Complete Works of Henrik Ibsen (715 page)
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Authors: Henrik Ibsen
ROME, January 9th, 1884
Dear Bjornson:
THANK you for your New Year’s letter. And pardon me for waiting until to-day to send you an answer. You must not think that in the mean time I have been in doubt regarding the matter. To me there was nothing to consider; immediately after I had read your letter I had the answer ready, and here it is.
I neither can nor will take any leading position at the Christiania Theatre. My theatrical experiences and the recollections of home are not of such a nature that I should feel any inclination to revive them in practice. I might certainly feel a responsibility and a duty in the matter if I thought that as director I could do anything to the advantage of our dramatic art; but of this I despair greatly. Our theatre staff is demoralized, will not submit to discipline and yield absolute obedience; and moreover, we have a press which is ever ready to support the refractory ones against the leader. This is the chief reason with us why we cannot, as in other countries where the anarchistic tendencies are less developed, obtain any real ensemble. I do not think I could succeed in changing these conditions to something better; for they are too closely connected with our whole national view of life; and moreover, my inclination for the practical business of the theatre is too small. Therefore I would not under any circumstances undertake this matter.
But, dear Bjornson, the main point, however, is
this,
that it is not me at all whom the committee wants. For it is you and no one else. Whether the hesitation which you feel in accepting the offer is quite unconquerable I naturally cannot judge; but I would feel a hearty joy for the sake of the whole matter if it were not. I shall of course assume under all circumstances that you will reject the offer only after the closest consideration.
But whatever you make up your mind to do yourself, the proper authorities ought to provide that your son be attached to the theatre — that is if he is willing. Last fall I exchanged a couple of letters with him concerning other affairs, and I still further gained confirmation of my conviction that in him we would be able to get just
that
technical theatrical officer whom we most of all need. Schroder might then, in case of need, remain, — that is provided you cannot by any means accept the committee’s offer.
Besides, I must say that I am not quite sure whether the Christiania public at present really feels the need of a good theatre. The concourse which the operettas and equestrian performances at Tivoli almost always can enjoy, and the interest which is shown in the students’ and shopmen’s amateur performances, seems to me to suggest a point of culture which not yet quite grasps the true dramatic art. For that reason I regret that the opera at the Christiania Theatre was abandoned. The opera requires less culture of its public than does the drama. Therefore, it flourishes in the large garrison cities, in the mercantile cities, and wherever a numerous aristocracy is gathered. But from an opera public may be gradually developed a dramatic public. And for the theatre’s staff, also, the opera has a disciplinary power; under the baton the individual has to place himself in perfect submission.
The other points in your letter I shall return to at another time. Cordial thanks for the photographs. Best regards to your wife from us. Also regards to the Lie family. I wait with great anxiety to learn your final decision in the theatre matter. Thanks, thanks, and may success attend “A Gauntlet” and “Pastor Sang.” Stage them yourself now. Farewell for this time.
Yours truly,
HENRIK IBSEN
Letters XI-XIV were first published in the Norwegian daily
Verdens Gang,
Christiania, July 12 and 14,1906.
(Jonas Lie (1833-1908) was one of Norway’s greatest novelists and frequently called “the poet of the homes.”)
Rome, May 25th, 1879
My Dear Jonas Lie:
I HAVE been guilty of great negligence in postponing so long an answer to your letter. Many a time have I thought that I now ought to write to you, but have unfortunately not followed up my good intention.
You wish advice concerning a place for your future residence in Germany. Probably the advice comes too late now, for I presume you have already made your choice; but, nevertheless, I shall tell you what I know. Dresden, when we arrived there, in 1868, was an inexpensive place to live in; but after the war the price of rent and other necessaries went up so that during the later years that we remained there, until the spring of 1875, we spent yearly about twice the sum that had been sufficient in the first part of our residence. I must add also that during our last residence we lived in considerably greater style than before. But under no circumstances is living inexpensive in Dresden any longer, unless the prices should have been reduced since my departure. I have not heard, however, that such is the case. On the other hand, the climate in Dresden in winter is usually very mild and agreeable, and in summer there is ample opportunity to find in one of the many neighboring country towns or villages along the Elbe a both inexpensive and easily accessible lodging place, in beautiful scenery and in healthy and bracing air. Particularly would I call your attention to Pillnitz, an hour’s ride by steamer from Dresden. The Dresdeners themselves do not associate much with strangers; nor do the strangers themselves mingle very much, or at least only with those of their own nationality; but in the winter there are usually a number of Norwegians living there.
