The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-01
HIS WANDERINGS ENDED.
After Eight Years Of Going 10 and
Fro WskemAn Will Now
Rest.
Interior OF Homes Found In Far
on Norway, Cold and
Bleak.
Curious Carved Chairs, Tables, Chests, aud
Marvels Of TsEt-Peasant FoIk Of
Fine Presence.

LONDON. Dso. 1G. The interiors Of Nor
vegian peasant homes never present that
warm. cherry, snug. restful and almost
sonnolsnt atmosphere Of the Cumberland
statesman's home but IL il still a pl .ce OF
simple comfort and plenty and 10 often
most chaTaoteristio and pictuTesqus. IL the
ceilings be low there is always plenty OF
room. have come upon many a bondsr's
kitchen from twenty 20 Thirty feet square
and houses In whose great living rooms the
whole family. and / mean by this the three
or four families Of each guard or farm
house, with Roodly part Of she neighbor-
hood could all be fed at a Wedding or fu-
nsfal supper, or engage in dancing. Of
which they are very fond. a. one time with
out serious Inconvenience TO the assem-
blaRe.
These old Kitchens are very ancient.
Some are from 300 20 900 years old. and
we're the original and sole dwelling places
Of the founders Of the family. soms have
the remains Of the central eone-shaped
holes in the roof through which air and
light once exclusively came, as 10 still
found In some Of the Scottish erofter huts
of Lewin aud Skye. The corner chimney
and open Fireplace which now are seen are
comparatively modern. though still often
from one TO two hundred ysars old. Tiny
windows are now found in these ancient
kitchens; bat the floor is usually Of beaten
earth nearly as hard az stone. few rude
wooden shelves. the heavy iron pots and
kettles. a strong pine table and a stool or
two. complete the seant and cumbfous
furniture.
The living room 10 more protentious
apartment. Huge pine Iafters stretch from
wall TO wall and their natural reddish tint
is deepened by age 10 the rich hue OF rose
wood. Often the windows have desp ease
msnts. with little diamond shaped panss,
and In the summer time they are bright
and winGome with plants and flowers. This
room always has lite wide fireplace. and oe-
casionally two Of them on opposite sides Of
the room. In one corner. near the fireplace
is q cupboard. wide. deep. and extending
from floor to ceiling. and II NOT flaming
with paint IL will be covered with a pRofu-
sion Of carving. often in imitation Of var
ious articles OF tableware.
In the angle where the stairs ascend 20
the second story, another curious closet or
cupboard 10 let in to the projection. The
4
what-not for TIE long winter nights amuse-
ment huge pine table stands in the cen
ter Of the room. and it's legs will be fairly
flounced with carvings. Usually a smaller
pine table is placed at the side of the room
with the best chair or stool behind IL,
against the wall. This is the seat OF honor,
but no guest must ever occupy 10 without
invitation from the bender or his wife.
There are a number of shelves always aid
on pegs or perohed on grotesque carved
brackets; aud the stools and chairs are
curious collection OF home hand /
have seen In many peasants houses more
than a score of oha.rs carved out of solid
cross-sections Of huge pine trees. The
seat 10 followed deep and wide; the back ia
worked out thin and round with a fne oval
top Ia which IL cut a curved hole for the
hand. in order TO easily move the chair
FROM place 10 place; wide well-fAshionei
and carved eFm-rests are at each eide; and
the bottom Of this curious piece of furni-
tnre 10 always worked out as true, thin and
perfect as an inverted ohoppinR- bowl or
cauldron kettle.
Usually the heads OF the household sleer
in this comfortable living -TOoin and the
bed will always be found in the long recess
behind the angle of the stairs In many
instances ths beds are simply hunks built
I
chief portion of the bed clothing observa-
bic will be skins OF sheer. or Of the rein
deer. beautifully dressed and ths hide itself
cured as soft A. loosely woven wool. In
moi a few OF the more pretsntious peasant
homes the beds in these reoesses are sufii-
GENTLY wonderful for exhibition ct world's
fairs. 1heY are big enough for giants 90
rest In. and are from four 90 five feet above
the floor. Steps lead up 90 them, aud the
single cornef-post and she side rail which
- -.
ed In the most fantastic manner. will be
covered, along with the sides of the ascend
ing steps. with painted texts and mottora
while q gaily painted rude psnsl Let down
from the ceiling above the front OF the bed
bears IN fisring letters the names OF the
bonder and his wife aud she date Of their
marriage.
Iu the larger guards there will be a best
room. usually ths length Of the living
room. but narrower. and 10 this 10 not pos
sessed. the chamber above the large livisg-
room bears the same relation TO the NorWs-
gian peasant home. ID IL In either case a
sort OF show room. where the oss LESSONS OF
the female members OF the family are on
exhibition. and a sort of huge family closet.
lite furniture 10 always a. rude ana simple
aud OF As primitive construction as that in /
other portions OF the house. but 10 10 more
RaHdily painted. Curious old pine bureaus
and ohinoniers are here. marvellous in de-
sign and oolofins. Fed. yellow aud blue
paint predominatinG. These contain the
family underwear and all ths general dTap-
err.
One always has painted upon 10 the
maiden name OF the housewife aud the !
date of her marriage. forming a sort OF
permanent marriage certihcste; and IN
doubtedlY In this. packed carefully awav IN |
aromatic leaves and bits OF Emery. will b. |
found that most glorious bauble 10 eyes and /
heart OF all Norwegian women the huge |
bridal crown OF hand wrought silver OF /
gilt. have been shown some which we're /
said 20 b. over GOO years old. and no doubt
there are hundreds OF these huge md /
CusdY relics In Norway which have dss- /
cended in unbFoksR line FROM mother % /
daughter since the days OF Olaf ths saint |
and Hakon the Good.
IL this rOoUl bo the chamber, all around /
the wall viii be ranged a curious oollsction 1
OF little pine trunka or chests. some are I
olaborateiv carved. aRd all are Gaudlly /
uuintee. When = daughter OF the house /
passes from girlhood 90 maidsnhood she L. |
given one Of these chesta. Her name 10 4
painted or carved upon a; aud from this i
moment she highest ambition Of her life 4
aside from honorable marriage IL the hll- /
Ing % this ekest with bedding. underwear,
tTinketA silver concentrations aud gowns, /
80 that by the time she 10 bstrothed che /
can make nne showing OF accumulated /
kniok-knaeks ant necessary articles % her /
lover and her snVioua companions aud |