The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-07-14
a Letter from Norway.

t1OuSG anu lilG Hiatt OIttAi.
a Letter from Norway.
To THE CECIL WIG:
| thought few notes of travel from
the Northern country would be OF
interest to some OF my friends among |
the many readers of the WHiG. The |
majority OF Americans travel over the
continent in old beaten paths and see
the same sights and entirely ignore
Norway, one Of the most interesting
countries that rat bler can fad.
will try TO give a partial descrip
ton of the sights which one sees in
this remote country My vile ard
myself sailed from Hull, June 10Th on
board the steamer Montebeila, one OF
the finest steamers plying between the
East English and Continental ports,
for Chrstansand, Norway, leaving Hull
at i a. M, on Saturday, and on Sun
day at p. m., made fast to The wharf
at Chlstansand. The officers told us
that they would lay there until seven
O'Clock, and if we wished we could 20
ashore. This opportunity we improved
by making an excursion in and around
this, the largeat town 10 southern Nor
way. We started by viewing the Chris
tansand Ford, at the mouth of the Ola
river, quite large stream surrounded
by bald hills from 400 to Ooo ieet high
r aE
sparce growth OF spruce, the only till
able land being the narrow rlver valley,
which is very fertile and we'll cult
waited.
A parade of the Good TemplarS in
the afternoon attracted the country
people up In the countra. dressed IN
their quaint costumes, contrasting
strongly with the garb of the town tolk
The parade compared well with similar
turnouts in the United States.
AT seven p. m. We were all aboard
and steamed out for Christiana, which
we reached at eight o'clock the next
morning.
The custom house officers (called
Taldmand) came on board and exam
ined the luggage. Then we went
ashore and spent several days IN and
around Norway's capital, visiting the
kings palace, the fortress Cor castle Of
the Akershus), the markets and shops
Cthe stores are all called shops), and
an excursion to the Frognerseater,
(they are the shepherdess huts 10 the
hills which they live in during the
pasture season.
The difference in the season here
from Cecil is quite marked, as a. this
time, June 10th, strawberries are just
coming into bloom. The vegetables
are few and inferior to ours.
A few hours spent in the Museum
Of Northern Antiquities was enjoyed.
The most interesting object to US was
the old Viking ship, the original boat
that the Viking ship at the World S
Fair was modelled after. Many of the
axes of old ship builders are to be seen
They say the boat is about one
thousand years old.
IT'S odd to see their teams. The
way the horses are hitched to the
wagons is different from ours. Short
straps reach from the names and pass
through hole made near the ends Of
the shafts, and are fastened with peg,
| they using no traces. In double teams
both horses being put in shafts instead
of tongue and single tree as we do.
When one wishes to leave his team the
| horse is hItched by a strap around his
fore leg above the hoof and fastened to
the shaft of the wagon.
We found Christiana bright, lively
town of 100 900 inhabitants, with all
| modern Improvements that place in
the States of the same size would have
Passing on we used the railway to
Trondhjem. They use the English
style of cars, with the usual bell ringing
and hustle. A man on the platform
called out, "Faerdig!" and off we
started.
From Christiana 10 Hammer is what
they call one of their best farming
districts, and, according to Norwegian
idea, we'll cultivated. One accustomed
to the better farming in the States
would think differently.
Leaving Hammer we soon entered
the Norway back woods with lonely
little stations miles apart, and all,
except a small part of the Golmen
Valley, covered with evergreen forests.
Nearing the Dovrefeld mountains it
increases in height and the patches of
snow become larger. The scenery is
very fine.
Passing through seven tunnels in
rapid succession and several high
bridges we descend to the valleys lead
ing to Trondhiem, and steamed into
the station at seven a. m, seventeen
hours from Christlana. In the remote
village the people are very primitive
Spinning wheels and well sweeps are
in general use with
The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucket,
The moss-coyered bucket that hangs in the well.
The houses are built of logs and
rooted with sod and sometimes one
sees weeds and shrubs growing on the
roof. w. ]. TAYLOR.
TRoNDHJENG, NORWAY, June 23d., 1894