cultural resources in henrik ibsen's early environment - Ibsen.net

spark was reflected in Henrik Ibsen's eyes. I have depicted our first meeting so precisely,
because forever after, even after more than 60 years have elapsed, it has stood clearly in
my memory with a strong intensity.
After some time had passed the proprietor of Grimstad Apothecary sold his "royal
privilege" to (another apothecary) Nielsen, who immediately moved it to the eastern part
of the town, to the house where the liquor store was at that time. The location here was
brighter, friendlier, within sight of the harbor traffic, and Apothecary Nielsen had been
my acquaintance for several years, since we had business accounts together in the savings
bank, so it followed thereafter, that I made frequent visits to the pharmacy, all the more
since it lay near both the place of my daily business and my lodgings.
Naturally I then made Ibsen's acquaintance, and as usual between teenagers we
quickly became good friends. For me this acquaintance became a source of great
happiness, and there developed afterwards a mutual sympathy between us. Ibsen needed
a comrade, later also a trustworthy friend, and he had no choice.
Soon I felt more and more strongly drawn to him. His intelligence and bubbling
humor were so very interesting, since these characteristics were missing among my other
circle of comrades.
Gradually I became a daily guest at the pharmacy, usually around evening, when
Ibsen sat resting in his room. I looked forward happily to these gatherings all day. It was
something new and appealing to hear his quick comments, these free, and for me partly
new views of life, to be sure impudent and full of paradoxes, it seemed to me, but always
interesting. And in me he had an appreciative listener, who followed him with
enthusiasm in his at times wild flights from the trivial circumstances in which he lived,
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