GRAPHIS ScnIPTA - Universitetet i Oslo

40 Vagn Alstrup
In 1889 Branth married Emmy Boldsen, at
that time 25 years old. MOller was shocked to
hear that. Mgller understood that his friend
was very lonesome without any family, and
that he wanted a wife to take care of the
house. But he should have married an older
woman, and the marriage could hardly be
based on love, as according to Moller people
above 30 years did not fall in love. But
Deichmann Branth declared he had never
been so much in love and that the love was
mutual. The happy couple produced 7
children, the last one was born in L907.
Branth was very fond af the children, but the
large family also gave some economic
problems.
Branth had spent much money on books
and travelling, but on his old days he was
afraid to die before the children grew up, so
that the family would have to live on a widow's
pension, which was much lower than his own.
Branth complained that his wife would give
out a coin after turning it only once in the
hand, although she ought to turn it trvice! The
daughter Ruth remembered, that her father
was always worried about money, when they
lived in Kolding. She was interested in
photography but was not allowed to keep the
tapwater running, and she had to rinse the
prints when her father was out.
Branth travelled much. He participated in
a large student meeting in Uppsala in 1856.
After finishing his studies he went on a
journey to ltaly in 1857. He participated in
scientific meetings in Copenhagen and
Stockholm and in several church meetings and
conventions. In 1891 he participated in a
botanical excursion to Bornholm to teach the
students about lichens. On his older days he
went to stay at a health resort every year, to
prevent his rheumatism to develop.
Life and economy of a vicar.
As payment for the religious duties the church
gave the vicar a farm to live oo, and it was
then up to the vicar, how much he could earn
as a farmer. Often they had to pay pension to
the former vicar or his widow. Branth payed
GRAPHIS SCRTPTA 4 (reez)
1000 kr per year to his predecessor, which he
thought was far too much, as the old fellow
was completely insipid, avaricious and pettish
and absolutely had no pleasure of or need for
the money. Branth was very happy when the
predecessor died and the widow should have
only 500 kr per year. Branths successor on the
contrary paid too little, as the amount was
based on the last 5 years relatively low taxes.
Branth called his successor a beast, an
agreeable party-man, ventriloquist, and
christmas-he-goat for the parish council. The
wife was called self-important, boasting and
obtrusive.
Many vicars let their land on lease, but in
long periods Branth took care of the farming
himself, as it was difficult othenvise to earn
enough. He had many problems with the
farm-hands and often complained about
falling prices, other troubles and the time
spent on farming, which could othenvise have
been spent on church duties or science. He
was also proud that he could raise the farm
production, and the farmers of the parish
looked up to him for his farming. Branth
supplemented his income by writing books and
articles about religious matters.
Branth was an eager preacher and
seriously interested in the religious life of his
congregation and tried to improve their
chastity, but he often complained about how
little effect all his efforts made. At one time he
wrote that only two members of the
congregation found favour in his eyes. He also
took eager part in the public religious debate,
e.g. he advocated that sundays should be free
from duties, giving ordinary people time to
deal with something else. His work with the
congregation was impeded by the activities of
several sects, lay preachers, and strong
political turbulences.
Branth did not belong to any of the
normal theological schools. He had his o\tn
strong opinions and he did not always promote
his views with diplomary. His personal
thinking combined with a sharp and perhaps
patronizing style was not always welcome for a
religious debate, and in the end, only the