Wise-Knut B j or nstj erne Bj ornson :..i'.'. I Book -hU S? Copyright N° COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. WISE-KNUT \ BJORNSTJERNE BJORNSON WI SE-KN UT BY BJORNSTJERNE BJORNSON From the Norwegian by Bernard Stahl BRANDU'S 767 Lexington Avenue NEW YORK ^p x Copyright, 1909 By BRANDU'S THE PREMIER PRESS NEW YORK ICU253: Just a Word A T a time when the book-counters groan under the weight of Su- pernatural Studies, Fantastic Mani- festations, the Mysteries of Spiritu- alism, Scientist and New Thought literature, etc., it may interest not only the followers of Mrs. Eddy, Dr. Sears, the late Dr. Lombroso, Pro- fessor James, Dr. Stead and others of the cult, healers and investigators, but also the public at large to be- come acquainted with a sane little book written by the well-known Norwegian philosopher and author Bjornstjerne Bjornson. This work was published in Nor- way about forty years ago. WISE-KNUT Let me ask you, gentle reader, to compare it with the voluminous pub- lications of to-day dealing with a similar subject. The comparison, I'm quite certain, will be a great and genuine surprise to you. First because Bjornson in a con- densed, simple form describes many of the newest and moststartling phe- nomena of to-day as exhibited in the useful life of a peasant a century or more ago. Secondly, because it must greatly astonish you to find this modest peas- ant healer and seer possessed of a gift which is shown to have been even more powerful and wonderful than that of many a famous healer, seer 6 WISE-KNUT and "wizard" performing in costly churches in the midst of richly dressed people or in large halls. Thirdly, because of late the inter- est of the world has been stirred by the telepathic communications and spiritistic phenomena transferred from another world to Mme. Eusapia Paladino the famous Italian medium. And so many and so wonderful are the manifestations, so earnest is the belief of reputable scientists and famous authors essaying their differ- ent inquiries into the ways of me- diums and disembodied spirits, that the most skeptical are forced to stop short and listen. I myself stood still for a long WISE-KNUT while listening intently to the start- ling accounts of the Paladino seances and to stories of telepathy, of healings, of phantasms and appari- tions until I was compelled to take a long deep breath. And while so do- ing I suddenly remembered a book by Bjornson entitled "Wise-Knut" that I as a boy of fifteen had read with unbounded wonder and curi- osity. It is.this book that I have now had the pleasure of making avail- able to American readers, and I have tried to imitate so far as possible the sweet and simple expression of the author. Am I mistaken in my belief, I wonder, that Bjornson — uncon- sciously perhaps — forty years ago 8 WISE-KNUT touched a still new and wonderful field for examination and discovery: — that the apparent mysteries of spi- ritualism and spiritual manifesta- tions are nothing more nor less than the mysteries of the human nervous system, about which we still are quite ignorant? Perhaps this little book may help to answer the question: "What is a miracle?" Bernard Stahl. 36 Fifth Ave., Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Wise-Knut T N the seventeenth century a boy in Romsdal, Norway, went into the mountains after a load of hay. The grass which is cut from the enclosed Saterfield (outfarm) during the summer is usually stored up in a barn until midwinter when it can be easily carried home from the moun- tains on a sled. As the boy was loading the sleigh the Whole barn suddenly fell down — the horse run- ning away in one direction, the boy in another; and he never again came home to Romsdalen. But a few years after this adven- ture he was found to be married and ii WISE-KNUT to have settled down on a deserted farm called Nordgaarden, Svastum county in Gausdal State. This farm was given to him probably together with the woman Who became his wife. This couple had a daughter who became engaged to a traveler, but when the brother of the traveler came to the house he fell so despe- rately in love with her that he took both the bride and the farm away from his brother. Their son, Jo- hans, was of a somewhat singular temperament and was known in his homestead as a man who could "see things." Johans married and had a son who was named Rasmus, and he in turn had married and had nine 12 WISE-KNUT children, one of whom was Knut, "Wise-Knut" And under this name he is known not only over the whole of Norway but also over a large part of Sweden. Knut was not like other children. Far from it. He was often very sick, and suffered intensely from the falling-sickness (epilepsy) and for that reason was unable to take part in the hard farm work or in fact do anything at all. Nor could he be taught to read except by listening to the other children. But the teacher soon took a liking to this strange ail- ing boy, with big' sparkling and strongly squinted eyes, a defect, how- ever, which only gave an added im- pression of something strange and 13 WISE-KNUT absent. It happened quite often that Knut suddenly