The Norwegian Independence Day
Skandinaven, May 14, 1911
The Norwegian independence day seems to be celebrated with more and more interest every year. All groups of Norwegians seem to be filled with an ever-increasing love for this day of days--the day that brings back memories of "Old Norway". The immigrants and their children cannot forget their fatherland, and when the Seventeenth of May comes they do their celebrating here just as the Norwegians back home have done since the great event in 1814.
The Norwegian National Committee has arranged an extensive program. The celebration will begin with an open-air concert at the Leif Ericson Monument in Humboldt Park. M. Pedersen's well-known and outstanding orchestra will play Norwegian music. Later, the ceremonies will be continued in Brand's Park, beginning with a sports program and continuing with speeches and singing. Professor George T. Flom, of the University of Chicago, will speak for Norway.
2A youth parade, larger than ever, will start at 2 P. M. and march from Humboldt Park to Logan Square, North and Western Avenues, then back to Humboldt Boulevard and Palmer Square. At Palmer Square a reviewing platform will be built, where Louis C. Larsen, secretary of the Board of Education, and Reverend J. C. Roseland will speak to the youngsters. Mounted police will lead the parade. The second division will consist of automobiles, followed by a band; then a division of children dressed in the national costume will follow; the temperance societies and church groups will bring up the rear. Another division will be marshalled at the Leif Ericson Monument. This group will include a band and the church groups not represented in the first division.
Other groups will celebrate in their own quarters. The Scandinavian Young Men's Christian Association will celebrate in their hall, 1350-52 Erie Street. This program will include a speech by Professor William Petersen; songs by John H. Rasmussen, the Deaconess Sister's Chorus, and group singing by the visitors. A string orchestra will furnish the instrumental music.
3The Zion Church congregation will celebrate in its church with an excellent program. The main speaker will be Reverend C. K. Solberg.
The Bjorgvin Singing Society will celebrate with an outstanding musical program.
Program
| Norwegian national melodies | Selected |
Lawson's Orchestra
| Prologue | Finn Simonsen |
| "Jeg Spiler Min Vinge" (I Extend My Wings) | Selected |
Arnold Jacobsen
| Address |
Sigurd Dahl
| "Jeg Vill Vaege Mit Land"(I Will Defend My Land) | Selected |
G. Tischndorf
4| Choral singing | Selected |
Bjorgvin Chorus; Joel Mossberg, Director
| "Seventeenth of May Song" | Ibsen |
| "Nokken" (A Figure of the Sages) | Selected |
Norda Ladies' Chorus
| "Vaer Hilst Horges Frie Flag" (Salute to Norway's Flag So Free) | Selected |
Joel Mossberg, Baritone
| "Hvor Skulde Jeg Enna" (Where Shall I End) | Swedish Song |
Joel Mossberg, Baritone
| "Rodmansknud" | Grieg |
| "Lurleiek" | Alnaes |
Bjorgvin Chorus
| "Saeterjentens Sondag" (The Dairymaid's Sunday) | Ole Bull |
Orchestra
| "Jeg Vil Ud" | Max Rabel |
| "Halvor Kletten" | Max Rabel |
Joel Mossberg, Baritone
5| "Vuggevise" (Cradle Song) | Lammers |
| "Ro Te Fiske Skjaer" (Row to the Fishing Banks) | Lammers |
Norda Ladies' Chorus
| "Min Deiligste Tanke" (Beautiful Thought) | Grieg |
| "Jeg Vil Fly" (I Will Fly) | Oscar Berg |
Bjorgvin Chorus
| Tableau |
The Kedzie Avenue Methodist Church will present an excellent program in the church.
The Ladies' Society of the Norwegian Lutheran Free Church will celebrate in the Norwegian Salvation Army Hall, 48th and Austin Avenues.
The Jonas Lie Lodge No. 99, Sons of Norway, will celebrate in Holter's Hall, 48th Avenue and Erie Street. An artistic program has been arranged, with Benjamin Blessing as the main speaker. Miss Agathe Knudsen will sing Grondahl's 6"Mot Kvell" (In the Gloaming), and "Sidste Reis" (The Last Voyage), by Eyvind Alnaes. The violinist, Miss Pearl Sexton, will play the "Peer Gynt" suite. Nine-year-old Edna Sverstad will play Ole Bulls "Saeterjentens Sondag".
The Norwegian Theater will produce Ivar Aasen's "Ervingen", with Mr. Rolf Hammer in the title role; Mr. Lund is cast as "Olav", while Miss Martha Mork will play the female lead as "Inge". Mr. Herman Larson will play the role of "Herman". Mrs. Borgny Hammer will render some of her excellent recitations.
