The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1920-07-22
EDWARD V|NJs.,,..::, .::.., :a'..., :.r9 :,
FROM OLD COUNTRY

Following is letter from Edward
I. Vinje, who with his mother is Wis
iting in Norway, and will be Of in
terest to his many friends here.
Snaasen, Norway,
June 26, 1920.
Bottineau Courant, ......... -"
Bottineau, N. Oak. D.,
Dear Editor: f.s. :.
From the time we left Bottineau
until we got to Snaasen it lacked one
day Of being four weeks. If we could
have taken a boat direct from New
York to Norway, it would not have
taken US as long, as we went on the
White Star Line and had to go over
England. Travelling to foreign coun-
tries is very inconvenient. The red
tape with passports and the large
number Of people that are enigrating
There were four shiploads that left
New York harbor on the afternoon
Of May 18th bound for England, car
rying in the neighborhood of $4,000
people. All the ships had more pas
sengers than there were sleeping ac-
commodations for. It took US eleven
days over the Atlantic, but the wealth
er was nice, with the exception Of one
day when l had to help feed the fish
es. Mother never lost a meal on the
ocean, and the North Sea. We landed
at Southampton, and went on the
train to London. We stayed in London
one night, and took the train to New
Castle. The scenery in England is
beautiful with the green and bloom
ing pastures, having in them fat, well
bred, contented stock. Most Of the
small hedges and orchards were also
in bloom. I saw England two months
later in 1918, but England is more
beautiful now, than at that time of
the year.
We are now in the land Of Norway
where there is light all night. Many
a time have I heard their National
song and some of the words are: "Be-
tween hills and mountains, out along
the sea, there where the Northman
found his home" Never have those
words meant so much to me, as when
we sailed along the coast of Norway,
and actually saw a home built ON a
lonely island where there was nothing
but the bare, solid rock. A farmer
could not make a living there, but a
fisherman could and made it home.
I have now met and learned to
know many of my relatives, and at
one of my uncles, we found four gen.
erations on the female side, all hav-
ing been born and raised On the place.
In each family there was only one
girl. The Oldest is 80 years and the
Youngest is II years. They are all
healthy and happy. The first person
that / met at Snaasen that l also
knew in Bottineau County was Amin
Jifsta. He is working on motor ooat
on the Snaasen Lake. Erik Clev Is
farming and doing well. Ben Jors-
tad is staying with one of his broth
ers on the home place. Ole .Clev' a
one time shoemaker Of Bottineau, ana
later of Souris, has nice home. ne
Z works when he feels like it and l
think he is one Of the happlest men
IN snaasen. Wherever you find Ole IN
a gathering, one finds a jolly laugh
mo bunch. But Ole doesn't think the
neonle here are up to the standard
If efficiency like the American peo-
ME and he tells many OF them so'
Have been to Mr.. and Mrs. Carr Hau
ren,s nlace. Carl has high blood pres
s,,ra and his health is very poor:
Lornts vinje lives in the village anu .a
;s at present going around IN Ine
county appraising the value Of punu r
mos for fire insurance. Jom uIan
lives here and Pete Eggen IS 1arm-
;na The Martin and Floral Berg ram
;,;es are also farming, but Mart,n
haal+h IS not Of the best. Paullne
Ia,,,roar lives here but we have not
seen her yet. ,,o+ha,. left
Norwav and she finds the lay OF tne
iand the same in most places, but tne
h;ocest l, change is in the people. vn
,,aest nlaces she finds one genera'lon
crown crow up. and the beginning OF an.
other. There Is no oi1c NJ +Loso
those she has not seen Tor an tnese
..aors s mill she is told who they are
~ tho Norwegians that I have seen
ea,,,a =, - America and those that
bo,,e ~ seen here, I believe the cream
I nf +ba race are really those that en-
MIGRATE to America and stay M NIL
We find considerable American ciu.,,. WI.
ns ashinsry and foo, food products ef ss sad ~
doing dai els IS still lacking considerable
here. -, .o,,o the
mountains and valleys with It's roar, ,
ing waterfalls. The many lakes, s,,,, ~. =
winding rivers. Among otner .nnss NM )
i have seen are all the pretsy ,sa1sI. - .
1anterne), they are built from tne
ground up, and there is no camou. ~
sisoa a their red and rosy cheeks
's r.ss. an,,,t seem TO realize that this is