Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-12-02
Norway.


experience at Copenhagen which NJ
did not relish. He was to deliver
lecture on the war in support OF Ger
many, but the audience would no.
hear him, and after the chairman mac
vainly endeavored for an hour to Cd
tain order, the meeting was adjourned
The members of the German deiega-
ton at Copenhagen occupied prom
nent places on the stage, and they
were about the only persons present
in sympathy with the speaker. The
Danes declared they would listen to
a German, but not to man from
neutral country advocating the Ger
man cause.
The new government ruling grant
ing to women the right to speak in the
state churches Of Norway has created
big stir and may lead to wholesale
Withdrawals from the state church,
both on the part of preachers and lay
men. DR.. Sigurd Odland, one of the
members of the theological faculty or
the University of Norway prior to the
formation of the new theological SEM
mary, called Observation-Disclosures"
and foremost in organizing the lat
ter institution, has resigned his pro-
fessorship on the ground that he will
no longer train mer for the ministry,
If women are permitted to invade the
church pulpits. He has large fol-
lowing among the orthodox and anti
modern Lutherans of Norway and his
withdrawal from the church will
doubtless have momentous results.
A Christiania correspondent makes
the interesting report that the lowest
mortality among infants, the highest
mortality among adults between twen-
ty to thirty years, and the lowest
again among adults above fifty years
of age in any country in the world
are found in Norway.
The figures of the statistical bureau
show that there has been a uniform
decrease in the death rate of the coun-
try, except in the case of young wom-
en- between eighteen and twenty-four
years. Among this class the death
rate has been especially high in the
country districts. In general, there
are now many notable exceptions to
the generally accepted rule that the
death rate is higher in cities than in
the country. The tendency in mortal
ity rates has been more favorable to
married women than to unmarried
women. The average age of men dur
ing the period under consideration was
54.S years and for women 977 years,
an increase of A and 81 years, re-
spectivoly.
1t Is reported from Christiania that
the American buying and selling of
futures" in the grain exchange have
their counterpart in Norway in the
trading of ships that exist for the
present only on paper. Two strik-
ing instances of this sort have recent
ly come to light.
In the one instance Skien
shipowner placed a contract last No
vember for ship at 10000 kroner.
In January he sold it to a Christiania
man for $4,000 kroner, and in April
tho vessel passed to a Haugesund
tinancier in consideration of 415,O00
kroner. Recently the ship has again
been sold, this time for 100000 kro-
ner. The vessel will not be finished
before January or February, and it is
estimated that by that time it will be
worth $4,000 kroner.
In the second instance a Bergen
company contracted last November for
ship of 10000 kroner. Not long
after the company sold the yet non.
existent steamer to a Christiansand
company for 100000 kroner. The com.
pany quickly sold the ship again to
Bergen parties for 100000, and it Ia
now for sale for $4,000 kroner.
The vessel will not leave the
yard until next March.
It Is announced that another trans.
atlantic ship line, which will carry
| on trade between Norway and the
western ports of South America, is in
process Of organization in Christiania.
The new company is planning to put
in operation two motor boats of 1000
tons each as soon as these can be
secured. In the meantime leased
ships will be used. The company will
cooperate with a Swedish line operat.
ing in the same ports of South Amer.
lea.
The Selmerske Rederi of Trondh
jem, leading shipping firm of Trondh
jem, has declared two dividends. the
first of 40 per cent; the second of 30
per cent. This is indicative of the
| enormous profits which are being real
ICED by aggressive shipping firms OF
Norway and must incite the jealousy
OF even the munition manufacturers O,
| America.
A cable line Is to be put up for car
rying lime stone from Gjelebak to a
factory at Gullaug, Drammensfiord. a
| distance of six miles. The Nordstronl