Cairo evening times. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-11
Correspondence of the Cairo Evening Times.

Correspondence of the Cairo Evening Times.
BERGEN, NORWAY. July 10th, 1865
We had three days trip from Trendhjen
here, with two or three touches of the broa,
sea. The greater portion Of the way was Ek
being in a river, so shut in were we by islands
The golden light of the nights was never NOR
enjoy able. We.took no note of time-at /:
and l o'clock would bid each other good NOR
ming and seek, reluctantly, rest below. w
stopped along at all the coast towns, and spen
a day at Christensud, and called on the En-
glish Consul, kind old Scotch gentleman wht
has lived here over forty years, and whose
Norwegian wife speaks but broken English
This little town. Of six hundred inhabitants
built upon three barren isolated islands of rock
sent off last year ten thousand tons of salt fish
and vast amount of cod-liver Oil. Mr.. A
showed us some specimens of it, so limpid and
pure that it did not seem so odious a potion az
generally considered 1t is prepared thus
The cod-livers are cut up, put i'll a pan and set
IN another containing warm water, kept ar
even temperature till they are converted tc
oil. This, put in casks, is again placed in q
heated room, to settle for few days when it
is run off into other casques, through cotton
wool, so that all sedi ment is caught
1lo SeCTet VI It's pTllne qualify anu cOlOfleSS
color lies in converting, in their fresh
est state, the livers to oil. Comparing the
cost here and the price it brings with us, an
immense profit rests upon some ones hands.
1t is used freely by the Norwegians for con-
! sumption, which is very common among the
people and for cutaneous diseases, which often
take the form of leprosy. Especial provision
is made for such cases in all the hospitals. We
have seen some of the patients thus afflicted in
hos o1 = i 4o1,o IL, II
the leprosy l saw in the East 1t
| consumes the part affected instead
OF incrusting it with festered corruption. We
arrived here Sunday in time to get to church,
to see the congregation disperse-a most pic
turesque scene, the women all IN varied cos
tunes which seem something like the Scotch
clans, to belonging to families rather than
| districts; dresses all thick material, dark blue
or black cloth, quilted down figure behind
| from the hips; plain, in front, short, often
| band of bright color green around the
bottom, scarlet woolen stockings, half high
| shoes, variety of curious jackets, some a
mere vest, red, with coarse linen waist open in
| front, with stomacher Of bright worsted work.
| No spindlng waists, but natural erect, we'll
| developed forms seen the world over,
| have observed; where the ;torture Of whale
bone, steel and corsets have never been intro
! duced.
numberin--thc dunes all i'll some sort of an ex-
panded cap, and maidens with ornamented
braids.
Went into the church and remained during
the administering of the sacrament. The min
lister dofs black robe and ruff for 4 white one
with red velvet over-robe, a gold cross in the
back, golden sun rays in front, with a Hebrew
text reads the service, organ plays, a choir Of
men sing lie places a wafer upon the tongue
of each communicate there are burning
candles, and a few biblical pictures about the
altar, all of which, including service, from my
religious standpoint, is very Catholic. Sur
rounding all the Norwegian churches is the
Goods Acre. the silent, populous village Of
the dead. In no other country have l seen it
so carefully tended so beautifully kept There
really seem no neglected graves, although bear
ing date 1900; each is usually re-decked with
fresh flowers and wreaths every Saturday, so
that those who come 10 church on Sun
day, walk through a continuous flower bed;
many of the enclosures are furnished with
seats under pretty arbors, where friends sit
seemingly to hold converse with the spirit of
| loved ones gone before There is an interest
ing fact connected with all the inscriptions,
noticed on the simple slabs or crosses usually
placed at the grave l have never found one
containing scriptural quotation but commonly
the name, date of birth, and death, with some
| simple motto, ''Rest in Peace - ''Peace to
thy Ashes. ''Thou art Remembered
Thou shall never be forgotten" We happened
to witness a funeral ceremony. The street from
| the deceased S house to the churchyard was
strewn with fresh, fragrant cedar boug CHS as
| well as the sidewalk before the door of his
friends and family. The uncovered coffin,
quite covered with flowers, made into bo-
quets, crosses and Wreaths, sent often by friends
! as last token Of regard, rest under lyche
gate, covered way, at the churchyard en-
| trance, while a portion Of scripture is read;
and when lowered into its narrow bed, re-
mains uncovered some hours, where weeping
friends linger, and where the curious come, aud
go, and gaze. The sides of the grave were
festooned with evergreens and boquets. The
flowers remain upon the coffin unit! it is cov-
cred, and then deck the grave.
There was general observance of Sunday,
as far as closing of shops constitute it, but all
! the public squares and principal streets 500
! thrOnged with Sunday dressed .aOpi1, as il
| something curious was about to take place;
! but it seemed only their way Of meeting, to
have social Sunday chat. You will rarely
! see more genuine, honest or intelligent look
ing people. L could but notice the prepon-
derance of old men, in red liberty caps,
| making striking contrast with their
| flowing grey hair, dressed quite like
Spanish cavaliers, short breeches, with
buttons, sometimes tassels, up the side
anu DrlSHt CicketS not llnifequcntly ornament
1 ed with genuine silver buttons, an heir loom
| and pride of the owner. But costumes are
disappearing here well as the world over.
| | see that the Empress of China has adopted
crinoline. Soon there will be no national
| dress, but every one will be done up after the
latest Paris modes There is one thing that
the lovers of adventure and novelty will have
| to console themselves with connected with
! ravel in NSkway. 1t is not probable that
! steam will ever take the place OF carriole and
! carriage travelling. The expense required to
make railways would be enormous, and neither
the resources Of the country nor increased
| travel can offer sufficient reward for the e1
penditure.
Bergen is sunk between mountains, divided
and subdivided by iords and their arms. We
have been here now four days awaiting little
steamer that is to take us ON the Hordonger
ford and we have scarcely had glimpse o
fthe mountain tops, so envelOped have they con
tnualy been in mist and rain. A native of the
place tells us that 300 days out of the year are
rainy ones so lucky is the traveller who catches
a stray sunbeam from Of the sixty
Every one is armed and equipped with al um
brella and Mackntosh A Scotch mizzle al
English fog and drenchlng rain, upon the Isle
of Skye, are expressive Of the changes that tho
elements play off upon one here, but one sool
learns to resign and adapt himself to them w,
patter, chatter and enjoy the scene, thankful
for sunshine as it comes-glad that when
rains it does not pour, and when it pours tint
consolation in the belief that it will not las
long. Ny English waterproof has never gon
through so trying an ordeal before, but prove
itself worthy the recommend given it.