New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-22

4 VISIT TO THE HOMES OF NORWAY AND swE-
DEN By CHARLES LoRnG BRACE l2nor PIP. SiS
Charles SCribner.
Among the celebrated American travellers who
have enriched the literature of their country with
the intellectual spols of foreign lands Mr.. Brace is
distinguished for his keen observation of domestic
LIE his apt delneations of character, and his love
for illustrating the moral and religious condition of
the people. His ready sympathy with all varieties
of manners and cultivation gives him free access to
every description Of society, and he never fails to
profit by the revelations of which he is thus made
cognzant. In this new volume he well maintains
his old reputation. 1t is always lively genial, en-
Pertaining, and full of information, though many
portions appear to have been struck off at heat,
and put in print without having been subjected to
fastidious revision. This careless, of-hand charac-
ter will probably not interfere with the immediate
success of his work, though it may diminish its
value as source for future permanent reference.
The volume opens somewhat abruptly with
description of national holiday at Christisna,
where the twenty first Of June is celebrated with
popular amusements and gayety, as the eliminating
point of Summer. We soon after are introduced
to Norwegian dinner.party, aud with the aid of
our communicative cicerOne are at once made quite
al home on the occasion. A taste of it must be
given to our readers;
genial friend gave US, with some other strangers
most agreeable dinncr-party to-day Some eighteen
or twenty gentlemen and ladies were present, and the
table was truly splendid The language spoken was
mostly English Il have but one acquaintance III Chris
tauia who does not speak English). The talk was
very lively. Several students were present who had
inst returned from the great Excursion, one or two
Norwegian gentlemen If distinction, rough, blunt
81 n llgtnpulS SWedsh
an English ssmOnhsher, aud several ladies'.
Our host, though were only on the second course
rose for IA toast aud in a neat little English speech pro-
posed the health of the American guest, ana delIe-
Gated the unnatural and horrible contest into which
the two countries of England aud America seemed
about TO enter The company drank, and bowed to
me- and replied. After this, succession OF toase
was kept up in a much more formal manner than
would be customary with us on the Continent The
English and Norwegian habits in this seem TO express
more dignified hospitality than ours.
The dishes were peculiar The second course after
soup was ham cut up, and peas, passed about, and
tongue with kraut; the third, HOLSTERS boiled; tbs
fourth, asparagus; the fifth, salmon; SIXTH chickens
and mutton cut up and handed to each by the servants
then eustards, fruit and cakes, with ciaret hook,
champagne sherry, port, etc.
In the drinking of hcalths, my neghOor whispered
that he filled his glass and SO escaped TOO nucn
wine The old custom for each to empty his glass,
which is fast going into disuse The Norwegian cookery
excellent with much of cam IN the DISHES
After little, the talk turned 10 the subject OF Slavery
aud the recent disgraceful and cowardly assault by
Brooks upon Senator Sumner. The words spoken
were such a. would be good for people TO hear
seathing Indignant words at such rufianly brutality
Much further interesting conversation was kept up on
American affairs, showing thorough understanding
OF our difficulties aud struggles
Changing the scene without reference TO good
deal Of interesting intermediate matter We come
suddenly upon the most famous waterfall in Nor
way, TO which our guide has brought us on pleas
ant pilgrimage. This is in the vicinity of place
rejoicing in the brief sppenaton Of Vh, one Of the
syorite resorts of the English yachts which explore
she Norwegian coast
From this station WaLkcd hslf-Iniie TO a little
nountain-ake aud there took boat for SoebO, the
nearest station TO the waterfall. IL was duSS when
we rescbt the little inn The people had evidently
had strange travellers especially ladies' there BE-
fore, and were good deal confused There was no
sitting-roOm, but We were lighted to httle separs
log-eabiD where was an stc-room, reserved Ion the
fars, hnen etc. of the family. This produced rather
drol CONSERVATION with the lady; but as We had made
up minds 10 rough II, for the sake OF the trip
neat day, there grunbiDg, except when an uu-
tItunaie beam crushed out the only bonnet. Ihey
did all they could for Us, but the appointments were
unique. The man brought up water in little milk
bowl and piece Of linen for q towel while the wo-
got out her best damask table cloths for sheets,