“The recent Congress of the Scandinavian Press, at Christiania, was a very important affair, including receptions by King Oscar and the Municipality of Christiania, and Björnson and Ibsen had both been invited to take part in it. Neither, however, put in an appearance. Ibsen wrote a polite letter explaining that his old age prevented him from accepting the invitation. Björnson was not so courteous. He sent the following telegram to the President of the Congress:
‘I do not make long voyages to dine with people who spread calumnities against me, and attack my honour daily.’”
Anonymous, ‘The Literary Week’, The Academy, London:1899