fell down from the school-bench and lay for a long while entirely unaware of himself and his surroundings. Hiis school- mates saw something quite super- natural in him. The falling-sickness, however, be- came less pronounced as the boy grew up. He wias confirmed (only on what he understood and had learned by heart, as he could neither write nor read) and had already hired himself out for a day-laborer as his father had just died and the family was in great need. But he couldn't stand the hard work, the fits came back, and he had soon to return home. 14 WISE-KNUT He was born and brought up in a poor mountain district and on one of its very poorest farms at that. His delicate health craved better nour- ishment but that he couldn't have. And so he stayed at home with his mother and soon made up his mind to learn to read and Write by his own effort. This undertaking was looked upon by the peasants as a form of divine worship, for all the "book-learning" they knew of was the knowledge of their Lord, His words and deeds; even the art of writing and reading was regarded by them as "a gift of grace." Knut's mother was a sincere Chris- tian and so was his teacher, and this 15 WISE-KNUT influence, as well as the boy's delicate health, made him trust in God and lean upon Him as his only support. If wie add to this his early inclina- tion to dream and talk about the su- pernatural and the marvelous, we find it easy to understand what a great influence the Bible with its prophets and its miracles must have had over this sensitive boy and the convincing evidence and reality it lent to his visions and dreams. Poor lad! There he lay in his bed disabled and dreaming, op- pressed by poverty, shut in by moun- tains and ever yearning. What wonder that he began to transform his home and all the narrowness about him by making things appear 16 WISE-KNUT big and beautiful in his imagination! The very first thing he would do, he promised himself, after leaving the bed would be to help his mother with the farm work and to work hard trying to make the farm larger and more profitable. Oh, the farm, he was sure, would become one of the finest in the county. And in fact as soon as he was able to walk about he began eagerly to clear away stones and trees in order to cultivate new land, and he also built a new barn in his unskillful way. His devotedness bound him for a while to his home and his work, but it could hardly be expected to last long. The very smallest chance (as soon as the wings were grown suf- 17 WISE-KNUT ficiently) could drive him to flight into the world of mysticism and dreams. Although well informed as he was on religious matters he was once pre- vailed upon to try a superstitious remedy for his ailment. The rem- edy consisted of three drops of blood taken from three crippled persons, and this was to be eaten on a piece of bread. He should further take the heart out of a snake (in the spring before the call of the cuckoo), and this he should roast and eat. He also received an amulet to be worn about the neck. To do such things, he believed, was to come in contact with super- natural power and soon this thought 18 WISE-KNUT began to burn him and he had no more peace. "Hadn't the Lord forbidden all witchcraft?" "Who was Knut that he dared to put his trust in any other power than that of God?" "What would become of him who had forgotten his God ; yes, betrayed Him?" Every idle word and thought since his early childhood now came marching along placing its heavy weight on his racked heart. His feeble health could not long endure the strain of the severe fight within him and he was often tempted to end his miserable life, — a life already lost. Whenever he caught sight of 19 WISE-KNUT a knife he was tempted to use it against himself. At last he decided to go to church (miles and miles away) kneel down at the communion table, partake of the Lord's supper, and receive forgiveness. There was as a rule no service held at the Svastum church during the winter, but notice had been sent out that there would be a service with communion six weeks after Christ- mas, and to this Knut wished to go. But three days before the service was to take place he became so violently ill that he had to keep in bed for weeks. ^During this sickness he was a de- fenceless prey to perpetual intoxica- tions of the senses. After days of 20 WISE-KNUT fainting spells he became at last calmer and then he could hear harps playing in the air (compare Ibsen's "The Masterbuilder" Hilde's re- peated talk about harps playing in the air) and the singing of hymns. Later he heard music played on vio- lins and clarinets, sweeping along the floor as though it came up from the earth itself, accompanied by a choir of heavenly voices. Finally the music rose up towards the skies — and faded into silence. Later on he was able to apprehend and understand a few words of the hymns. The form was very simple and the object was to tell him that he should throw away all witchcraft, and trust in the medicament of his 21 WXSE-KNUT God which was "the flesh and blood of our Lord." The hymn ended with these lines, "If sickness, dread and