The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-05-12

Six, anu lOur leet nlgn-ln Wnlcn tne
budeier, or girl in charge Of the sdter
kept all her Sunday wearing ap-
parel, change of linen, and .fatdrod,
fresh butter and old cheese. It bore the
inscription. "Gunhilde Oluf5 dotter.
A. d. ILL.," and was accordingly more
than a century and half old. In these
boxes, which serve the purposes of the
bureaux and chiffonieres of less secluded
Though not by any means more civil.
ized) countries, are kept the holiday
dresses, table.linen, extra.linen and
homespun cloth, and also the silver
spoons and saved.up "specier' of the
whole family, and it must be indeed a
grand occasion when any of their boxes
are opened and their contents displayed.
HOME LABoRs.
Hardly Norwegian farmhouse Is
without an immense old. fashioned loom,
upon which all the cloth and linen used
in the family is woven. Tailors and
shoemakers are unknown in rural Nor.
way, every article of wearing apparel
being made at home, from the raising
of the fax and clipping OF the sheep, to
the last stitch Of extra Embroidery and
the finishing spangle Of bridal outfit.
In corner of the shelf will be invaria-
bly, found the tools and utensils for
shocmaking, which are in steady request
during the long winter evenings when
new shoes are made for the whole house.
hold opI tho old opJ u,orp ,,,t o,os ro-
paired. If there is no more of this
work to be done, carving in wood is re.
sorted to to kill time, and in this art the
Norwegians are wonderfully proficient,
equaling the peasantry of Tyrol and the
Black Forest, whose carvings are known
and for sale all over the world. Every
man always carries short knife in a
sheath attached to his belt, and the
wooden handle of his totleknic is often a
perfect specimen in the art of beautiful
and original carving. Wooden spoons,
tankards, bowls, walking sticks and
boxes of all kinds are in this way man
uactured, many of which are bought
as soureairs by the tourists or sports
men who visit the country districts.
COSTUME.
The national dress of the Norwegians
is very peculiar, but differs considerably
in the various sogu or districts. Proba-
bly, the most picturesque is that worn
in the Bergen district, which consists,
for the men, of smart, short jacket
made of dark. blue woolen stuff, or o.
white wadmel, and is profusely adorned
in front with bright-silver buttons o
the size and weight of half.dollar
red or blue waistcoat, dark knee -breech
es, gaily colored woolen stockings, and
immense and clumsy shoes with silvel
or brass buckles; the whole person
finished off on top with red worstet
night-cap, from which hanges blue O
yellow tassel. The women wear blacl
or pepper land. salt-colored woolen jack
ct, faced with red and green binding
bright-red boddice, blue or scarle
pettcoat, and a small linen apron
bound with ribbon to match the jacket
Earrings are seldom met with, bu
large silver filagree brOoces and hug
chains and medals of the same metal
are always worn by tho women on fes
tive occasions Less tasteful is the dres
worn in Guldbrandsdalen Zone of tn
largest and most fertile valleys in Nor
way), which consists of a swallOw-tai
coat Of dark stuff with gilt or brass but
tons, leather trousers and red night cal
for the men and an ungainly robe, yer.
short in the waist, for the women, VIII
cover the head and their luxuriant gol
den hair under bright orange kerchiei
this forming the only attractive part O
their costume.
Norwegian peasants, with but few eX
ceptions, are inveterate takers, tobacco
chewers and expectOrators; habits that
in some respects, are rather somewha
of drawback to their hospitality
Your name, age, birthplace, destination
object in visiting the country, opinion
of it, calling, circumstances, and family
ties, seem all to be of special interest Il
your kind country host, and are min
utely inquired into; besides which you
| StTNullt 10 lltcINlcWt't uiiti HuiLESu
such a manner as only Norwegian coun
try-folks can do it. But in return yO
are offered hearty welcome, and ever.
facility during your sojourn among tn
mountains or fields, and you will b
told without reserve where and how t
catch the best trout, lyster Tor spear tn
finest salmon, shoot the most deliciou
ryper Tor mountain grouse), or perad
venture fall in with herd of the muct
coveted reindeer. Shooting is free t
all in Norway, the only restriction
being in regard TO the seasons in whic
game can be killed, while fishing, o
: the contrary, is private property
: though the right to indulge in this spol
is always and cheerfully granted to tn
foreign or native sportsman who ask
I permission.
f EDUCATION AND MORALS.
1 During my travelsin Norway neve
|. came across man or woman, howeve
@ old or poor, that could not read, an
very few that could not write. Educs
ton is compulsory, and schoolmaster
n appointed and paid by the governmen
e make regular visits to the distant an
= t.of-the-way lying localities, and the
}. set up school during certain term
n the year. Though not strictly speakir
4 church.going people, lowing, perhap
d to the long distances that often have
|. be traversed in order to reach the hou
@ of God,) the Norwegians are eminent
= an honest, religious people, of few a
d pearances, but with great deal of ca
g dor; who have helping hand for
n neighbor in trouble sooner than pie
D. of good advice. And this sentime
b. finds perhaps its best expression in 4
IL universal love to the dumb creation
id the Norwegian peasant, who would
10 soon think of maltreating his own XII
- and kin as his ponies and cattle, whi
~ feeling of regard for animals hOWe\