Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1914-06-26
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SCANDINAv VANS
News Gathered In the Father
land and Elsewhere.
EIDSvOLD CENTENARY SERVICE

King Kaakon and Norwegian Govern
ment Visit Little Town Where Con-
stitutlon Was Adopted - Danish
Ruler Furnishing Newest Mansion
In American styIe-swedish Antarc-
tic Expedition Becomes an "Anglo-
Swedish" Affair.
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- NORWAY. i
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On May II the Norwegian govern
ment and the storthing for a, few short
hours moved out from Christiania to
an old mansion at Eidsvold, There,
100 years ago, parliament met and
chose king and formed constitu-
ton. All around ruin and distress
threatened. A trace of the scourge
with which Napoleon had afflicted
Europe had even been felt in this
mountainous country and it had
aroused the consciousness of nation
atty which had been slumbering for
centuries. Eidsvold's great constitu-
ton day, May IL, 1914, has a deep
meaning of it's own for. Norwegians
and it was for this reason that the
parliamentarians visited the place.
The. procession wended it's way from
the station up hills, gaily decorated
with flags, to the Eidsvold church.
The old white church stands on a hill
with a red-blue flag waving from its
tower. Along the walls of the church
yard people were crowded together.
Only the passage was kept open by
the artillery serious, heavy lads with
wornout, rough uniforms, each with
his broadsword in his outstretched
right hand, difficult position for a
week-old recruit The church door
was guarded by young scholars of the
district, in white vests with short
sleeves and long white trousers. The
soldiers saluted and the people
cheered., The members of the stor-
thing returned the greeting and the
little bell in the tower began ringing
vigorously. In the door of the church
two priests stood. Around their necks
were huge white ruffs, similar to the
ones seen in portraits of ecclesiastics
of the Sixteenth century. The church
was soon filed. Last of all came King
Haakon straight up the passage, fol-
lowed by couple of officers. Then
high mass began-an old fashioned
service with long recitatiyes in mono
tone from the altar. The sermon was
lengthy, but the congregation was
quiet. Leading from his text the
minister soon came to the important
subject of the day-the independence
of the country. 1t was true heart
ed, simple address without phrases
and false patriotism. A cantata with
words by Jonas Dahl and music by
i Christian Cappelen followed. After
another prayer the congregation unit
ed in singing the national anthem. AT
the close of the service the people
covered the three miles along the
country road to Eidsvold's chief vii
lage. Everywhere the same festive
scene. No homestead was without a
hagpole and even the smallest cot
tage had at least a couple of small
flags as decoration. Then followed
the merry part of the festival Along
the whole village street stood red
checked, freckled, well-soaped chill
.dren, waving flags and cheering al
their teachers commands There
were standards and garlanls and flags
everywhere.
h The great Norwegian exposition al
Christiania is now in full swing and
thousands of visitors from home and
abroad are there every day. This ex
position is the first national exposi
ton in the history of Norway. Nor
way has, ever since the worlds ex
position held in London in 1851, often
: participated in expositions held in
foreign countries, both officially and
through private exhibitors, but never
before has she really had great ma
tional exposition of her own. The
aim of the present exposition is tc
present complete picture of the life
and labor of the Norwegian people
and at the same time to give com
prehensive review of the develop
ment of culture in Norway. At the
exposition is presented the interests
of the church, the educational sys
tenn of the country, sanitation, heal
ing art, the welfare of our laborine
classes, lifesaving, sports, etc. Not
only are N rwegian products shown
but also TIE methods Of production
In specia department is shown by
means of owing pictures what moy
be seen Of the beauties and grandeur
of Norwegian national scenery by
travel. In the same manner is also
shown Norwegian labor in the fields
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