pain thou fear Then sin from heart and soul first tear! 9 It is to be noted that all the hymns he then afid later "heard" were sung in the general written language of the country, while Knut himself to his death spoke the dialect of the parish only, a dialect which differed a good deal from the common lan- guage. Allow me — before I go farther in- to the life of this strange creature who in his time called forth so many 22 WISE-KNUT different opinions and so much scorn — to mention that I go by a book written in a language made up from the peasant's dialect, a sort of an- cient remains from the old Northern language. The author of this book was born of peasants but he was a man of classical education. His name was Johannes Skar and he was brought up so to speak on the strange stories related of Wise-Knut. He traveled over a good deal of the country in order to search for evi- dence and make personal investiga- tions, and it is safe to say that he never gave up or contented himself until he had found those who had been in personal contact with the famous seer. 23 WISE- KNUT Johannes Skar very often spoke with Knut himself. He lived here at Svastum in Gausdal — only a few miles from my own estate — and many of the stories here related IVe heard myself, some from the very first source and some more from the second or third, and from my very childhood indeed IVe been told stories similar to those related by Jo- hannes Skar without being able to enter into any investigations. But this has been done by Johannes Skar and of his ability, good intention, and love for truth there is not the slightest doubt. Nor is there any person living in Gausdal who denies that Knut was an honest man. Knut died in his 89th year, and re- 24 WISE-KNUT ceived until his last days all who came to him ; and one can freely say that he was known personally by every single soul throughout the whole State. It is also safe to say that from the very oldest, who had known him from childhood^ to the grown-up men of independence and authority, who, unlike the old ones, were not likely to be influenced by the strong impression of his first appearances among them or by the cry of indigna- tion his ill treatment aroused* there exists only one opinion as to his hon- esty and veracity. However, the tempest has quieted down and there is now silence in the judgment of this strange man though 25 WISE-KNUT not perhaps in arguing about the reason why he 1 more than others, should have been able to see, hear and do such marvelous things. I ought perhaps to add that the office- bearers, the clergy, the judges and others who met him during the last yeras of his life wiere as perfectly convinced of his honesty as all the rest. By so saying, however, I don't wish it to be understood that he was never the victim of self-delusion, a fact anyone can easily find out for himself. But there is much that is abso- lutely free from any sort of self-de- lusion, much that is mixed up with it — but at any rate just as wonderful, just as unaccountable. 26 WISE-KNUT Unaccountable? — Yes, there exist of course many different explana- tions, and I also have mine at hand, but will keep them back as my only wish is to display absolutely trust- worthy material for those who wish to enter upon a research that so far has been decidedly incomplete. So now we are ready to go back to Knut. From the moment he made up his mind to throw the amulet away the falling-sickness departed from him and he felt strong and well for a long time. Later he was often reminded of this painful time by certain indis- tinct music, (war-music, as he called it) delicate in its instrumental com- position but always ending in hymns *7 WISE-KNUT — formal, tiresome warnings ex- pressed in dry defective book-lan- guage. This music usually com- menced when he was in great want, and ended when he had done what the singing commanded — cried out his want to God. "He clinched his teeth together and listened as long as he could hear the song," he said, "because he wasn't to allow his own thoughts to disturb him so long as the song lasted." People thought he suffered from thick blood and suggested bleeding as an unfailing remedy for such an ailment. He was willing to "bleed" but on the way to the doctor the sing- ing began and the song told him not 28 WISE-KNUT to go, and so he was compelled to re- turn. "And the singing continued until a scale fell from my eyes and I knew instantly that it was my sin, not my blood, that created all the disturb- ances within and that prayer and prayer alone could save me." Later in the spring he was able to leave his bed and enjoy the bright morning-sun from the little stoop of his hut. The gruesome fight within was not at an end but it had been somewhat subdued and he felt more at peace. There he could sit receiving or- ders — as it seemed to him — to pick up a hymn-book, find out the hymn and take part in the singing verse 29 WISE-KNUT by verse while the invisible choir were singing most heavenly above him. It was especially the fine strong hymns which were sung to him while he in his book followed up every word with his finger. When