Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, October 25, 1903, Page 33

Dedication of Luther Academy at Wahoo DR. NOYD, FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE LUTHER ACADEMY, ADDRESSING THE ASSEMBLAGE AT THE DEDICATION CEREMONIES ~Photo by Anderson, CTOBER 10 and 11, 1903, will ever remain memorable in the history of Luther academy, the day being the twentieth anniversary of the founding of this educa- tional institution at this place. True, it was a small commencement Prof. Noyvd started the embryo academy in one small reom with but five students. It required a great amount of faith, as well as loyalty to the cause, to keep up courage under the discouraging circumstances and outlook at that early day. Bat Prof. Noyd tenaciously ““held the fort' and zealously kept up hig pedagogical duties, Inch by inch, step by step, ground was gained, and slow but sure advances were made with eve ceeding year, No wonder the proiessor felt exalted over the great victory achieved, of which he laid the foundation in thosc pioneer days. Then came Prof, Hill, who took up the work. The infant, even when he took charge, was far from being out of danger of collapse for want of proper nourishment and sustenance. He also had trials, discouragements and hard- ships to overcome, Nor did he lack faith, zeal and perseverance, His indefatigable labor triumphed, and year by year the academy gained, except for occasional set- backs, caused by drouth and consequent hard times. Finally the heroic and un- selfish work and devotion of professors and promoters of the academy aroused the active sympathy and co-operation of the entire conference, and at the opportune time came Rev., O. J. Johnson to the helm. New blood, new enthusiasm, new resolves and higher aims inspired all, and the result was the inauguration of a new era for Luther academy. The new $25,000 build- ing, with its fine equipment, was soon a reality. It is a beautiful monument to the liberality and loyalty of the Swedish Lutheran conference of Nebraska, The progress has been not only in building and equipping, but the attendance this year is twice as large as in previous years, which speaks well for the development of Luther academy. The anniversary celebration on Saturday and the dedicatory ceremonies on Sunday 133 R 'y Suce Saga of Trig Olafsen (Continued from Page Eleven.) sage with a blg complacent smile that sends his two-lip whiskers up like bull horns. Now to his story. He only tells it when he Is drunk. He weeps and laughs by turns, but you do neither—you listen, spell beund. And after he has finished you know why the Vikings of old ruled the sea He begins by swearing at the spanker sheet block. Never trust a spanker shect block when it jumps. You can’'t depend on it; it's treacherous, he says. It usually takes five beers te bring him throeugh a treatise on its proper management. About then he will plunge into his story, as he plunged into the tropical sea that dark morning. When he rose he saw Aloha's stern fad- ing into the darkness. “Haul in on your fore braces,” he roared, expecting to hear (he shouts of the watch and the rattle of Llocks and cordage. But he heard only the lapping of the still seething wake about him, and then suddenly he realized the truth. The stern light dwindled and at last danced far off, a mere speck. 1 can see him yet as he described that moment. The dark pupils of his pale-blue eyes spread, and those big mustaches stood straight out as though he held a stick be- tween his clenched teeth. ““The hounds,'' he grinds, “dey vill leave me—fannen brennda mig-—dey vill leave me, Not even a lifebelt dey trow me—»ut I kan swim—by God—I kan swim—and I vhill not sink—by God. Hey, you lubbers!"” Here he roars as he did in the water. “‘You hear me, you damned dogs! I kan swim, NEW BUILDING OF THE LUTHER ACADEMY AT WAHOO, Neb.—Photo by Anderson, were to the highest degree successful. The committee on arrangements had prepared well arranged programs, and their selec- tion of speakers was judicious and fortu- nate, Baturday afternoon the Twentieth An- niversary program was held in a large tent on the college campus,* The speakers of the day were Dr. C. A. Swenson, president of Bethany college, Lindsborg, Kan., and Dr. M. Noyd ot Chicago, the first presi- dent of Luther academy; music was rendered by the Tabor Quartette of Wausa and the Wahoo band. Dr. Swenson's ad- dress on “Some Principles of ducation” was instructive, uplifting, logical and eloquent. Dr. Noyd delivered an address and I swim clear to hell before I gives up! I vill swim to Honclulu, and if I can’t tow my blasted carcass dat far—I swim in spirit. T wvill haunt you—on de night vatches—I vill haunt you till you yoump overbeard!” He doesn't say so, but you know that he peeled off his clothes and struck out after the ship. His powerful jaw is set, and the muscles under his cars are like huge wal- nuts, Then he sees the bark, by the light of the breaking dawn, miles ahead, and they have hove to. As ne mounts the crest of a wave he sces a boat pull off. Here he usually laughs. “By gum-—it vas funny. You know-—dat d——— skipper—he tink he find me Dey hunt all over--and | vas six miles ern ha, ha, ha, ha!