con-
dition forty years ago. He, told US
that when he landed in New, York
he did not have a cent, but he went
to work in a piano factory and has
risen steadily until he is now a
manufacturer OF these instruments,
located in Chicago This, certainly.
goes to show what industry and
thrift will do for one.
When we had been at sea three
days we received wireless adyis-
ing us that we were in the way of
! icebergs, so we were compelled to
take the southern route, thence we
sailed around north of Scotland ald
landed at Bergen six hours late.
In Bergensfiord we were MET BY
upwards of two hundred steamers.
tugs, and row boats, and fully 1--WE
thousand people, including the
United Singers of Bergen and a.
fine military band. 1t was great
and inspiring sight, Certainly, the
Norwegians gave their American
brothers and sisters "a warm, hearty
weIcomen1cf sTaft !r.hEE etvo see
Early Friday morning we took
the train for = chfistiania,V arriving
there at 'iO-1snih the evening. Our
sccomodations were fine, the Aobsef
( t'atioh1 car which we shared With
Pastors Stub and atDahie, Forenhen
Of the Synod and the United chur-
ohes. Dir. Hanson Of the iHauge
church, Mrs. fIobe, wife of Consul
Hobe. and her daughter Dr. and
Mrs stabo,h Mr.f and Mrs. e. n.y.
Weiser, was as good as iany ssfi
America and htheh dining service
Vas { betfer.. r..srhsg sis. { 4 :. An.EG.Gs
On the traih' met Mr. LovEand.
son Of the PRESIDENT Of storthing.
"a most cultured gentleman. VINO
Spoke English very tiuently.. his
Family, Of course stands very'ihigh
in Norway. 'iThey are great advo-
cates OF the language that is spo-
ken in the interior Landsmaal ''sIt
was the elder Loveland who first
dared to speak it to the King! This
family leads the military parity IA
Ivoring a larger army and navy'cthe
fear being that Russia, in the event
| of war between England and Ger
many, would attempt to take Nor
way. Personally. do not believe
there is any such danger, as Russia
has about all she can do at home.
| Then again, France and the United
States would not stand for such an
action on her part. However, there
are many military sympathizefs
here. ~ z .s4sp =
1t took sixteen years to build the
railway from Bergen to Christiania:
there are more than five hundred
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