well again "he was told" to go and wake up his brethren from sin. He was much embarrassed by this command as he feared their talk and ridicule about his "thick blood." But he was told to endure their treat- ment until he should have been to the Lord's table. From then on it should be better with him. And now something new came to him. It happened that he could sit in his hut and "hear" what was just talked about far away, yes, even in 30 WISE-KNUT foreign countries, and when the ru- mour or the mail at length reached the parish the report he had given of the news was found to be correct in every detail. And it happened when a person had lost himself in the mountains that he told the exact spot where that person strayed and he also repeatedly told where lost cattle were to be found. On a farm where no drinkable water was to be had, he told where to dig for it, and water in abundance was immediately found. And each and every one of these things oc- cured again and again. I shall a little later return more authoritatively to this matter which I've mentioned here only in passing. 31 WISE-KNUT One can easily understand the tre- mendous impression of all this on the neighboring peasants. And when the reports, often exaggerated, flew over the mountains, people came singly or in companies from every corner of the country to see him and consult him. God had raised a prophet among them! The attack on Christianity during the last century had made an im- pression on the cultivated classes in Norway and their doubts by and by had reached downward to the com- mon people. The parson of the par- ish' a man who eagerly sought to raise and enlighten his flock, had published a book that he advised all young people to use instead of 32 WISE-KNUT Luther's catechism, and in this he taught morality instead of faith. In general the peasantry had begun to look on Christianity with a certain coolness, except those, of course, who were stirred up by the call of repentance of the famous peasant- preacher Hans Nielson Hauge. However, in spite of all teaching, preaching and stirring up, the old faith soon showed itself to have the stronger grasp on the people. The old Christian faith was always burn- ing beneath it all and might flare up at any moment. When it became known that Knut would attend church the seventh of June (that day another service with communion was to be held at Svas- 33 WISE-KNUT turn church) and that Knut that day' from what had been told would drop to the church floor and remain there for two hours, people streamed to the church afar. Svastum is a long monotonous dale whose mountain-ridges on both sides are not especially high, but give an impression of gloomy heaviness nevertheless, because of the narrow- ness of the dale. The farms check- ered with fields seem to hang upon the mountain-sides and only now and then an opening is found for a level lawn. On such a lawn stands Svas- tum church, a little low wooden chapel. The river, white-green and ill-tempered, hastily passes by. A 34 WISE-KNUT few cultivated patches, wrung from the woods, light up the slopes. The inhabitants of this dale do not possess the usual liveliness of moun- tain-people' but are — like the people of the Gudbrandsdale — as a whole, quiet and gloomy. They have no national songs, nor special poetry. The people living at Svastum have as a rule long bony faces, dark hair and blue eyes with a serious and searching look. Their manners are cautious or, better still, indicate self- command. And this peculiarity, it shall be said to the honor of Gud- brandsdale, is far more prominent in this State than in any other State or parish of Norway. That's why they conduct themselves so well — the men 35 WISE-KNUT often with striking dignity and the women with charming modesty. But gloomy they are for their life is depressing, shut in as they are like the surrounding valley itself. This day, however, it was other- wise. Excitement had entered into this formal mass. A bomb had sud- denly been thrown into their midst; they were to-day to meet with the "miracle-boy," the new messenger, the new prophet sent down from God into their own district. Many were those who walked miles to meet him on his way, others waited at the church for his arrival, scattered in clusters everywhere about the lawn over which brooded the mountains. The men folks w;ore breeches and 36 WISE-KNUT high boots. Their coats had broad coat-laps and green cuffs somewhat like the uniforms worn a hundred years earlier by the Eugenes and Marlborough's soldiers and also by their forefathers who had fought as Danish-Norwegian auxiliaries. The womenfolks were dressed in black, tight-fitting gowns and had large white skauts (caps) on their heads which overhung their faces and almost hid them. From a distance it looked as though white birds were sitting in clusters around the lawn — because the sexes kept apart at the services just^as they do to-day. And there Knut came with a great following. He was at this time 37 WISE-KNUT about twenty-one years old, large- limbed and tall, but weak about the joints. He came rapidly and somewhat haltingly with the whole