European Languages and Societies Commons^™

The Way It Was, Thorvald Hansen

The Bridge

When New York is mentioned, it seems that thoughts inevitably tum to a very large city, tall buildings, and with sidewalks and streets crowded with unfriendly people. The latter is only partially true, but it fits the common understanding, or perhaps one should say, misunderstanding, of the city and, more importantly, the state.

Excerpts From The Course Of My Life, Jens Hansen, Edward A. Hansen

The Bridge

Jens and Maren Stine Rasmusdatter came from the small island of Mom, Denmark. On a larger map of Denmark, Mon is a scarcely discernible plot of separated land, with chalk cliffs on its eastern seaboard and sandy beaches on the other. Stege is its chief town, set by an inlet called Noret and surrounded by verdant fields and forests. It is an idyllic spot, with its own culture and legends. Residents love it. Present day tourists are charmed by it.

From this fabled island, Jens Hansen made his first journey to America. He remembers it as happening in the winter …