Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-08-12
important Events in Sweden,
Norway and Denmark.
BRIEFS FROM OLD COUNTRY
interesting Items From the Three
Great Kingdoms Of the North Be-
iected for ScandinavIans and
Their Descendants.
BY MARTIN w. ODLAND.
orWay.

SOHSuI u6neThl michael j. f1GnuTlCK
OF Christiania has published report
on cremation In Norway in which he
says: 'Krematoriet at Christiania, be-
longing to the city, Is the only crema-
tory in Norway. Amy person who IL
fifteen years or more Of age, who Is
In full possession Of his senses, can
by verbal or written declaration de-
termine for himself whether he wish
es to have his body cremated after
death, the declaration, il verbally
made, must be in the presence of two
witnesses: II written, two persons
should subscribe as witnesses; this
precaution should be taken whether
the person be a member of a crema-
ton association or not.
Should the deceased person not
have expressed his wish In the matter,
his cremation may be demanded by his
nearest relatives, provided they are
over eighteen years of age, and such
cremation Is not contrary to the re-
ligious belief or to the wish of the
deceased person. The police must be
informed before the body Is cremated.
Cremation can take place only at the
cred in an urn, such as are manufac-
tured In Christiania of marble, metal,
sandstone, etc, selling at 90 crowns
to 800 crowns 1856 to s80.40) each.
The cost of cremation for members Is
40 crowns $1072), for nonmembers 60
crowns ($1s.0s)."
A Christiania report says that
settlement has been brought about In
the dispute between employers and
employees in Norway and the strike
that theatened to tie up many of the
leading industries of the country has
again been averted The settlement
provides for the appointment of an
arbitration board consisting of three
members, one to be chosen by the
employers, one by the workmen and
the third by the first two members of
the board. The decision of the board
shall be handed down by September
Is, and in the meantime the workmen
will continue In their work.
James O'Donnell Bennett. we'll
known special correspondent, who Is
writing from Norway for a string Of
American dailies, asserts positively
that the people of Norway have be-
come "surlily anti.German." He ad.
mits that the Norwegians have had
strong affection for the kaiser, be-
cause of his frequent visits to Nor
way in years past and because Of his
generosity at the time of the Aalesund
fire, but the German submarine at
talks on Morse merchant ships have
turned the feelings of Norway's people
against their Teutonic brothers.
Thirteen OF Norway's SO whaling COM
panies have closed their accounts for
the fiscal year and have distributed
their earnings. The dividends de-
clared range from 10 to 40 per cent,
the average being 1874 per cent. 1t
may be taken for granted that the
dividends to be- declared by the other
le companies will average about the
whaling business are thus made appar-
ent. 1t has made more Norwegian
millionaires In recent years than per-
haps any other industry.
1t has been stated here that the
crop prospects in Norway were very
poor. owing to lack OF rain The latest
reports. however. indicate a decided
Improvement in the situation. rains
having fallen quite generally Of
late. Ii conditions remain favor
able to the end of the season the
crops will probably be equal to those
of last year
The city of Sarpsborg was founded
by st. Olaf 500 years ago. and the in
habitants Of the town plan to COM
memorate the nine hundredth ami
versary of the founding by unwilling
a "Bautasten'' In honor OF st. Olaf on
July 20. 1915 The stone will be So
feet high and will cost about $4,000
Ole Eliason Presthoy, said to have
been Norway's oldest inhabitant. died
recently at the Alstahaug poorhouse,
aged one hundred and six years and
two months, His daughter. aged sew
enty-five years, was present at his
| funeral
The high price of coal. due to the
war, has caused several of the steam
ers on Lake Mjosen to burn wood in.
stead OF coal, aud 1t is asserted that
the cost is considerably less.
The storthing has appropriated 90.
600 crowns for the publication of a
book on the Viking ship Oseberg,
which was found buried on the coast of
Norway some years ago. The book
will, in the main. be the work of DR.
A, W, Brogger and DR.. III. Schetelis
Of Bergen.
bergen now claims population of
So'oo' One reason for the big in.
crease is the absorption of the sub.
| uro OF Aarstad, which was not in
Guided In the city's population when
! Ia