The Helena independent., 1894-01-01
his WANOERINGS ENDED.
After Eight Years Of Going 10 and
Fro Wakeman Will Now
Rest.
Interior OF Homes Found In Far
on Norway, Gold and
Bleak.


Bleak
Curious Carved Chairs, Tables, Chests, sad
Msrvels Of Tsxt-Psasant Folk Of
Fine Presence.
LONDON. Dso. 16.-rbs interiors Of Nor
wsRian peasant homes meyer present. that
warm. chstEy, snug. rsstful and almost
sonnolsnt atmosph here Of the Cumberland
statesman's home. but II is still place Of
simple comfort and plenty and 10 often
most Characteristic and picturesque. II tho
ceilings be low there 10 always plenty Of
room. have como upon many boadsr's
kitchen from twenty to thirty feet square
and houses in whose great living rooms the
whole family. and / mean BY this the three
or fou. families Of each guard or farm
house, with Roodly part Of the neighbor-
hood. could all be fed at Wedding OF fu-
moral supper, or engage In dancing. Of
which they arc very fond, 81 one time with
out serious lnsonvsnienee to the assem-
blaee.
These old kitchens are very ancient.
Some are from 300 TO 400 years old. and
were the original and sole dwelling places
Of the founders OF the family. Come have
the remains Of the central cone-shaped
holes in the roof through which air and
light once exclusively came, - 10 still
found in some Of ths Scottish crofter huts
Of Lewis and Skye. The corner chimney
and open fireplace which now are seen are
comparatively modern. though still often
from one to two hundred years old. Tiny
windows are now found in these ancient
kitchens; but the floor Is usually Of bsaten
Garth nearly a. hard a. stone. A few rude
wooden shelves. the heavy iron pots and
kettles. . strong pine table and . stool or
two. complete the scant and oumbrous
furniture.
The living room 10 . more prstensious
apartment. Hugo pine tafters stretch from
wall to wall and their natural reddish tint
10 deepsnsd BY age to the rich hue Of rose
wood. Often the windows have deep ease
msnts, with little dianond-shapsd panss,
and in the summer time they are bright
and winsome with plants and flowers. This
room always has its vide fireplace. and oc-
casionally two OF them on opposite sides Of
the room. In one corner. near tho fireplace
u cupboard, wide. deep. and extending
from fioorto ceiling and II not flaming
with paina II will be covered with profu-
sion OF carving. often in imita tion Of var
ious articles of tableware.
In the angle where the stairs ascend TO
the second story. another curious closet or
cupboard 10 let In to tho projection. This
will contain the family store Of books and
what-not for the long winter nights amuse-
ment. huge pine table stands In tho GEN.
ter of the room. and its legs will be fairly
founced with carvings. Usually . smaller
pine table is placed at the aide Of the room
with the best chair or stool behind II.
against the vail. This is the seat Of honor.
but NO guest must ever occupy II without
invitation from the bonder or his wife.
Thoro are number of shelves always laid
on regs or perched on grotesqus carved
brackets; and the stools and chairs are a
curious collection of homo haad-work.
have seen In many psassnts' houses more
cross-sections Of hugo pine trees. The
seat 10 followed deep and wide; the back IL
worked out thin and round with fne oval
top In which 10 ont curved hole for the
hand. In order to easily move the chair
from place to place; wide wsll-fashionei
the bottom Of this curious piece of furni-
ture is always worked out as true. thin and
perfect "a an inverted choppinR. bowl or
cauldron kettle.
Usually the heads OF the household sleep
in this comfortable living room, and the
bed will always be found in the long recess
behind the angle of the stairs. In msny
instanoss the bsds arc simply bunks built
aaainss the wall; and in most Of these the
chief portion of the bed olothinR obssrys-
ble will be skins OF sheer, or Of the REIN
deer. beautifully dressed and the hide itself
cured a. soft 40 loosely woven wool. In
homes the beds In these reoessss are suffi-
cisntly wonderful for exhibition at worlds
fairs. They are big enough for giants 10
rest In. aAd are from four 10 Ave fest above
the floor. Stops lead mp 10 them, aud the
single corner-post and the side rail which
shows. In addition TO being carved OF paint
covered, along with ths sidss Of the ascend
ing sseps. with painted texts and mo,toea
while gaily painted rude panel Let down
from the ceiling above the front Of the bed
bears IN faring letters the names of the
bonder and his wife and the date Of their
marriage.
In the larger guards there will b bsst
room. usually the length Of The living
room, but narrower. and IL this 10 not Dos
sesssd. The ohambsr above tAe large livisR-
room bears the same relation to the Norve.
Qian peasant home. II 10 In either case a
sort of show room. where the ossessioss of
the female members of the family are on
exhibition. and = sort of huge family closet.
lts furniture 10 always a. rude and simple
aud OF a. primitive construction 40 that in
other portions of the house. but 1t 10 more
gaudily painted. Curious old pine bureaus
and ohi6onisrs are here. marvellous In de-
sign and oolorinR. red. yellow and blue
paint predomtnatinR. These contain the
family underwear and oil The general dyap.
CRY.
One always has painted upon u the
maiden nams Of tho housewife aud the
date OF her marriage. forming a sort OF
permanent marriage cersihoate; and un-
aromatic leaves and bits OF hnery, will bs
found that most glorious baubls to eyes and
heart OF all Norwegian women, The huge
bridal crown OF hand Wroughs silver Or
git. / have been shown some which were
said to b, over 600 years old, and NO doubt
there are hundreds of these huge and |
ouady felios In Norway which have dss- |
oended in unbvoken line from mother 10 |
daughter since the days of Olaf the Saint |
and Hakon the Good.
II this room be the chamber, all around |
the wall will DO ranged curious collection |
Of little Pine trunks or chests. Some are |
carved. and all are Raudily |
painted. When =, daughter OF the house |
passes from sirlhood to maidsnhood she 10 |
given one Of those cAests. Her name 10 /
painted or carved upon IL; aud from this |
moment the highest ambition Of her life |