The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-09-18

study, and as their own literature is yet in
its infancy, recourse has naturally been had
to that of other nations. Education is
compulsory. Great interest is manifested
in higher culture When recently in
Christiania five hundred applications were
made for the entrance examinations at the
University, whose professors will compare
fayorably with any in the importance and
extent of their original work, especially in
the natural sciences. The Norweigans
are essentially religious people. Reform
ed Lutheranism is the established Church.
Their government is that of limited mon
archy. King Oscar has not the power of
absolute Veto The lower house of Parlia-
ment is elected by the people to serve three
years, and these delegates choose one third
of their number to compose the upper
House.
From Bergen several excursions can be
made, embracing types Of the grandest
scenery in Norway. None is more cele-
brated or easier undertaken than the voy-
age up the Hardanger f jord, whose whole
length may be traversed by steamer. From
the waters of this fjord great cliffs rear
their snow-clad submits to such sublime
heights that the grandeur becomes oppres-
sive. Several of the peaks rise sheer from
the sea for a distance of five thousand feet,
and from them descend dozens of ribbon
like waterfalls, which, swayed by the breeze,
add peculiar charm to the scene. From
towns on the Hardanger delightful tours
can be taken to neighboring waterfalls and
glaciers, many of which are found in this
region. The Skeggedalsfos alone will be
referred to, partly because it has been de-
clared to be the peer of Niagara in gran
deur and of the Yosemite in beauty. As
it is neither polite nor safe to "run down"
cataract, l will not detract from the praise
which has been bestowed upon the Nor
wegian fall, only remarking that the great
California wonder pours larger volume of
water thrice as far in its first leap as the
''peer" does in its entire triple cascade.
However, no visitor should fail to see this
fall, as the grandeur of the basin and the
gloomy chasm through which it is ap-
preached render it one of the most impress
sive sights in Europe.
Another grand valley and fall may be
seen by going up the Romsdal from Molde,
utilizing little steamer and then the car
riole. During the ascent flowers, forests,
waterfalls, and snowy peaks unite in
grandly- picturesque combination of scenery,
and near the summit the Vermedalsfos
comes in view. This imposing waterfall
diagonally descends steep bluff thousand
feet high in series of three cascades.
From the cliff above magnificent view,
sixty miles in extent, is obtained, which
amply compensates for the labor of the as
cent. 1t is extremely interesting to note
the change in fora as we ascend high
mountains, although on many slopes the
lowland flowers -pansies and lilies Of the
valley-extend their range until they min
gle with such Arctic plants as the silene
acaulis, veronica Alpina, ETC. In fact, on
one high peak [ rlucked violets within
canes length of the snow limit. Space will
not permit of description of the narrow
Geiranger fjord and the Sogne-which is
one hundred miles long-even were de-
scription possible. Suffice it to say that
both are walled by stupendous rocks, in
many places rising as perpendicular and
high as Ell Captain and capped with the
GRANTEES characteristic domes.
No one comes to Norway without taking
the trip to Nordland to see the sun at mid
night. Tourist steamers make regular
summer trips from Throhndhjem; but, be-
ing few days in advance of the first of
these, l travelled by comfortable mail
packet, and was thus enabled to visit all
the coast towns As almost the entire
route lies between the Skjergaard islands
and the mainland, it is equivalent in
smoothness to river voyage. The Kjolen
range, extending along the coast, is re-
markable for the grotesque and fantastic
shapes of its lofty peaks. Alternating with
these snow-clad cliffs are smiling valleys
and fertile fields, which give brightness to
the landscape Arctic birds, penguins,
osprey, and elder ducks abound. Whales
and porpoises appear. On the rocks i'm
dry. The course being exceedingly tortu-
GUS, vessels navigate only by daylight.
The harvest which nature fails to yield
upon the bleak shore is amply compensat-
ed for by that of the sea. The west coast
people are farmers of the deep, and during
February, March, and April make their
headquarters on therugged Lofoten islands.
Hither the herring come, and cod and
whale pursue. Professor Huxley estimates
that these cod consume 700, 100000 her
ring at a sigle banquet In a single steag
$4,000 barrels of herring are frequently
taken. The fish are driven into a shallow
cove, nets placed across the mouth, and
then they are dipped out at leisure, to be
salted and barrelled almost before they are
dead There are some 700 to 900 fish in
barrel Cod are caught with both net
and line.
Owing to the long Arctic day vegeta-
ton grows very rapidly. Barley sown in
May is harvested in July Even the turf
on the housetops is covered with long
grass. The same effect of sunlight is OBJ
served in the animal kingdom. Wagtails
frequently rear two broods in one season,
SO rapid is the development of their young.
At Bodo, the sun being continually above
the horizon, was enabled to devote TWEEN
ty of my twenty-five hours stay to an ex-
cursion into the country, embracing a visit
to the Saltstrom. This famous Whirlpool
compared with which the Maelstrom seem
ed insignificant, is formed by the pressure
of rising tide forcing stream through a
narrow strait into subsidiary ford. As
the tide rises or falls faster than the basin
can fill or empty, the force of the current
becomes enormous and its roar terrific
: Owing to eddies, wedgeshaped wall Of
water extends inward from the month of
the fjord until its apex disappears in the
vortex of the whirlpool At Tromse there
is an interesting Lapp epcampment, where
the fur-clad nomads Of the North bring
their reindeer for summer pasture. There
being no snow in the vicinity, the desire
for sled ride could not be indulged
From Hammerfest, the northernmost town
of Europe, the voyage is speedily made to
that rugged promontory Nordkap, from
whose summit the nocturnal sun is seen
riding high over the mysterious Arctic