Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-06-11
CELEBRATION
HAPPY Event
Work of ASkOV'S Pioneers
Commemorated on
Three Days.
In Is Years Cut-OVer Lands
Turned to Dairy
Farms.

The three days celebration COM
memOrating the founding of the DAN
ish colony here at Askov twenty-five
years ago, which took place on Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday, was well at
tended and much enjoyed, the sched-
uled program being we'll carried out.
Over 100 visitors were present. they
coming largely from Tyler, Minneapo-
lis, and Hutchinson, in this state;
Withee and West Denmark, Wis, and
from different parts in Iowa.
The program began at 1870 p. m.
Friday in the park with music by the
Askov band, the new class of thirty
members which was started the past
winter, appearing for the first time
in public. The weather was ideal
following rains of the previous days,
and the outdoor program was enjoyed
under the shade trees.
Bids Welcome.
After a song by the entire assem-
blage the local pastor, A. E. Frost,
gave the address of welcome. He said
that the pioneers who came here %
years ago were workers-men and
women with hope, faith and vision
some of whom have already been laid
to rest. They worked for more than
pecuniary gain. The pastor admon-
ished the younger generation to labor
along the same lines, approaching not
yuh af he no
done, but accepting and approaching
the good inheritance handed down
from the forefathers and to give some
thing wholesome to the growing gen.
GRAFTON.
Tyler Pastor Speaks.
After another song by the audience
the Rev. Holger Strandskov of Tyler,
gave the principal address of the day.
He dwelt on the life of the Rev. F. L.
Grundtvig who lived in America in
the early days of Danish immigration
here, and who passed away many
years ago. F. L. was a son of the
great Danish folk high school leader
and writer, the Rev. N. F. S. Grundt-
Wig.
The Rev. Strandskov related that
F. L. Gruntvig and his wife as young
people had spent some time in the
woods of Wisconsin where he read
much, did some writing and had his
dreams of the future for Danes in
America. He had never met the man
but had studied his picture and his
writings and gained inspiration from
same. Grundtvig was a church man
and strong folk leader.
Going on the pastor said we can
learn much from others but that
which a father or mother give to
their boy or girl when they take them
by the hand or press them to their
hearts is the best and greatest. The
older Grundtvig did not think it was
enough to call his boy Frederik but
called him my son."
Appreciates America.
A son of America-born in this
country-the Rev. Strandskov said
that some years ago he had spent a
year in Denmark together with the
Rev. Frost and others, and while that
trip was fruitful and he enjoyed it to
the utmost, he had also through that
learned to love and admire his native
country-America- the more. He
discovered that he was firmly rooted
here.
While in Denmark, the pastor said
there was one thing which he could
not help but note and that is the good
home life, the love of home and how
everybody talks a pride in and keeps
his home neat and coy. A French
educator travelling in Denmark and
studying their ways and customs, had
found the key to their happiness and
contentment when he noted that even
the hired man on the farm read the
best of literature. The everyday life
is what counts, said the pastor, and
country and people.
New Hope Rises.
After the war of 1864 the people of
Denmark were downhearted, they felt
that their country was weak along
side of such powers as Germany,
France and other countries. Many
tears were shed, but those tears were
the means of bringing better educa-
ton. 1t was the commencement of
the folk high school idea, universal
education to all, singing, gymnastics,
better understanding of the people,
the country, and the wide world-in
short more wholesome life, devoid
of the militaristic idea and that of
conquering other nations. 1t gave a
new era of hope.
Monument Unveiled.
Following the Strandskov address
the Rev. Frost read messages Of
fCon$torad On para 1Ol