August 24 Thursday – In Sanna, Sweden Sam wrote to Hans L. Braekstad

Unhappily for me I was obliged to telegraph a request to the National Theatre Director. Kellgren has promised to deliver me from an ailment of six years standing; I think it is rather plain that he is going to succeed; so it would not be fair to interrupt the process in the middle & risk the loss of the ground gained.

It is a great disappointment to me to miss that festival occasion. I know I am losing the opportunity of a lifetime. I thank you & the Director of the National Theatre most cordially for your kindness & courtesy in offering me a place among the guests [MTP].

Note: The National Theatre in Oslo, Norway, which traced its origins to Christiana Theatre (founded in 1829) would give its first performance on Sept.1. There were three “official” opening performances on subsequent days; Sam was likely invited to one or all of these. Hans L. Braekstad worked for the festival and was also a translator. He published Fairy Tales from the Swedish (1901). The Director of the National Theatre from 1899 to 1907: Bjørn Bjørnson (1859-1942), actor and director.