—it was funny I don't even shout. Vat's de use? I joost larfs and larfs—vay out dere in de vater.” And he s off into another spasm of merrviment, Here he pauses, nor does he resume until he has disposed of two more beers His mustache droops again, the fierce glare returns into those sea-gray eyes. “Den dey brace up de fore yards again and go on You see dey goes on, vile 1 swim after, six—seven—cight miles astern. You tink I will drown? Not much! [ kan ewim—<clear to Honolulu-—-or hell 1 doesn't care vitch--only I gets to dose fel- ere. I vants to meet dem again “But ain't dot the worst ting you ever heard of, to leave a shipmate to drown in a smood sea? Vould you do dat to your worst enemy ?” Here he waxes sentimental and slobbers through a dissertation on the ethics of shipmate fellowship He wants you to un- derstand he never hit a felolw when he in Swedish on “Our Mission in This Coun- try. Shall We Fulfill It?" BSaturday evening an excellent concert was given in the college chapel by the faculty of the School of Music, assisted by Mr. A. Lansing of Omaha. Sunday forencon divine services were held in English in the college chapel, the sermon being preached by Dr. M. ‘\Wahlstrom of Gustavus Adolphus college, St. Peter, Minn,, on the text for the da sus and the Rich Young Man.” Divine ser Swedish and holy communion were held in the church, the sermon being preached by Dr. P. J. Brodine, Orion, Ill, ject, “The Greatest Question of Life, What Shall 1 do to Inherit Eternal Life¢?” The com- ces in was down, especially a shipmate. “Would you see o fellow drop overboard and not raise the cry? No, you wouldn't —not even if it was the Chinese cook." A few more drinks wash away the tears. Again lLe bristles, i “But | gets even wid dem! I vill not drown--I vill not—I vill not!" He fairly roars this, and Trig's roar is a few keyvs lower than a bull's bellow No! I vill swim after dot gang of larrl- kins till T lays my paws on dem! You bet!" On he goes. With him you see the white salls fade out on the horizon, and with him you are alone in the great circle Drunk as he is, he speaks distinctly now, carefully articulates each word. Have you ever bien ont in a small boat, alone with the gulls, a clear horizon, and land a thou- sand miles away? No! He has. It's a sensation that sets the entrails wriggling within you “But think, the: he continues, pointing a huge gnarled forefinger at you, “think, then—how would yon fe€l without a boat in midocean with a clear horizon about you? How would you feel then?"’ You know—with his eyes looking into yours. You know you would throw up your hands and sink But no—-not with that fiery hate in you that burns in your very bowels. You would swim—swim—swim —swim! You are always with him—with him as he treads water, or strikes out, or foa's, looking up into the hlue cloudless sky., You see the froth in his flery hair, the spume in his tawny mustaches, sometimes floating about his mouth like sea weed, and those huge white limbs moving under water. And you see Lhat broad, square chin beat agalins: munion address was by Rev. I', N. Swane berg, Oakland. The dedication ceremony was held Sun- day afternoon in the college chapel, cone ducted by Rev. . M. Lindberg of Omaha, assisted by thirty-two ministers present. As the chapel could hold but a fraction of the people assembled, they procecded to a large tent provided on the campus for the rest of the program. The spcakers were Governor Mickey, Dr. Gustav Andreen, president of Augustana college, Rock Island, 1., and Rev, C. G. Olson. Governor Mickey gave a very practical and forcible address on “Character Build- Ing." Dr. Andreen delivered an address on “What Mean Ye By These Stones?' refer- ring in short to the history of Swedish Lutheran education in the United States, showing the great part which the Lutheran church has taken in the educational development of this country. Rev. Olson delivered an address in Swedish on “The Importance of Luther Academy in the Nebraska Conference,” The following letters were said: “WHITE HOUSE, Washington, D. €., October 9, 1603.—The president regrets his inabllity to accept the courteous invitation of the committee to be present at the twentieth anniversary of Luther academy and the dedication of the new building, October 10 and 11, 1903." “STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Sept. 16, 1903: Pregident O. J. Johnson, Wahoo, Neb.—I have herehy the honor to inform you that In accordance with the graclous command of his majesty, the king, I have sent you today a flag of Sweden and Norway for the dedication of your new building. With highest esteem GUSTAI® CELSING, “Chief of His Majesty's Bureau.” It was estimated that 000 people were on the campus Sunday afternoon, and only about half of the crowd could get into the tent, The epthusiasm throughout the after- noon exerciacs, both on the part of the audience and the speakers, was wrought to a very high pitch, The festivities were closed Sunday evening by religlous services in the church and In the college chapel. the wavelets like the prow of a Viking pirate ship. So he fought, ten long hours— fought while the sun climbed up the center of the metallic dome of the heavens and began to descend again, and the screaming gulls circled about his head and even lighted near by. Ilere he pauses once more, and tells you he sank; only for a second, mind you, but he sank He saw the men of his watch stalking about the streets of Honolulu. He saw them in the drinking shops leaning against the bars. Ife heard then telling how he had drowned and they chuck!ed and ogled cne another. 1le saw big Steve grin, as he said: “Poor su we could He must have been a fearsome sight then, shooting up again, above the surface ‘ker, we'd a picked him up if like a sca demon, shouting vengeancel Never! e would swim-—-swim—swip— awhn! Here he gets maudlin and funny at once and you can’'t quite make out what hap- pened, You know he saw the foresails of a square-rigged ship, but he doesn't tell how he got aboard it Figuratively speak- ing, he slobbers and falls all over the cap= tain and bos'n of Garnet. Then he laughs again., “You know, dey ask me, ‘Vere you come from? Ha, ha, ha, ha! I tell dem I vas in a vhale's belly, like Yona. Ha, hay ha, ha! I don’t tell dem nothing till next day." By this time he is too drunk to tell morey but you have the tale, You look at the huge, drunken brute before you—ugly, une couth, heroie, drunk—and in spite of ali, & thrill of admiration comes over you. And you feel that the Vikings must have been just such heroic brutes,