The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1871-03-14

followed aflfT Aad entered tbs church A
sceas more picturesque can hardly b,
Imagined A. tie eaiiy dressed party
marched up tAe central aisle we had tim,
10 loak about a. aad Hate tho contrast ba.
tween s5mhrt age and youthful bsps, a..
eramplcd Bra the church and wedding
party. The walls age Of great thickness.
and whitCwashel. ite windows few, tai.
angular aud small. \ third part Of the
interior g. divided ofr for the choir by d
thick white wall, and an old wooden grin
+ with roses carved around its frame ellis
The opening, ia which IS q rude crucinT
supported by two eherubs The pulpit
stands against the wall on one side, aud
from il leads a gallery 10 the choir. IL is
Of dark wood, and on each panel, rudely
paiuted is figure Of some saint. On the
wall, hang here and there black tablets,
inscribed with the record Of the virtues Of
former human greatness within the
+ choir hang the portraits Of some baron
.
+ eyes Of the generations Of three centuries.
Around the sides are pcwed stalls, the
wainscoting behind being decorated with
the painted cfligics Of saints. The altar
was covered with a simple white cloth,
and the altar piece depicted the cruciiiX-
Ion. \ brass chandelier swung from the
centre Of the ceiling, and beside II pended
an angel Of colored porcelain bearing in
bis hands q she'll for baptisnal use. The
ceiling is fiat aud crossed by rancrs be-
tween which are Cherub's heads Around
two sides Of the walls is q deep wooden
gallery, supported by stout pine posts,
carved into the scmblauce Of BYZANTINE
columns. In the front Of that pant over
hanging the aisle in large square, high
sided pew, with armorial bearings on its
carved top, still showing some of its orig
iual gilt, probably the place where, in by
gone years, the lusty couple, whose por-
traits hang beyond, bowed the knee in
another faith.
The pcws are sadly worn by frequent
use, and no paint has ever spoiled the
granting Of the virgin wood, and no orna-
ment characterises them, except a rude
.feur dc lis at each pew and roughly
carved date, "Anno 1912" The wedding
party reached the altar and kneelcd before
the minister, whose long black gown and
Elilabethian ruff agreed more fayorably
with the sombre church than with thegay
hued party before him. While the mar
riage service was being read, we had time
TO glance around at the friends who filed
the old pews. The mems dress have de-
scribed above, so let them go, who cares
for unpicturesque men? But the women
are quite another thing, aud as there are
pretty women in every country, 50 there
are in Norway, where their prettincss is
often much enhanced by gay costumes.
Each district has II own peculiar costume,
and in this it is exceedingly picturesque.
On their heads they wear white napkin
bound around to the back of the neck,
where the ends are fastened in some mys-
terious manner, SO as to form the top into
a triangle, the apex Of which is over the
forehead. The dress is blue cloth made
with narrow skirt which reaches to the
ankles The waist il of the same materi-
al, fashioned somewhat like the upper half
of u Quaker's coat, with full topped
sleeves that join the body at the shoulder
blades. The front is kept together by six
silver coin buttons. Above this Jacket is
worn a sort Of waistcoat of scarlet cloth
edged with green. Both upper garments
are open in front, TO display an cmbroid- /
cred shirt, across the front of which IL a
is square Of velvet gaily embroidered
with beads. Above these is large silver
brooch with numerous coneaye faces, and
around the neck a silver chain, while the
collar is held together by silver linked
buttons, aud the waistbaud is of silver
lace, Some Of the dresses were even more
richly ouamented One | noticed, en-
broidered with gold, above several bands
of trimming around the bottom Of the
skirt, while the waistcoat edge was COW
cred with gold pendants,
The wedding ceremony concluded and
the friendly congratulations ended, the
party returned TO their homes in the same
prBpf, .s thpv rafup Tbpre thc tabIo ,VpIl
laden with huge plates of yenison aud sal
mon, aud the ever present Rat JTod
fanked with great silver tankards Of beer,
awaited them. The merry-making was
not very jolly, but exceedingly practical
and comfortable, 30 far as good beer and
plenty Of tobacco went, and that is all
saw OF wedding in Norway.
D. A, II.