The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-30
ODD LIFE IN NORWAY.
Men Who Wash by wettinE Their
Fingers and Mustaches.

ANl the New ] ofk EIeSS.
Bergen. AUG 3l.-Of all the detestable
coinages in the world. the Norwegian is
the worst. In the first place. Norway
mas no gold at all. 1t has two decent
coins-the mark, answering somewhat to
our quarter, or more nearly TO the En-
sish shilling, and the half mark. To
supplement- these there are some thous-
anus apparently. of dirty, mean looking
coins OF all values. ranging between a
nickel and cent. At first these are
bright like silver, but are out Of the ell
9T99Mss 50 TO speak, after a months wear.
mere Is also paper coinage, which
decorates the fingers with black.
II you happen 10 tip Norwegian, he
has funny way of expressing satisfac-
tlon. He doesn't touch his hat, after the
usual European fashion, but he shakes
you warmly by the hand This Is, per-
maps Just as satisfactory, were II not
tnat cleanliness Of person Is a thing I'M
known in this country. The natives GER
tainly do battle, but washing for the sake
OF removing dirt is an institution that
does not seem to exist.
The chief peculiarities Of the people
may, perhaps, be summed up as follows:
A paucity OF general ideas; an intense
attachment TO a mixture, which they are
pleased to call "tahak," but which really
Is rotten cabbage, or an excellent substi-
lute Tor the same; an equal attachment
10 liquor called 'aquavite," which Is a
stckening mixture of castor oil and bad,
strong Irish whisky; a national incapaci-
ration.
To watch a Norwegian wash is a treat.
He first puts on all Of his clothes and
lights his pipe-a Norwegian Is never With
out pipe-then he dips the ends OF his
fingers in the water and moistens his
mustache, and he is thus washed for the
day. What more could you want2 Their
wonder knows no bounds when they see
any one performing his additions in a
strictly normal manner. They seem to
think than nQTfOrmtOR some re-
liglous rite and are silent and reNerentlai.
Every-Or nearly every-pace in Nor
way mas a pretty legend attached 70 ~ y;
Perhaps the glorious cliff OF Hornelen is
superior to its fellows in this distinction
If IL is a distinction. This magnificent
rock rises some 5000 feet from the sea, and
so has claim to a more than improbable
lows:
The King of Bergen had a son. The
King of Trondjem had a daughter. The
kings were at war. Their two children
We're. of course, in love. The decisive
battle was fought under this .cliff; The
King of Bergen was defeated. Ella OF
Trondjem wandered out one day in 0e-
spalr Of seeing her lover again, and got
chmbound at place where certainly
nothing but seagull could get now All
the bravest of Oscar of Trondjems army
tried to bring her down and failed 50
Oscar promised her lover he should have
her II he could fetch her.
So the lover put on all his armor-for IL
is disgrace for Norwegian to die with
out his armor-and he climbed up the Cliff
until he came TO where his sweetheart lay
senseless. Then he brought her back To
her father. But his own father cursed
him-of course, with a dying curse-be-
cause ne wished TO marry the daughter
or his enemy, ana added that the curse
would last If his son carried OUT his ma
trimonial intentions. Now, Norwegians
think that dying curse Is sure of fulfili-
ment; so to save himself and her from
the curse the son climbed to the top OF
Hornelen, grasped his spear and shield
and leaped. His body fell close to his
sWeethearts feet. She went mad ana
died, and her ghost Is stil to be seen
lowering round the cliff wringing its
hands and wailing bitterly.
Since then Il has changed into a sea-
gull. They show you the seagull!