Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-05

Conversation. Inc long Winter imPois
these people to study, and - their own
literature is yet In its infancy, re-.
course has naturally been had to thsi
Of other nations. Education is com
pulsory. Great interest is manifested
in higher culture. When recently IN
Christians five hundred applications
were made for the entrance examination
at the University, whose professors will
compare fssorsbly with any in the i'm
portance and extent Of their original
work, especially in the natural sciences.
The Norwcgians are essentially reli-
gious people. Reformed Luthersnism
is the established Church. Their gov.
eminent is that Of q limited monarchy.
King Oscar has not the power Of abso.
Lutte veto. The lower house Of Parlis.
ment is elected by the people to serve
three years, and these delegates choose
one third Of their number 10 compose
the upper Hosse.
From Bergen several excursions can
be made, embracing types Of the grand
est scenery in Norway. None is more
celebrated or easier undertaken than
the voyage Up the Hardanger ford,
whose whole length may be traversed
by steamer. From the waters Of this
ford great cliffs rear their snow-clad
summits to such sublime heights that
the grandeur becomes oppressive. Sow
apal ~ he x,anId 80 chaor from, fha
sea for o distance Of five thousand feet,
and from them descend dozens OF rib.
bon-like waterfalls, which, swsyed by
tho breeze, add q peculiar charm
to the scene. From towns on
the Hardanger delightful tours can
be taken TO neighboring water
falls and glaciers, many of which are
found in this region. The Skeggedals-
fos alone will be referred to, partly be-
cause it has been declared TO be the
peer Of Niagara in grandeur and of the
Yosemite in beauty. AS it is neither
polite nor safe to "run down" o cata.
ract, | will not detract from the praise
which has been bestowed upon the Nor
wegian fall, only remarking that the
great California wonder pours a 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 gran
deur Of the basin and the gloomy chasm
through which it is approached render
it one of the most impressive sights in
Europe.
Another grand valley and fall may be
seen by going up the Romsdal from
Molde, utilizing little steamer and
then the carriole. During the ascent
flowers, forests, waterfalls, and snowy
peaks unite in a grandly-picturesque
combination of scenery, and near the
summit the yermedalsfos comes in
view. This imposing waterfall diago-
nally descends steep bluff thousand
feet high in a series Of three cascades.
From the cliff above magnificent
view, sixty miles in extent, is obtained,
which amply compensates for the
labor OF the ascent. 1t is extremely
interesting to note the change in
fora as We ascend high mountains,
although on many slopes the loxlaul
Aowers-pansies and lilies Of the val
ley-extend their range until they min
gle with such Arctic plants as the
siiene dcauiis, rerOHica A!pina, etc.
In fact, on one high peak plucked
violets within canes length Of the
snow limit. Space will not permit of
a description of the narrow Geirapger
ford and the Sogne-which is one hun
bred miles long-eyen were descrip.
ton 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 Nordlsnd to see the
sun at midnight. Tourist steamers
make regular summer trips from
Throhndbjem /; but, being a few days in
advance Of the first Of these, | travelled
by a comfortable mail-packet, aud was
thus enabled to visit all the coast towns
AS almost the entire route lies between
the Skjgrgaard islands and the main.
land, it is equivalent in smoothness to
river voyage. The Kjolen range, extend
ing along the coast, is remarkable 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 immense numbers Of Goldfish are
spread to dry. The course being ex.
ceediDgly tortuous, vessels navigate
only by daylight. The harvest which
nature fails to yield upon the bleak
shore is amply compensated for by that
of the sea. The west-coast people
are farmers of the deep, and during
February, March, and April make their
on the rugged Lofoten
islands. Hither the herring come, and
cod and whale pursue. Professor Hux.
ley estimates that these cod consume
700, 900, 900 herring at a single banquet. |
In q single steng $4,000 barrels of her.
ring are frequently taken. The fish are
driven into shallow cove, nets placed |
across the mouth, and then they are
dipped out at leisure, to be sailed and
Darrelled almost before they are dead.
There are some 700 to 900 fish in a
,arrel. Cod are caught with both net
md line.
Owing to the lopg Arctic day yegeta.
ion grows very rapidly. Barley sown
n May is harvested in July. Even the
urf on the housetops is covered with
ong grass. The same effect Of sunlight
8 observed in the animal kingdom.
Vagtails frequently rear two broods 10
ne season, so rapid is the development
{ their young. At Bodo, the sun being
ontinually above the horizon, l was
nabled to devote twenty Of my twen-
y-two hours stay to an excursion into
be country, embracing a visit to the
altstrom. This famous whirlpool,
with which the Mael-
from seemed insignificant, is formed