Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1889-03-02
SIGHTS SEEN IN sroclS4oLM.
Group Of the GirdIe Duelists--Beggars'
CIubs-Other Curiosities.

Clubs-Other Curiosities.
Many bronze statues to Sweden's kings
stand in the various squares and parks,
and there Is one bronze group that holds
the attention longer than any OF these.
1t is placed in the grounds OF the Ma
tional museum, and is the masterpiece
of the Swedish sculptor Moleri, the group
of the Girdle Duehsts. According to the
barbarous old custom in Scandinavia,
when quarrel arose between two men,
they were bound together by girdle,
provided with knives, and allowed to
fight out the duel until one or both had
fallen. This group Is worthy of 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. It 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.
Four bas reliefs ON the pedestal with
Runic inscriptions show such a scene
two men drinking together, while the
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 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 great many objects
in the collection of the Northern Museum,
an institution devoted to the preservation
of Scandinavian relics and curiosities.
You see here 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 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 deliberately carved above,
with handles usually representing horses.
1t seems impossible that such fiat irons
should have been very effcacious, but
here they are by the hundred.
Odder still are 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 solid wood. These are
not relics of battle, as one might sup
pose, but the teeth lost by the family of
| the owner of the chair, preserved in this
manner as charm against future tooth
| ache. Little white milk teeth make an
agreeable variety with huge molars that
evidently ached enough before they came
| to this end. Here, too, is another relic
| of ancient manners-beggars' clubs.
| These formidable weapons were given to
| beggars to enable them to obtain relief
at the next house they came to. What
| comfortable thing it would be il one Of
| us could get rid of an importunate tramp
| by giving him a club to compel our next
| neighbor to entertain himl Yonder Is q
bundle of Runic staves-canes or long
| pieces of wood carved with runes, or SEN
fences in Runic characters, usually
| quoted from one of the sages. Whether
these were considered as charms, or only,
like the Jewish phylacteries, used to keep
in mind some sacred text, we could not
learn.
One room is fitted upin compartments,
each representing a kitchen or 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. A man re-
ceiving an official message brought by
an envoy in one of the old ''bud striker, u
or message sticks, which he in his turn
Is bound to carry for a certain distance,
and IL no one is at hand to take it, to
stick 1t in the earth until some one comes
along, as if our mail bags should be laid
on rock at certain place and left for
the next passer to take charge of! An
other group shows girl receiving pres
| ents when the bans of her marriage are
proclaimed; third, Lapland family
mourning over 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.