flock at his heels. He was bare-headed, be- cause as he said, "it had been whispered into his ear" that he should take his cap off, and from that momenfhe never put it on again as he went into fits and cramps if he did so. He had unusually long hair, raven-black and coarse, standing in a regular curve up over his broad forehead and hanging down the shoulders like flapping wings. His visage was big and extremely ex- pressive, the mouth half open, the nose long and straight brows strong 38 WISE-KNUT and heavy and eyes with unusually large and sparkling pupils. The eyes themselves saw crookedly and this added something indescribable to his look. The cast reminded the on-looker of that secret voice which mastered his will and powers. His whole appearance and the procession in which he came created both surprise and respect. The doors and windows were all open and the clergyman stood in the sacristy awaiting anxiously the mo- ment that the great mass of people would quiet down so that he could commence the service. Knut made directly for the sacristy, greeted the parson and seating himself on the parson's 39 WISE-KNUT bench he said, "I'm the per- son the whole world makes fun of because I'm compelled to tell things which are whispered into my ear." The clergyman thought the man crazy and treated him accordingly with calmness and patience. Knut sang "with bad execution" (says the clergyman in his report) "a whole lot of those hymns he had heard in the air." Those hymns still exist. They teach conversion in the way and spirit of the Old Testament, ex- cept that they threaten no infernal torment. "If the people won't listen to the command of God," was the threat, "pestilence and bloody war will 40 WISE-KNUT come." (It is to be noted that this took place only four years after a long-lasting war and a following famine.) But the threat was only incidental. Even the very first hymn was more alluring than threat- ening, describing as it did all the wonderful things the soul would re- ceive from the hand of God, and the severe inducement to aim for those things only was very forcibly ex- pressed in all the hymns. And so hymn after hymn was sung while the immense gathering pressed forward against the entrance of the church in the hope of catching a glimpse of him. And it was such a beautiful day in June, and such peace all about, such blessed stillness! The 41 WISE-KNUT parson could do nothing, not even move. In Knut's second hymn were mentioned the vices and all the dif- ferent abuses committed in the par- ish, also those of the church; but the form was always mild. The third complained of the abolishing of some of the catholic holidays. The Lord wasn't worshipped enough. At last the service was commenced, and the people again rushed forward, but the church was already packed. Scores of people were standing in throngs in the doorway and in front of the open windows. Soon it was reported that Knut was trembling violently because a new and worthless hymn-book had been used. The singing ceased, and 42 WISE-KNUT the congregation were simply com- pelled to sing from the old book. (It was clear that this silent com- mand had made deep impression, for the old hymn-book was dearly loved). In the mean-while Knut had become so fatigued that two of his brothers had to lead him forward to receive his remission of sins. He was fully unaware of himself when he was again returned to his seat. The whole congregation was strong- ly affected by this sight, and the serv- ice had once more to be stopped. When the minister at last ordered him to be taken out of the church, Knut most touchingly besought the people to allow him to lie there in the temple of God. But at last he 43 WISE-KNUT had to be carried out of the church and laid on the lawn. Then he was attacked by a cramp so terribly se- vere that he was repeatedly thrown sprawling up in the air while be- tween the attacks, in the most appeal- ing way, he besought the people not to touch him. And they began to sing and pray with him. There were women who turned away weep- ing; his suffering and goodness af- fected them too much. At length the minister came out of the church and took part in the singing and afterward he tried to explain the situation and to talk the people into peace and calmness. He told them the best he could that Knut was in the same condition that they were 44 WISE-KNUT themselves when they were dream- ing. Knut remained at a farm near the church till the following Tuesday when he "received a messsage" to take the sexton, his old teacher, along with him to the church, to open the door and ring the bells for him. He further received a message to go the direct way facing the church all the while — crossing fences, rocks, heaped up stones, ditches and I don't know what. A woman who saw him pass by said, "I noticed a streak of light above him and along the road he followed." In the church he remained for hours and when he at last was brought out he began to sing on an 45 WISE-KNUT endless "receipt" that he had "heard" while in church, and which on "command received" was written up and sent to the Parliament at Christiania. It w