Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 238, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 October 1910 — BJORNSON’S IDEA OF AMERICA [ARTICLE]

BJORNSON’S IDEA OF AMERICA

"A Dangerous Btepmother Rich and Beautiful,” Bald the Gifted Norwegian. Bjornson lectured In America In 1880, and has always had friends and admirers In this country. Bernard Stahl, who has lately published In New York a translation of "WlseKnut,” one of Bjornson’s most charac-

teristlc tales, gives an interesting account of his last meeting with “the master” in Christiania in 1902, says Current Literature. The occasion was a birthday banquet held in honor of Bjornson’s seventieth anniversary. There were two main tables. At the head of one sat the guest of honor, at the other Nansen, recently returned from his memorable trip to the north. Many a mery jest,” Mr. Stahl records, flew from one table to another; and though It might be difflcuie at a glance, to tell which of the two giants looked the younger, it was easy enough to determine which of the two swords beat sharpest The author had the readier wit” Mr. Stahl’s narrative proceeds: “The famous master had a cordial handshake and a cheerful word for all. I was introduced to this uncrowned Norwegian king by his son Bjorn Bjornson, who at that time was director o> the new National theater, for which the old master had done so much. I have met many a big man whose thoughts have been far away while apparently speaking with interest to his listener, but not so with Bjornson If he spoke or listened at all he put both his soul and body into the subject so to speak. “Speakfng about his old love for America, he said: ‘Several of the enterprising American managers have tried hard to get me across the water again, but so far I have resisted the temptation—though with a sore heart Not that I am afraid of tou£ng £ ? d ( tUra ‘ ng out * hundred but , what r ® afraid of, I am sorry to say. is the hospitality of the American people. Look at Nan. sen there! He seems quite able-bodied doesn’t he? Well, sir, be JV* as they say in America, and wh£? On account of too much champagne*’ Bpark,ed mirth as he emitted a roar of buoyant laughter However. I may risk it,’ he continual “ h n a ” h > J" ord young America though because she has deprived Nor way of her best children, although sh. deserves praise for the great oDnor, tunlties she has given most of thJSL She is a dangerous stepmother because she is rich, and beautiful worn en are dangerous through their powes °™ be Eng* joined him heartily, because his lauahtor was such that it could set the sun dancing on the mountain tops in gridwinter, and that means much in lias