Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-14
TIE SIDEIGaT sun.
SACRAMENTO GIRLS ON THE NORTH
ERN COAST OF NORWAY.
An Interesting Letter About the Sights
and Scenes in Land Full of
Strange Things.

Misses Mamie and Ella DemiEg of thi
city, daughters of Mr.. and Mrs Theodor
| Dsming and nieces of Mrs Charlie
Croker. left for an extended trip I,
/ Europe and the adjoining countries. Ate
| leaving this city they spent about month
in travelling through the Eastern States
and in the latter part Of May they sailet
| from New York on the City of Chicsgo
They have already made the tour of tn,
| British Isles, and are in Norway or Sweder
at the present time. Hundreds of friend.
of the young ladies in this city will NJ
doubt read with interest the letter below
| which was written for the RECORD UNION
by Miss Mamie Deming while on board
the steamer Olaf Kyrre, near T-onaajem
Norway. Among other subjects in the
letter will be found description of the
midnight sun, as viewed By the two young
ladies from the deck Of steamer in the
far northern waters;
TRoNDHJEM Norway, July 90 $780,
EDS. RECORD UNION: Finding the time
for letters somewhat limited, and feeling
thai | would like nv friends to know how
keenly we have enjoyed the midnight sun,
have decided upon this means of reach
ing them, if you will be kind enough to
allow me little space in the columns of
your paper.
Words, though, seem utterly powerless
10 express what we have really witnessed.
We left Bergen Friday night, July 11th,
reaching -Trondhjem Sunday morning. We
spent two delightful days in that queer
Norwegian town, which is The largest
northern city and has $4,000 inhabitants.
On Monday evening we again boarded the
steamer, and on Wednesday night had the
first view of the midnight sun. Just as
the bell sounded II O'Clock, hearing shout
of wild enthusiasm, l looked around and
beheId rift in the clouds, with Old Sol
shining through in ali his wondrous
beauty.
1t was a sight never to be forgotten. Be-
sides the almost dazzlipg brightness and
the exquisite tints of the clouds, there was
an ind, scribable rosy light which broke
over the purple cliff, so divinely beautiful
that it really seemed like glimpse of
Paradise, and must be seen to be appre-
ciated.
The passengers were wild with delight,
and clapped and cheered, while the ship
fred four salutes in honor of the glorious
SIGHT. as though the sun himself could en-
Joy our pleasure.
We have been fortunate enough to have
had four splendid views of it. for, owing to
bad weather, the trip is often made with
out seeing the sun once. We reached the
North Cape Friday night. l say night,
though We are in the land of perpetual
day. The weather could not have been
more pleasant, and everything was in our
favor. With the exception Of two or three
passengers, everyone made the ascent OF
the cape and felt fully repaid by the mag
niicent view. There we were, on the
most northern point of Europe, with moth
ing between US and the North Pole except
water and ice and yet the weather so
warm that it seemed hard to realize it; be-
fore us the glorious midnight sun, shining
on a sea CT molten gold, with scarcely 8
ripple to break the stiffness. Oh, it was
like beautiful dream, TO live in our mem
DRY always.
/ should have mentioned that We went
ashore a. Hammerfest Friday morning,
and found it uncomfortably warm. The
weather has since changed-we are now
passing glaciers, and are almost surrounded
by splendid snow capped mountains.
The entire voyage is delightful, for in
stead of being in the open sea, we only
wind in and out of the Fjords with the
beautiful scenery on either side. Last
night we had the last glimpse of the sun,
to our great sorrow. AS we rounded q
huge cliff it burst upon us like wonderful
picture being slowly unrolled. Finally the
entire disk was visible, and truly it was a
vision of loneliness.
While in this vast ampitheatre,
g 10 A ooonnInulu
rounded by land, with the splendid picture
before us, the "Capella," sister ship of
the Olaf Kyrri, came alongside. Both
vessels saluted until the air fairly resound-
ed with the roar of cannon, and such en-
thusiasm and waving of handkerchiefs We
were so near that some of our passengers
recognized friends. We are very cosmo-
politan party, and everyone felt so patriotic
that the effect was marvellous, the medley of
the national airs deafening. We visited
the Lap settlement last Thursday, which
was quite an experience. We had ride
of about two miles on such queer little
ponies, and still queerer saddles.
The LaplandeTs are singular race OF
beings, hardly to be called people. So
dwarfed are they that | think that must be
the reason have always fancied the rein
deer very large, while on the contrary ind
IL no lhIStI tudu Jul CObiiAOi oCSA. w z
saw herd of several hundred. As every
one know, they form the chief sustenance
of the Lap, as he uses the meat and milk
for food, the skins for clothing, and all
sorts of useful things are made of the
bones and horns.
We also visited whaling station, but
the sights and odors were too narrowing
for description. Smelling salts and hand.
kerchiefs were indispensable.
Much of the Norwegian scenery is a
great surprise to us, for irstead of being
bleak and barren, we find a great deal of
il mcst fertile. We saw splendid fields Of
hay and grain near Trondhjem, and such
beautiful wild flowers. We even found
lonely forget me-nots, primroses, butter
cups, and many other varieties, on the
North Cape. We reach Trondhiem Tues
day. July 22d, going thence to Stockholm,
and from there to Denmark, Holland, Bel
GUM, etc. We are all in the best OF
health, having all sorts of experiences. COZ.
stantly meeting nice people, and withal
having jolly good time. What more
could be desired? MAMIE E. DEaIsG.