The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1888-12-21
elehTa sEEN m STOCKHOLM.

SIGHTS SEEN IN STOCKHOLM.
Group " tho GirdIo Duelists-Bccgars,
Cinbs--other ,Curiosities.
Many bronze statues to Swetien' 3 kings
stand IN the various squares and parks,
and there Is one bronze group that holds
the attention longer than any of these.
Its placed in the. grounds of the Ma
honal museum, and is tho masterpiece
Qf the Swedish sculptor Moleri, the group
the Girdte Duelists. According to tho
|&v WY old custom in Scandinavia,
h .sSos esttes 1r5fl arose, ,betweepSt two men, +
th''y wert colaiR together by q girdle,
provided with knives, and allowed to
fight out the duel until ono or both had
fallen. This group Is worthyof the an:
tique for the splendid physique of the
actors and fearful interest of the strife.
Each has seized with his left hand the
right hand of his foe, which grasps the
murderous short knife. and both wrestle
for life with terrible energy. 1t is said
that these combats were so universally
fatal that women carried winding sheets
with them, to the banquets, where their
husbands might be slain.,e ,ec. "a NO., ,.is /.
u -Four bas reliefs on the pedestal with
Runic inscriptions show such q scene
e''NN~ AAsSAA NAiihAhlS tOSoetuST, WhIle Cf10.
lovely wife Of one Of them stands by.
The jealous anger reused by some undue
attention on the part of the guest, the
wife ON her knees endeavoring to prevent
the. qua,re and lastly the poor thing
weeping alone by the gravestone Of her
husband. A memorial such as this of
ancient customs has always an interest
independent of its artistic value; and this
interest attaches to great many objects
in the collection of the Northern Museum,
AN institution devoted TO the preservation
Off u ndinayian relics and curiosities.
Y9asee here fS"ast CT fthetau pixies and
baltic 6xes SO formidable Of old-cruel,
murderous looking instruments ten feet
long, their blades and heads rusted as if
with the blood of enemies; ancient swords
and helmets, together with innumerable
articles of more peaceful household use
rude looms that might have woven the
garments of the Vikings, and the odd
hand mangles used for smoothing linen
heavy pieces of wood, polished on the
under side, and 'elaborately carved above,
with handles usual representing horses.
1t seems impossible that such fat irons
should have been very efficacious, but
here they als by the hundred.
Odder still are the kubbestols-
made Of tho trunks Of trees--or kubbes
(whence our ''stubs, y, / suppose), the
edges of the seats ornamented with, of
all things IN tae world, human teeth,
driven into the solid wood. Those are
not relics OF battle, as one might sup
pose, but the teeth lost by the family of
tie owner Of the Chair, preserved in this
manner as charm against future tooth
ache. Little white milk teeth make nm.
agreeable variety with huge molars that
seyi sSSSJ ac1ec enough before they came
to this end. Here, too, is another relic
Of ancient manners ( clubs.
These formidable weapons were given to
beggars to enable them to obtain relief
at the next hotlse they came jtas--W What
a comfortable thing it would be IL one OF
us could get rid of an importunate tramp
by giving him q club to compel our next
neighbor to. entertain him! SYonder is {,
stumble of .Runio staves-canes or long
p,rS faroes EQol carved with runes, or sem
eum omoted from o1sn o1nia characters, usually
tbese were considered as eGes; Whether
| like the Jewish phylacteries, useens Only,
in mind some sacred text, we could nos
learn.
eaoh represarting Kitchen or q living
! l,sT--.E-ts. -. 1sSv
: tand, orr Iceland perhaps; with life la 81. !.
n9ures IN appropriate costumes o,
rounded with the very furniture and 81 nu
eery brought from such houses ~ ali PC ;
some interesting position. S6'i,n,r az u !
) ceivlng an official message rbron@ht II +
an envoy In one Of the old ,.bud st;i-Io. =
or message sticks, which ho in bis t,,,,
IS pound to carry for a certain d;sto @ ru., ,'na
ana Il no one is at hand I to 'take a. =
STICK 1t in the earth until some one co,,e ~, .
o,ong, as Il our mail bags should BE- I iai1
on rock at q certain place and Left m 's,s fn,
s .ae next passer to take charge off A., io'
osner group shows girl receivino nroa a..
snss when the bans Of her maria 81 pres, res
proclaimed; a third, a Lanland o n,a are
mourning over a dead child. Al ,y thy
ags 9g9ses are very lifehise. But time would uiIs
Of the various mn, sa,,.,S.. u,u
and tneir treasures III In, Tso,T Gus
IN & yy,;s 81,
smpssiins Precious>s.ones. s9st
OQ0 OF 4fhn 4 IS