Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-04-23
GREAT NORWEGIAN
CELEBRAT| ION
One Hundred Years ago by the
Treaty of KieI, Norway
was Coded to Sweden

One hundred years ago this spring
by the treaty of Ktel. Norway was ct
ded to Sweden following the over
throw Of Napoleon with whom an ALI
ance had been formed by the King
of Denmark with which Norway had
been united for almost 500 years
The Norwegians, when the anti-Napo
IeOnic powers gave Norway to Swe-
en-, held a convention at EidSvold an6
planned to safeguard their rights as
nation. This convention adopted a
constitution which declared Norway
to be a free and independent king
dom and which established a repre-
sentative government for the coun-
try.
This constitution was signed on
May II 1914, and since then the day
has been observed as a national
holiday, Norwegian Fourth of July
May 18th next will mark the one hun
dredth year of the existence of this
constitution and will be celebrated by
NorWegians all over the world.
For nearly a hundred years Nor
way and Sweden were united under
the same king, but in 1905 Norway
withdrew from this agreement and
since then has been pursuing herdes
tiny under a king of her own, the
same constitution still remaining the
supreme law of the country.
This year the great celebration of
the day in the United States will be
held at the Minnesota State Fair
grounds, midway between st. Paul
and Minneapolis. There are practical
ly million and half American cit
izens of Norwegian birth or descent
i'm the United States and. this ceae-
bration win be the principal one held
in the country.
The initiative i'm the celebration in
America has been taken by the 'Byg-
delays" organizations of persons
who trace their origin from some
particular civic or geographical divi-
L Norway, similar to our states
'ntries. There are nov organize
thirty of these organizations
Jenting practically every portion
of Norway.
These organizations have combin-
ed for the great celebration at the
fair grounds. There will be three
day celebration. Saturday, the 10th,
will be devoted to meetings of the
various "BygdeLags" concluding with
a general meeting and a display of
fireworks in the evening. On the 18th
Sunday, the exercises will be of a
character befitting the day. A nuTn--
ber of bishops of the Church of Nor
way will be present and will conduct
religious services. In the evening a
great concert will be held in one of
the largest buildings on the grounds.
On Monday the great civic celebra-
ton win be held. Hon. H. Bryn, Nor
wegian minister to the United States,
has been specially delegated to repre-
sent the Norwegian government at
this meeting and will bring a mes
sage from Norway. An attempt is be-
ing made to induce President Wilson
to attend the meeting and he has
promised that if he is unable to be
present he will send representative
of the vernment-probably Vice
Presient Marshall There will ALSO be
present a number of governors, mem
bers of congress and other distin--
guished people from all over the
states that have large Norwegian
populations.
Senator Knute Nelson, of Mimi
esota, who was born in Norway will
probably act as chairman at the
great celebration exercises and many
other prominent men of the North
west Will take part.
The railroads are making special
preparations to handle the people
who will attend the celebration and
it is expected that from 10000 to To-
GOO men, women and children who
are proud OF their Norwegian blood,
viii be present.