Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1917-03-22
IN FAR NORTnLAND'
important Events IN Sweden,
Norway and Denmark.
BRIEFS FROM OLD COUNTRY
Interesting Items From the Three
Great Kingdoms OF the North. So
lected for Scandinavians and
Their Descendants.
BY MARTIN w. oDLANp.
NORWAY

NORWAY
A correspondent for the Chicago
Daily News, who has been sojourning
at Christiania, characterizes the Nor
wegian capital as the most expensive
place to live In In the entire Scandl-
natian north. This he ascribes to the
fact that so many "war boomers" who
have made fortunes specializing In
war stocks. have fioeked to Christianta
to spend their money. All Of the ho-
tells are crowded all the time and the
restaurants are doing thriving bust
ness. 1.-THE smart restaurant Of the
Grand hotel" writes the correspond
ent, 'is an interesting reflection Of
Norway's economic adventures. In
termingled with the normal restaurant
crowd always are groups of war-hoom
folks In country clothes. and numerous
Observation-Disclosures, Americans and
British. The country war boomers,
and most of the city war boomers. too,
cling to the idea that Il would be a
social gaucherie to drink anything less
costly and magnificent than cham.
payne, even at luncheon. In beautiful
restaurant like this. But the Norwe-
gian war boomers are remarkably
well-behaved folk. They do not shout
Or sprawl. Rather, they are inspired
with tender thoughts and thankfulness
for their good fortune. l am told that
the war boomers make generous gifts
RI hA oh, - 40
gratitude. Not all the war boomers
can find tables at the Grand. They
have to content themselves with the
lesser restaurants. though they spend
just as muca money there. The same
wines and dishes as figure on all the
Swedish menus at a reasonable sum
cost from 80 to 100 per cent more I'm
Christiania, for as much or more
wealth is coming into Norway as into
Sweden. and the number Of metropol.
ltan restaurants and hotels to cater to
the celebrators Of these new riches Is
only one-tenth of the number In Stock
holm"
spondent, who writes from Christiania
the most interesting question concern.
ing Norway just now liz the attitude
Of the nation toward the world war. A
considerable number of newspaper
readers In Europe think Norway may
Christiania know better. The views OF
the people Of Christiania on peace and
war are more nearly unanimous than
the views of any other neutral capital
In Europe. ave have nothing to gain
and everything to lose by going to
war;" say the Norwegians. I'VE have
no, territorial ambitions to be realized
We are too small and weak nation,
too undevelopcd industrially to take
up arms In a long modern war against
the well-equipped giants who wage It,"
Scandinavian statesmen have become
much more taciturn the last three
months with unanimity that promi.
nent puhlicists attribute 10 the com.
bined efforts Of the three northern
cabinets to preserve the unity OF
It Is maintained that an inmate of
the home for the aged at Busknes, Lo-
foten, Norway, Is one hundred and
twenty years old. Old Abel. rs he Is
called, has good memory and still
remembers the events of 1914. when
he sailed on boats carrying fish to Rer.
gen and had to run the blockade Of
the British fleet. He Is still in splen'
did health and has never known sick
ness. Thirty years ago he was mar.
ried for the third time and the WON.
an he then led to the altar IL Still,
alive, being ninety years old.
The government Of Norway has con.
tracted for about 100000 crowns
worth of meat In Argentina. receiving
the first consignment of meat from
that country few weeks ago.
1t is said that so ships are being
built for Norwegian firms in America