Evening star., 1925-06-06
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL y. COLLINS.

which continued until 1905, when it
was dissolved without bloodshed, and
Norway became independent.
x* X X
Undoubtedly the forced union of
Norway with Sweden in 1914 had
much to do with the stimulation of
emigration of Norwegians to America,
which assumed important proportions
within the decade following. The cele-
bration now in progress commemo-
rates the arrival in New York Har-
Dor, October II, 1925, of the sloop
Restaurationen, with SO Norwegian
immigrants.
The present celebration, held mid
way between Minneapolis and St.
Paul, is not merely local. One fea-
ture is a great pageant depicting
scenes Of the Norwegian pioneering.
There is a choir of 5000 singers who
have assembled from all parts of the
United states, Canada, and even Nor
way. All Scandinavians are music
lovers-especially lovers of vocal
music. Scandinavian choruses are
familiar institutions in the North
west, but never has there been a
greater chorus than that which will
sing the spirit of Viking achievement
during the present celebration.
The United States Government has
recognized the Importance of the
event, for 1t has issued a special 2.
cent postage stamp bearing a picture
or the sloop Restaurationen, and a S.
cent stamp decorated with a. Viking
ship, printed in two colors-an un-
precedented printing in colors, except
for the 50 stamp. Also, from the
United States Mint comes a commem-
orative gold medal to celebrate this
n q n q the
issued from the Mint.
1t was due to the exploring enter
prise of Kleng PeerSon, also known az
Kleng Peterson and Person Hestham.
mer, that the Norwegian colonization
was started. 1t is not unusual for a
scandinavian thus to have several
names, for, in the old days and in the
old country the eldest son did not
carry the surname of the father. For
example, Martin Peterson" indicates
that the man known as Peterson
was the son of Peter, whose surname
might have been Jacobson, if he. in
turn, was the son of a man named
Jacob. So Kleng Peterson, or Peder.
sen, was probably the son of Mr..
Peder, who was the son of Mr.. Hest.
hammer.
hieHS came 10 America In 1921 and
saw that the land was good. In 1924
he returned to Norway and spread
the good news, and in the following
year brought forth the first band of
emigrants, locating them in New York
State-not in the city. After he had
thus established his colonists Kleng
secuted around the Mississippi Valley
and returned with tales of the Middle
west rlVaing those of Marco Polo of
the vast "Cathay." By 1885 he had
transplanted nearly all of the New
York settlers in the rich but untamed
| region now known as Illinois, Mime
sofa, wisconsin and the two Dakotas.
Minneapolis now has more Scandi-
| navians than has any city in Scandi.
navia.
While the pageant will show the
original crude millstones with which
| the early pioneers started the greatest
milling center in the world, and will
show the original oxcart in which
many pioneer bride rode in state to
her nuptials, it will also show modern
achievements in art, as well as in in.
dustry. There are displays of pic.
torial weaving which excel any such
weaving in the world. There will be
displayed a marvellous living Nor.
wegian flag" composed of 500 chill,
dren, trained and colorful, and at a
signal the marching living flag will
dissolve into q living reproduction of
| "Old Glory" truly symbolical of the