Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-08-13
IN LAPLAND.
Interesting Experiences OF Hon
SIS. Cox and Wife.
Correspondence N. Y. SUM-
A WEDDING IN LAPLAND.

A WEDDING IN LAPLAND.
A wedding is announced at the
church, whose bells are pealing. We
invite ourselves. A score Of US enter
the building. It is, like most Luthe-
ran churches, plain; but there is an
alter, with seven candlesticks and
candles; a large cross, perfectly white;
a pulpit midway, and commodlons
news and seats. The hour is two in
the afternoon, not in the morning.
though as to lighting the church it is
''all one" Some dozen or SO natives,
all females, with handkerchiets upon
their heads, are present. Our party is
seated at the front. / remain at the
door. My wedding garment is not up
TO the highest style, but as the process
sion enters the front door | fall In be-
hind the small boy of the family. The
bride is a tall girl, with inhammatory
hair and cool demesnor. The groom
is a thick set, stout man, whose hair
is erect, and whose imperturbabllity
Is quite equal to that of the woman
whom he holds, we hope gently, by the
hand. She is dressed plainly in black
A long white veil depends from her
back hair, held by circIet of ivy,
plaut in great request and reputation
here in Norway. The friends OF the
bride and bridegroom, including
parents, pass up to the platform with
them and take seats on either side.
A priest comes out from the aaytum
and stands before the altar silently,
with his back TO US, while the precen-
ter from side platform raises sweet
song. with whose music there is not
SO much accord by the audience.
Then the bride and bridegroom kneel,
a prayer is said, and the. two are one,
and all are happy. The bride is
arrayed at the door, and the scene Is
concluded.
After dinner we stroll about the
town, while the captain invites my
wife and others to ride about, after a
wild Norwegian pony, in a big carriole.
She reports having general adventures
on foot as well as in the vehicle.
Meeting lady OF sorrGwfpl aspect
sitting upon a bench, Mrs. Z. and
Rene ioin her. She exhibits much
emotion upon knowing my wife is from
America. Her pretty home is tenant
less. as the family-ail but herself
sailed eight days ago tor America. She
saws: "phe snow--oh. the snow is SO
deep No one ought TO pass another
such winter. She adds that no Laps
will be down from the mountains Ill
later, and we must await their coming
to see the reindeer in his best estate
which is wild. Judge Cation, in hi'
admirable book on Norway, states tina
they have an irresistible impulse t,
seek the coast in the summer season
This the owner cannot oppose, if h
would. All he can do is TO direc
whittier they shall 60. The judge
does not give us the reason why tn
animal seeks the warm climate j
warm weather, leaving the cool high
lands behind. 1t is an anomaly i
nature which he does not clarity. II
says it is the habit also of the carbon
of America. asked our captain tn
reason He said it is because of tn
mosquitoes, which are simply horribl
toman and beast in summer, in th
region of Lapland, Finmark, and uppC
Sweden. My friend the clergyman {
st. Pauls confirms the statement as
this summer terror OF the Arctic
He says that in the north of SWedel
when the snow begins to melt aud th
MOSQUITO eggs begin to hitch, b
friends who have journeyed there haV
found it impossible 10 cook the
meals, as the pot would be full Of I'll
mosquitoes before it could boil. The
find it impossible to sleep unle
one lays awake and takes care Of b
companions. He states that upon Il
shores Of these northern Swedish lax
the mosquitoes have been washC
ashore, and formed strata two fe
deep No wonder the reindeer leay
for the coast
LOOKING FOR THE MIDNIGHT Sc
Reindeer or not, we shall me
plenty of Lapps before we see Il
midnight sun. After visiting Il
Tromsoe Museum, with its odd a
tiquities Of Lapp and Finn life
past ages, we board the ship by 6, st
hoping for a good glimpse OF the ST
at midnight. 1t has cleared of al
grows warm. We all nap, expectiI
to be awake at midnight Alasl aga
a heavy fog aud clouds, and. beaul
fal sunset ut midnight, nevertheless