Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1945-12-01
Tradition In
Danish Life
BY c. H. w. HasSelriis

Dy I. n. w. f1dSSelrllS
AS | remember, We We're always
conscious of the great age of Den
mark. In the Krabbesholm Woods
We're remnants of kitchenmiddens
From our windows looking north
we could see two humps on the
horizon, not far from the Resen
church. Giant hills" we called
them. They were the burying
grounds of great Vikings or war
riors. They are still there. They
are to be found throughout Den
mark. They are hallowed. Plow-
shares still turn up buried treas
ure and remnants of Denmark's
historic past. They fill the Ma
tional Museum in Copenhagen.
Here is the story my father told
me of the Gold Horns"
1t was once upon a spring day
in the year 1859 that a Danish
peasant went out to pillow his field.
Little did he dream when he
hitched his span of oxen to his
pillow that he was to set in motion
events which We're to touch pro-
foundry the emotions of a whole
people. For as he turned the turf.
his plowshares turned up treasure
1t proved to be the first of a brace
OF horns of the purest gold, the
mate OF which was found in much
the same place and almost a hum
dred years later.
The first horn. fashioned in II
sections, or broad rings, was 33
inches in length; the second had
only six rings and was p inches
long. Exquisitely done. both horns
were decorated with the most fan
tastic images of men and beasts,
some engraved, others soldered on
Their like had not been found in
Denmark before. and to this day
their equal has never been found
anywhere on earth. Their great
age could be estimated by the line
of ancient Danish runic script
engraved around the edge
OF priceless historic and ma
tional value. these mystical horns
were accorded place of honor in
the Royal Danish chamber of
treasure, but in 1902 both We're
stolen and by their thief melted
into common ordinary gold Their
loss was felt as a national cal
amity.
But adversely has its uses. The
loss so moved a young Danish
poet, Adam Oehlenschlager, and
opened his mind to the influx of
the national spirit that a stream
of great poetry rushed through his
hand and pen following his first
major poem. The Gold Horns"
1t was TO usher in a renaissance
of Danish poetry. A great national
treasure had been lost but it had
risen and been recaptured in the
spirit. It was Oehlenschlager who
wrote that most beloved of Danish
national hymns:
There is lovely land,
II stands with spreading beeches
Near the salt Baltic strand :.
A few years later, in 1907, Den
mark suffered a far greater loss
than the theft of a national treas
ure: the defeat at the hands of
the British and the loss of her
fleet. Again the spirit of the Gold
Horns was evoked. this time by
poet even greater than Oehlen-
schlager - seer and prophet -
y. F. S. Grundtyig. Grundtvig,
father of the Folk Schools. reused
the nation through the transform
ing power of Imagination. Look
ing backward, reaching deep into
the strength and power and deeds
of Denmark's history. he inspired
his people to new national life and
achievement.
In 1854, after denmark had lost
to Germany her provinces of Sles-
Wig and Holstein, it was again the
Transforming power of imagina-
ton that terminated the Danish
people. This time it was Dalgas
who said What has haen lbs,