I must very decidedly dissuade you from spending your summer at Salzburg. The city is so situated that it is visited either by oppressive heat or by much and excessively long rain. It would be much more satisfactory to choose one of the neighboring places, either Reichenhall, or the less expensive and more country-like Berchtesgaden. At both places are to be found mineral baths, and probably you might be able to avoid going to Gastein. If you should make up your mind for Berchtesgaden, then I would recommend you to inquire for lodging at Wagemeister Hasenknapf’s or at Bergmann Jakob Kurz’s; they are plain, simple people, good and worthy, and I feel sure that you would be satisfied there. The surroundings of Berchtesgaden are quite the finest imaginable; the Komgsee is but an hour’s walk distant, and there is opportunity for a number of excursions elsewhere.
But tell me one thing: have you never thought of trying Munich as a living place? There the climate is more severe in the winter than at Dresden, but I know that many rheumatic people feel very comfortable at Munich; the chief thing is to choose lodgings with a southern exposure. As for me, I feel in excellent health in the climate of Munich; there is a healthy, strengthening air, and one feels plainly the nearness of the Alps. Munich is less expensive than Dresden. There is there, also, a very good technical school where many Norwegians are studying. It has been my experience that there is more opportunity for social intercourse at Munich than at Dresden, and a more varied and interesting public life.
I just wanted to direct your attention to this. Of course, it is not any advice, for I cannot know what is most suitable for your state of health.
As for ourselves, we spent last summer in the Tyrol and came here in September. Next fall we shall again be in Munich. My son (Sigurd Ibsen, Henrik Ibsen’s only child, was born in Christiania on the 23d of December, 1859. He entered on a diplomatic career, was a member of the Norwegian cabinet from 1903 to 1905, and is at present (1909) living in Rome.) who became a student there previous to our departure, and who has been studying this year at the University of Rome, will, in October, continue his studies at Munich for a couple of years; afterward, of course, it will be necessary for him to complete them at Christiania. Whether we shall accompany him thither is still uncertain; I do not feel any particular desire to do so. Life out here in Europe is, anyhow, freer and fresher and larger.
I am busy at this time with a new dramatic work, which I hope to have finished in another month or so. I have been told that you also are working at something new.
We should be very glad if we could meet you in some place or other, and we hope that it will so happen. Until then we send our best regards to you all.
Your devoted
HENRIK IBSEN
ROME, June 22d, 1882
My Dear Jonas Lie:
I MUST not any longer put off writing to you; to my disgrace I have already put it off too long, but as for letter-writing I feel that I am, unfortunately, about incorrigible.
Let me then first and foremost from a full heart thank you for and congratulate you upon your new book. It is a new proof of the fact that among the writers of sea stories there is not in the present generation a single poet who can think of equalling you.
The pictures of the herring fishery are perfect masterpieces in every respect; they occupy all senses; I actually smelled herring when I read them, I saw herring scales glisten wherever I turned my eyes, and it seemed to me as if I stepped into the slippery herring entrails wherever I walked or stood. That is the way it should be done!
Well, of this book you have surely had much joy already. For opinions cannot well be divided; the twaddling critics of the newspapers will hardly find anything with which to pick a quarrel. So far as I have seen, their opinions have been unanimous.
Thank you also for the letter with which you delighted me when the war against “Ghosts” raged fiercest. It came to pass as you then wrote: the storm has subsided, and there are in many quarters signs of a more dispassionate consideration of the book. In Sweden it has occasioned a whole literature of pamphlets and periodical articles. Most cowardly, as usual, the Norwegians proved themselves to be; and the most cowardly of the cowardly ones, of course, were the so-called liberals. They were in downright bodily fear that they should not be able to clear themselves of the suspicion of being in any kind of agreement with me.
Day before yesterday I finished a new dramatic work in five acts. I am not yet sure whether I shall call it a comedy or a drama; it partakes of the nature of either, or lies half way between; it will be printed in the course of the summer, but will not appear until late fall.
Yesterday Sigurd took the second part of the law examination and passed with great credit in all subjects. In about fourteen days he will take the third and last part, the so-called laureat examination, and immediately afterward he is going to defend his thesis for the degree of doctor of law; the thesis has already been sanctioned and treats of “The Position of the Upper House in Representative Constitutions it amounts to over one hundred closely written quarto pages.
When these affairs are finished we leave Rome temporarily to spend the summer in the Tyrol. Next fall we come here again.
And what plans have you and yours for the summer? Is there perhaps a possibility that we might meet? It would be a very great joy to me. We had originally thought of going to Norway this year; but as the examination comes so late that the best part of the summer will be lost we have had to give up that plan or put it off until next year.
Perhaps this letter will not reach you in Hamburg, but I hope that it will reach you anyhow. Best regards to your excellent wife from us, and likewise to the children. I often speak of the pleasant times together in Berchtesgaden.
Your devoted friend,
HENRIK IBSEN