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

oiShtS, anu ueW dCtOT5 Ol tnlS OlJ-lTOu'
den stage, or else to throw the never
new and fascinating drapery of poetry
and song over an overdone and unpoet-
ic reality, requires the genius of a Troll
lope De Stael, or Hans Andersen. But
luckily for the traveller who finds him
self sometimes the victim of an attack
of cacoethes scribeadi-and what trav.
eler does not?-therc are localities that
are yet comparatively unknown, where
the tourist is yet the exception instead
of being the rule, and where the red
covered guide.books have not yet per-
meated and brought down to mere
matter of. fact every interesting histor-
ical relic or "magnificent view." And
among these "by-paths Of Europe"
stands pre- eminent ancient Norway,
entitled to the first place, equally by
its geographical position, the unequall-
ed boldness of its scenery, and the an
cient customs, and among them, the
hospitality of its inhabitants.
l shall never forget the friendliness and
cordiality with which, upon recent
visit to Norway, was received and en-
tertained in every household through
out the country where, for longer or
shorter period, was a guest and an in
mate. Nor can l easily forget the many
awkward blunders l committed before
1 became initiated into the fashions and
manners of my kind hosts-small sins,
through ignorance against the estab-
lished and time.honored national code
of ceremony and behavior. "Do in
Rome as Romans do" is q very wise
precept, but somewhat difficultto follow
when you don't know how the Romans
do, but have to wait and learn that first.
/ had, for instance, no idea that 1t was
the custom in Norway-as also in Den.
mark and Sweden-to go round after
dinner and shake hands with every one
present, ladies and gentlemen, finishing
off with the host and hostess, and say
ing 10 each the Norwegian word, Uel.
6ekomme, which is about equivalent to
may the meal agree with you! AT a
large dinner party of some two or three
hundred guests this hand shaking be-
comes a serious business and it takes
some time and muscle to go through
with, and one almost gets hungry and
thirsty again by the time it is over
Likewise it is customary in every Nor
wegian family, in the cities as we'll as
in the country, to say tall for cafe after
breakfast or lunch !; and tat for the after
supper, at which tea is always served
All children, even grown.up ones with
children of their own, always say to The
parents taE for mad Qhanks for thu
meal) at every meal under the parenta
roof, or even in their own home if th
parents are present. In few countrie
is filial affection carried to such an ex
tent as in Norway; father and mothe
are names there only second to and hel'
in less reverence than that Of God.
sCANDINAvIAN HosPITALITY.
The hospitality of the Norwegians i
proven bial, particularly in the countr.
places, where the traveller is an alway
welcome guest. No Norwegian peasan
or farmer ever thinks of locking his doc
at night; to do so would be equivalen
to showing dstrust to his neighbors,
he has any, and useless precautio
where no human being, save those {
his own family, is within twenty G
| . Ia. Of h l., nip pri N
you are Immediately welcomed, n
matter how inopportune the hour ma
be, and you are invited to sit down a
the table, while the hunsmor, or lad
of the house, serves up the best that tn
house affords for your de!ectation. Thi
consists of some loaves of .Fatdrod, o
flat cakes, made of barley meal, an
also piece Of kagebrod, if such is i
the house, which is considered deli
cacy, and made of rye flour, milk, but
ter and gommel ost, or old cheese, adiiL
itum, to which is perhaps added piec
of reindeer vension or choice cut c
smoked salmon, constitute the rest G
the repast, for which no payment j
asked, though couple Of shNlings ar
generally accepted, if rendered by tn
traveller or tourist who has appeased hi
appetite. If you remain over nigh,
the best and most comfortable bed vii
be offered to you, and clean sheets an
bedding put on but though soft an
warm enough, with its dozen of feathe
pillows and holsters and layers of heav
home. made blankets, always found
Norwegian bed extremely uncomforta
BILE, owing to its shortness. The Nol
wegian peasants have habit Of sleep
ing in an almost sitting posture, an
therefore require but very short bee
steads, rendering it necessary for an
one who desires to sleep in the ordinar
civilized manner to double himself u
liks a preserved frog in a spirit-glas'
But however short, it is always sufl
GENTLY wide, as Norwegian countr
beds are, on the average, intended fl
from three to five each. Sometimes
is therefore expedient to place onese
crosswise, instead of lengthwise, an
alter the position of the numerous pi
lows or holsters, or dyner, as they a
called, accordingly.
DOMESTIC LIFE IN NORWAY.
AS a general thing the Norwegia
peasants, both men and women, reti
to rest without undressing, merely r
moving their heavy aoadmel, or shee
skin jackets, and sometimes the woolt
worsted nightcap which forms the usu
covering for the head. l often enter'
a Norwegian sater, or farm, in the mi
die of night, and the occupants of Il
bed-or the best bed, if there were Sc
, eral-would Immediately vacate it al
: offer it to the guest, themselves retiriI
, to continue their broken rest in the ba
t or on the floor. On entering NorW
r gian country-house the visitor will @
r serve u number of wooden boxes, of
: sizes, placed all round the room, a
:, serving, in many instances, also
o tables, chairs, sofas. bedstead, etc. Th