The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1895-08-03
An Interesting Letter From Mr.. j. c.
McGrew.

An Interesting Letter From Mr.. j. C..
McGrew.
June %, 1895.
Editors Inte%lligencer:
On board steamer Neptune, having left
Bergen last evening mot mighty at IL
We are comfortably located.
Dur ship is a large one for this cruise,
about 1900 tons burthen. She has
lights in every room, in the
promenade deck, &C.; but As we
a continuous day here for three
months, they are but little used just now.
Every berth is taken, and as there are
regular lines OF steamers plying
between Bergen and North Cape In sum-
ner, and each company sends three boats
up per week, your readers can imagine
The number OF tourists that 60 to see the
most northern town in the world, the
midnight sun, and the many other attrac-
ions to be seen or this trip.
We find it n hard matter to get sleep
enough, as there is so much to see and SO
daylight to see 1t in, we find 1t a
matter to make up our minds to
rstire to our rooms early enough to a K
as much sleep as we need. We retired at
II Us last evening, just after we left Ber-
and were up at six this morning to
see the scenery.
We have passed through nearly all
inland sea today, with high mountains
along near us, and many small islands all
scattered along. All Of these stands and
are solid rock, and with but
little vegetation on them. Now and then
we pass q little settlement, or q little
town, and at one O'Clock come to the
OF Aaesland. with q population OF
5000. We see the large fish warehouses,
and as this is headquarters for the fishing
smacks to bring in their catches of cod
fish and Goldfish oil, 1t has made quite q
town. We stay here half an hour and
pass on by the numerous islands. With
the snow-capped mountains In the dis
background, and the beautiful green
water, 1t presents to US . most beautiful
picture.
We arrive at Molde at 8 p. m, aud stay
hour and see the large summer hotels,
which there are several, where many
English people come to spend the sum
mer, as the climate is fine here. This 10
a town Of about 5000 inhabitants. Fish
and tourists support the town. We do
not land here, hut anchor out, and the
passengers go ashore Ia small boats. We
here have a fine view Of the many snow
covered mountains, and pass on until
about z O'Clock, when we begin to get
into a more open sea, and 1t being . little
rough the ship begins TO roll, and 90 our
supper hour 10 at 8 O'Clock, 1t spoils my
good wiie's appetite, she having gotten
seasick. Our daughter 10 served the same
way.
We were due to arrive at Trondhjem
at about 8 "a. m, but - we had . heavy
fog during the night Tor day. our
steamer had to lay to and blow her fog
horn all the time, 30 we did not get clear
water until Z o'clock. We move on, and
arrive at Trondhjem at II .. M, Sunday,
June 3Oth. We soon drive to our hotel 10
q handsome omnibus-as nice . one a.
any city hss-and are pleasantly located
in our rooms, to stay two days. The
Hotel Britannia we find nice, and serve us
q good Sunday dinner, Table d. HOte.
After dinner we 90 at once TO visit the old
cathedral-the one all the kings Of Nor
have, under the avs OF Norway, to
be crowned in. This old cathedral 10
built OF stone, the walls Of which are four
feet thick, laid In hard cement. The
tone is Q kind OF soapstone, but hardens
when exposed. This old church building
was built In the year 996, or commenced.
It and the town have bsen destroyed by
fire several times, and on account OF wars.
The enemies OF Christianity tried TO
destroy 1t several times, but its original
walls and many Of It's figures still stand
as monuments to the great Christian
king, Olaf, who was its originator. Some
parts-in fact, nearly all Of these massive
walls have been standing over eight
hundred years. They stood uncovered or
unprotected from the weather and the
elements for over three hundred years. It
is now, however, covered in, and 1t stands
like the rock of ages. They have q new
cathedral adjoining, and connected with
the old one. This was begun 10 the year
1851, and Is not yet completed, o do
they ex pect to complete 1t for o hum
dred years, as they are apparently build.
ing It to last forever, and are aiming TO
restore the old one to conform to Its
former or original shape and form.
The money Is furnished by the state, and
bank and private subscriptions. 1t 10
q beautiful and handsome edihce, and
with its beautiful windows. and figures
representing the Apostles, and with all
the decorative splendor of early Gothic.
mingled with Romanesque features, IS
well as imaginary features or figures of
the most queer imaginations. We are
taken through by . guide, who explains
everything and shows US the many old
parts OF the building, which have been
saved and put together, and they have
many workmeu employed under q skilled
mechanic busy ~remodsling or restoring
the parts just as they were. some seven
hundred Of the leading church people are
or were incased In the walls OF this old
church. We read or zee the old inscrip-
tions thai were made six or eight hun
dred years ago. We also attend services,
and listen to q sermon delivered 10 the
Norwegian language. We enjoy their
singing, aud listen to the music from
their large and elegant organ. We then
pass out into the cemetery (ali the
churches have their cemeteries around
them). and we nee the queer old mouu-
ments. The oldest are plain, cast iron
slabs. about three feet wide by six feet
long. The inscriptions are cast with OF
In the castings, one of which l copied,
and may write OF and enclose 1t later, II ]
get time. We hen stroll around the city
and return to our hotel for Q night days
rest).
We are up Monday morning and around
to see the stores, and ind many beautiful
aud elegant stores, with very many odd
and pretty things In them. The streets
are all from one hundred to one hundred
and twenty feet wide. q we'll paved,
and as clean as our front pavement. We
drive out to the falls, and ind the couu-
try around here to be beautiful. VeRets-
bles and hay are the principal things
raised. Milk for cheese, and butter. next
to fish, are the principal industries. We
see the railroad here for the last time un.
til we return from the North Cape.
We return to our steamer at 8 p. m.
She leaves at 10 p. m, and we are OF fol
an eiRht-dsy cruise aboard ship. We
wind our way up along through many
rocky islands and mountains, u have
calm sea.
On Tuesday, the second day OF July, we
orriya nj anchor at TroIhatIen and uc