On Nationality and Language in the Duchy of Sleswick [Tr. from the Danish of C.F. Allen]. (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1848 Excerpt: ... in order to effect anything they must join together and act in unity. The fruit of this acknowledgement was the foundation of the Slesivick union, for which the appeal was made by twenty five peasants in the year 1843. It has sustained many a hard struggle, and the time following its commencement been the centre of almost all endeavours that had for their object the defence of the mother tongue, the nationality, and the people's rights. During the combat they felt vividly the loss of that cultivation which the higher schools and institutions for education ought to give the children of the country, but which is denied to the Danish Sleswicker, if he will not give his mother tongue in payment as school money. In order to remedy this want, four clergymen and ten peasants issued an appeal for the purpose of founding a high-school for peasants. This appeal met with a response, and the school in Rodding has now worked successfully for several years to extend Danish spirit and education amongst the rural population of Sleswick ). They have endeavoured to strengthen one another and enliven their courage and spirit during the combat by meetings and public assemblies. Amongst these the popular meetings on Skamlingsbank are particularly celebrated over the North. Here the peasants Laurids Skau and young Ravn have shown in eloquent speeches that they not only speak Danish in Sleswick, but good Danish. But even in those times, when the people were excluded from public life, and dared not express themselves in outward acts, the Danish people in Sleswick did however much: for they were persevering, they did not give up their mother tongue. If it even durst not sound from the judgement seat, if even the people might not hear it in God's house, though another language was i...