Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-10-30
SIGHTS SEEN IN STOCKHOLM.
Group of the Giul,e Duelists-BcGgars'
CIugF-Oihcr Curiusitirz,

Group OF the Giri,e Dueiists-Beggar'
CugF-Oihcr Curiusitir.,
Man bronze statues 10 SwHleu's kings
stand il tnr various squares and parks,
and there is one bronze group that holds
the attention longer than any or these.
II is placed in the grounds ut lhr Nj
tional museum, and Is the masterpiece
of the Swedish sculptor Molcri, the group
of the Girile Dueiisls. According TO the
barbaruus old custom IN Scandinavia,
when a quarrel arose between two men,
they were bound together 10y u giUGic,
provided with knives. aud allowed 10
fight out ilo duel until one or tooth had
fallen, This group is worthy Of the an
tiquc for tie splendid physique OF the
actors aud fearful interest oil IA" strife,
Each Las seized with his lHt hand the
right hand " his far, which grasus the
murdyFuus short knife, and lu.l wyas.ic
fer life win terrible energy. Il Is slil
that these cDmuats were 50 universally
fatal that womcn carried wind. K sheets
with them TO the hauquets, w.yae Ihcir
husband might he slain.
Four bus rvliefS on he pedestal with
Runic inscriptions show such q l'cHr-
two men drinking together, while the
lovely wife Of one Of them stands by.
The jealous anger Ioused by some undue
attention on the part Of the guest, the
wife on her knees endeavoring TO prevent
the quarrel. 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 a great many objects
in the collection of the Northern Museum,
an institution devoted TO the preservation
of Scandinavian relics and curiosities.
You see here a forest Of the tall pixies and
battle axes 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 miglt have woven the
garments II the Vi kings, and the odd
hand mangles used fur smoothing linen
heavy pieces Of wood. polished on the
under side. and elal orately carved above,
with handles usual representing horses.
1t seems impossible that such flat irons
should have been very efficacious, but
here they are by the hundred.
Odder still arr the kubbeStols-chairS
made of the trunks of trees-or kubbes
(whence our stubs. ] suppose, the
edges Of the seats ornamented with. of
all things in the world. human teeth,
driven into the sold wood. These are
not relics Of haitie. as n might sup
pose. but the teeth lost 10y thu family Of
the owner 81 the chair, preserved in this
manne n, Il charm against future tooth
achr. Little white milk teeth make an
agreeable variety with huge m"lars that
evi emily tchcl enough hCiurc They came
10 this ciul. lipr1. too, l. another relic
of ancient manurrs-bcg-ars' clubs.
ThCsc formidable weapDu- were given t.
begcars 10 ruaLle them T. obtain relief
at the next house they came 10. What
a comfortable thing it would hr il one Of
us could get rid OF az impartunato tramp
by giving lin a cluh To compel or ncyt
neighhor 10 entertain him. Wonder is a
bundle OF Runic staves-cancs or long
Dlett- u NtbNl 'dtAE4 VIII lilllt~s W SUI
fences in Run!c characters, usually
quoted from one Of the sages. Whether
these were considered as charms. or only,
like the Jewish phylacteries, used 10 keep
in mind some sacred text, we could not
learn.
One room is fitted upin compartments.
each representing a kitchen or a living
room Of some primitive dwelling in Fin
land, or Iceland perhaps; with life size
figures in appropriate costumes, sur
rounded with the very furniture and pot
terry brought from such houses. all in
some interesting position. 4 man re-
ceiving an official message brought by
an envoy in zone Of the old bud slikkcr,'
or message sticks. which he in his turn
is bound 10 carry for a certain distance,
and if 10 one is nc hand 10 take it, to
stick it in the earth until some one comes
along. as if Our mail bugs should he laid
on a rock at a certain place and left for
the next passer 10 take charge Of! An
other group shows a girl receiving pres
ents when the bans Of her marriage are
proclaimed: a third, a Lapland family
mourning over a dead child. All the
figures are very lifelike. But time would
fail me to speak Of the various museums
and their treasures. Stockholm Cor. San
Francisco Chronicle.