Haabet, a Norwegian literary society, has grown in vigor and number, and is proving valuable to literary culture. The incumbent officers are: Con. Bjorklund, Prest., Jacob Slippern, V. Prest., H. Hansen, Sec., John Blaauw, Treasurer, G. O. Sande, Librarian, Hans Tokelsen, Editor.

The Norden, I. O. G. T., founded in early days, wrought out many disagreeable obstacles, and planted seeds of moral purity, but the panic of recent years scattered the prop of support to the four wings of the world, and the pretty flowers that wont to grace the hall found pleasure in other spheres. Week after week the lodge trembled on flirting arms, which little by little gave heed to other diversions, and death on wooly wings devoured the civilizing factor.

The Scandinavian Temperance Society lived through many years of gnawing resistance. From it floated mighty words of wholesome advice, but friends of the alcoholic hell, robed with smiling garbs of infernal warp, plucked the sweet blooms of future hope, and planted in their souls the stings of ruin. As days wore away, the poisonous influence from the saloon den bewitched the sprightly stripling and the hoary hair, and the temperance workers, the noblest of heroes, were too few to feed the fire of interest, and the organization withered and died.

The Scandinavian press, of Tacoma, is growing into popularity. The first Scandinavian newspaper on record in the city was, "Tacoma Budstikken," a Norwegian-Danish weekly, founded in December, 1899, by P. O. Bergan, but enjoyed only a short period of sunshine. The Tacoma Tidende was launched July 5, 1890, and ripened into a Norwegian-Danish state paper. From infancy it was in the hands of Dirk Blaauw who bid fair at journalism, but a year ago it was transferred to his brother John who has steeped it with journalistic fire, comparing in merit with the big eastern weeklies. It takes a man of a congenial nature, ability and "push" to make journalism a success, and these qualities manifest themselves every day in the editor of Tacoma Tidende.

John Blaauw was born in Bergen, Norway, 1868, but when an infant of two years he went with his parents to Christiania, where he resided till he reached the age of seventeen, save two and a half years he spent in Edinburgh, Scotland. In 1887 he emigrated to America, making Seattle his destination. Right after the great fire he embarked in Scandinavian journalism, and has practically followed it ever since.

John Blaauw.
[View Larger Image Here.]