The Washington times., 1936-05-05
NOW
Norwegian Cups
Prizes Here
DIDRIK PINING
BY HELEN EsSARY

sails during the Spring 1nterna'
tional Boat Club races at the Glib
son Island Club, helmsmen will
strain for new p-izeS-silver cups
Just offered by the Norwegian Min
lister and Madame MorgenStierne'
The Minister and Madame Nor
genStierne will go to Baltimore
today to present the trophies to
George whiting, an ardent sailor
Of the Gibson Island Club.
The Norwegian cups were made
by siIversmithS in Bergen. They
are slim and beautifully marked
with inscriptions and pictures de-
scriptive Of Norway'S part In the
discovery of America.
The Lief Ericsson cup shows on
one side a copy of the painting
recently presented by Norway to
the U. S. Capitol. 1t is picture
Of the first diScoverer Of America
sighting land from small ship in
the year 1000.
On the other side of the cup Is
the Norwegian ship Viking" The
"'Viking" was buried with a Morse
Princess centuries ago and was
dug up in 1892. A Norwegian
sailor piloted it's model to the re-
cent Chicago Exposition.
The other Norwegian cup, for
which the Gibson Island con-
tenders will race, is inscribed:
"Admiral Didrik Pining, Sec
Ond DiscOverer Of America"
The story Of Didrik Pining, I
blush to say, was just learned by
me. King Christian, of Norway,
it seems, sent him to make charts
Of Greenland in. 1472. Didrik
made the charts, then went ex-
ploring westward. According to
records, he touched several times
on American soil.
Back in Scandinavia as COVER
nor Of Iceland, he was visited by
Christopher Columbus for advice
before Columbus sailed in 1892.
Recently discovered Portuguese
archives tell of this trip.
Norway, indented by countless
fiords, has a sympathetic interest
in Maryland, with the Chesapeake
Bay and the thousand inletS set
in its midst.
Last summer the Minister and
Nine. Morgenstierne, representa-
tiveS of a country famous for its
seamanship, often went to Gibson
Island to sail with young Mary
land navigators.
When the Norwegian trophies
are won by Maryland sailors, a
health OF. two may be drunk in
good, hearty Norwegian fashion.
Glasses may be lifted, perhaps, in
"skoal." with a quick draught of
the famous Norwegian drink,
''auua vite." Aqua vite is the
first cousin of vodka and has the
same inspiring qualities.
At the delightful supper party
given the other night by the Nor
wegian Minister and Nine. Nor.
genstierne to celebrate the engage
ment of Miss Margarita van Post,
Of the Swedish Legation, and Mr..
Francis IrgenS, Secretary Of the
Norwegian Legation, the guests,
young members of diplomatic Sec
retariats, toasted romance with
champagne and Scandinavian
folk songs.
AS the evening continued, uneX-
pected ChaliapinS discovered them:
selves. Grave speeches were made.
There was rejoicing that again the
friendship of Norway and Sweden
should show itself in this marriage
Of Miss van Post and Mr.. 1rgens.
And now from romance and
beauty in a Legation, to beauty
and religion in Convent.
The Visitation Monastery and
Convent, one Of the most ancient
in this country, opens its 137-year-
old garden to the public for the
first time during Georgetown
Garden week. Besides its garden,
however, the Visitation Convent
has many treasures, fascinating to
the antiquarian and the religeuSe
Over the altar in its chapel Is
a. painting given by Charles K,
of France, to Father Joseph de
Cloreviere. Father Joseph was a
French priest who raised money
to continue the Convent not long
after its founding in 1909 by the
Jesuit Father Nea1e.
The painting shows Mary and
Martha-Mary, the contemplative
one, Mother Of Sorrows, and
Martha, the active one, VIII o
served her Lord and humanity.
In the teaching nuns dining
room of the convent is Father
Cloreviere'S mahogany furniture.
Particularly beautiful is the sofa.
Father Cloreviere left behind him
q family Of wealth and distinc-
ton in France when he came to
America to teach at the Convent.
Very proud, too, is the Vista
ton Convent Of its heavy silver
spoons with handles long as half
your arm. Beautifully simple,
they were used for labelling por-
ridge. Half their bowls were worn
away before they were rescued
from daily use.
Another Visitation Convent
treasure is the coronation robe
Of 1turbide, whose choice as con.
Stitutional emperor Of Mexico
ooYYoad tho downfall NJ tho IuoI11d,