Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-10-14
WEDDING IN NORWAY
An HoNcaeo GUEST TelLs OF ITS
AMUSING FEATURES.

A country wedding in Norway is an
interesting sight tn behold. and. besides
being amusing. I should think. - quite
unique in its way. II is not - much
the actual church ceremony. although
tha; il strange enough ia its simplicity,
as the after proceedings " hich find such
charms for the stranger.
When I was travelling in the neigh
borhcod Of the great JustoIGl glacier. I
was invited to Join in soS,c wedding
festivities. and the rriyilrrc e being
the houored gucst Is ono 1 shall not soon
forget.
Twas rather behind my time, and
when I reached the village the good
people were returning from the church.
The first thing ! caught siehi II was n
troop of gayiy dressed men aud women
collected la ihe stree; ard marching
along to the tunes of an antique fiddle.
Some were dancing. some were singing.
and the older inhabitants. who had
reached the ace when such friyolifics
no longer charm. were putting away ut
their curious. long. wooden pipes. the old
women enjoying the fui:ics of smoke. II
anything. more than the men.
| The younger girls were mos gorgeous
| " arrayed in snow white caps and mass
i've ornaments Of gold. Their dresses
were gay with every color uf the rain
bow All the musical accompaniment
was supplied ty crc old fiddler. hut
those simple folk enjoyed the cratic
saueaking every bit as much rs IL IL had
bccn the finest orchestra in the world
under the charge of some celebrated con.
| duC;c-.
| The new made wife, covered with
bushes. looked swectlr picturesque in
her bright rcd skirt ard snow white
bodice. aud her jcwclry tiukled like
fairy cymhals rs she walked or rather
gently swsyed along
Her most conspicuous ornamcu; wa.
the bridal crown. which IL ~ the ainb;-
ton os every village girl is wear. II -
the property Of the Whole parish and IL
generally under the charge of tho pric--.
who hands IL over just brforc the ocrc.
mony. High above the maidcn's head
it s'ccd. lookin; mos, imposing. n the
sun Glisienci on the many jewels which
Were set around IL.
I joined the merry throng. the mcu
raising their caps and the women cur
tesying low when they caught sight of
me-. Then followed the party M snr-ae
narrow steps to the first fiour az a big
thafchcd harm Belonging to tho father
Of the bride. An cid oak chair was
dragged forward 90 revive my pu--ly
person. and ! sat me there and wonder.
ed greatly what On earth was Coming
next.
The villagers ranged themselves. round
the long. low rucm. ga ono sidc the
girls. opposite them the young men. thu
matrcns nc tho top ard fh. elders nt
tho bottom Tlrcn tho irid. retired. uf
course accompanied iy her husband.
and changed her ccr-snunious garments
fer lighter aitirr. Thought her visr
when saw what followed.
Whcn the pair rctuTurd-and during
their absence thcrr was silence in sh-
barn-a huge bowl vs- osfcrrd Co iu-
filed with the na;.urai beverage. I
looked at 10 aghssi. Was to drink 10
all. They iniimai-d was to wish ihom
health. l touched 70 with nv lips. Then
the bride hcut her pretty bad and took
n sip. That onc taste was enough foy
mo. But there was rnsEc tn come.
They signed that ! was Co GO On
drinking. I shut any eyes and did ~.
Between every two drafts the bride
bowed her head and ouurtcsicd b~tor~
me. At last 10 SEEMED might lrax. Oft
But. no: ! had to ~ through 10 all
again with tho bridegroom until the
howl was empty. Ard when that time
came was heartily glad. for the drink
was strong. and a liking for !, - rio~s
surely one that cuuld only be acquired
by long acquaintance.
And now the husband led his bride
into the middle q tho rom and trip.
ped enc cf those graceful pas dcux pccul.
lar to the country.
AT last, hot aud flushed. they stopped
and stood before nle. A tiny silver Gun
| was held out. and I was asked to drink
their health again. this time in cogus-.
i did so without daring to think os the
morrow.
This was the signal for en-. DANCING
to commence IN earnest. Only four pco-
ple-'wo men aud two womcn-wcro al
lowed To dance ~ onc time. but n soon
rs they stopped. exhausted. others slipre,l
in and took their plac-<. and The old
fiddler scTsped away until I 'huaght his
arm mus: break.
Presently there was luli. Twowom.
en-. drcsscd IN rauzy. wavy ir-ss.. step.
ped into the middle. They were tho VII
lacc dancers. Then followed q marvel.
Gus exhibition of high kicking. IL wa.
n vcriiablc triumph In the t-rJsi-ho-
rcan art. for every few steps they i"noh.
cd the ceiling with their sho. :. and tho
louder the click az their Shoes the ioud.
or came tho applause. And ~ ,h. night
hours slippcd away unhccsicd. Dance fol-
lowed dance and scry followed srsnr.
until At last they could keep svakc m
longer. and. with n Ia. Co. tho hrids
and the bridegroom. one and all depart.
ed-Hsrtford Times
The Walls. - . Ger