Journal Decorah, Iowa
Bertha Stedje Arrives in Calmar From Norway. Tells of Hardships
-Journal Kngraving MISS STEDJE
Miss Bertha Stedje, niece of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Grundeland of Caftnar arrived from Bergen, Norway Thursday to make her home here in her native land.
Born in Calmar
Miss Stedje was born in Calmar' 21 years ago and in 1936 she and her parents and brothers and sisters^ moved to Norway, the native land of her parents.
Bertha was just a child then anc{ had to leave her favorite dolls, but? at the time the trip seemed like an adventure. But the war came shortly afterward and both Bertha and her family endured many hardships. There was lack of food and clothing which they weren's accus-Jtuiped to.
" Norse Red Cross Unfair I In Distributing Clothing III an interview with Miss Stedje about the hardships she told of tne unfairness of the distribution of clothing by the Norwegian Red Crc£ss stating that much of the relief clothing reaching there from the* United States was grabbed by th§ black market and sold for exorbitant prices.
*Foi instance Miss Stedje purchased a second hand dress \\ith patches for 75 kronas or 15 dollars in American money. New garments were much higher.
The clothing distributed free was cither torn or soiled and people that didfi't need it got it. She said they needed clothing and shoes many tiroes, but couldn't get .any only ontfe in a while The distribltors & thejr families seemed to profit by it. Thi"s will make the Winneshiek county people wonder what happened Jo all the clothing sent. v No Coffee For 10 Years The food situation was precarioug. For two years they had no
coffee, so they used roots of dandelions and dry peas which were roasted and then brewed into so-called coffee.
When coffee came back it was a high as two pounds for $100 and butter was $10 a pound. Although Norway manufactures a large quantity of butter it was scarce as most of the supply went to England.
Miss Stedji's home town was Songdan near Bergan but she was employed in Bergan as a maid for 125 kronas a month on which she paid 25% tax every month.
Their sugar was rationed to them weekly so they didn't feel the shortage as greatly.
No Desire to Return
Miss Stedje is still an American citizen and when she left Norway, her friends and parents she knew she had no desire to return there to live.
She sailed on July 29 on the Stavangerfjord and landed in New York August? 6th.
On the boat she met an American passenger from Cleveland, Ohio who was visiting her family in Oslo. This woman had left all her personal belongings there to her people because they were destitute. She, too, had sent much clothing to Norway which never reached the proper place.
Miss Stedje enjoyed window shopping in Chicago most about her trip. The windows in the Norwegian shops were empty.
She speaks English fluently and is an interesting conversationalist. She expects her brother and sister to join her here some
