Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-09-02
WEDDING IN NORWAY
AN HONORED GUEST TELLS OF ITS
AMUSING FEATURES.

:
The Spirit Of Revelry Runs High, and the
Festivities Last Until Everybody Is Tired
Out-Drinking the Health of the Newly
Welded Pair.
A country wedding in Norway is an
interesting sight to behold, and, besides
being amusing, should think, is quite
unique in its way. It is not SO much
the actual church ceremony, although
that is strange enough in its simplicity,
as the after proceedings which find such
charms for the stranger.
When I was travelling in the neigh
borhood of the great Justedal glacier, I
was invited to join in some wedding
festivities, and the privilege of being
the honored guest is one ( 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 sight of was a
troop of gayly dressed men and women
collected in the street and marching
along to the tunes Of an antique fiddle.
Some were dancing, some were singing,
and the older inhabitants, who had
reached the age when such frivolities
no longer charm, were putting away at
their curious. long, wooden pipes, the old
women enjoying the fumes Of smoke, if
anything. more than the men.
The younger girls were most gorgeous
ly arrayed in snow white caps and mass
i've ornaments of gold. Their dresses
were gay with every color of the rain
bow. All the musical accompaniment
was supplied by one old fiddler, but
those simple folk enjoyed the erratic
squeaking every bit as much as if it had
been the finest orchestra in the world
under the charge of some celebrated COLI
ductor.
The new made wife, covered with
bushes, looked sweetly picturesque in
her bright red skirt and snow whits
bodice, and her jewflry tinkled like
fairy cymbals as she walked or rather
gently swayed along.
Her most conspicuous ornament was
the bridal crown, which it is the ambi-
ton Of every village girl to wear. It j.
the property of the whole parish ane
generally under the chargepf the prie
who hands it over just before the &C s.
mony. High above the maiden's hcS.
it stood, looking most imposing, as ne
sun glistened on the many jewels WI ch
were set around it.
joined the merry throng, the
raising their caps and the wome,
tesying low when they caugf Of
me. Then followed the party
narrow steps to the first foe
matched barn belonging to
of the bride. An old OAK eli ss
dragged forward to receive my pe ~
person, and I sat me there and wonder.
ed greatly What or earth was coming
next.
The villagers ranged themselves round
the long, low room. on one side the
girls, opposite them the young men, the
matrons at the top and the elders al
the bottom. Then the bride retired, o.
course accompanied by her husband,
and changed her ceremonious garments
for lighter attire. thought her wise
when I saw what followed.
When the pair returned-and during
their absence there was silence in the
barn-a huge bowl was offered to me
filed with the national beverage.
looked at it aghast. Was to drink il
all? They intimated I was to wish then
health. I touched itwith my lips. Their
the bride bent her pretty head and tool
a sip. That one taste was enough fol
me. But there was more to come.
| They signed that was to go OF
drinking. I shut my eyes and did So
Between every two drafts the bride
bowed her head and courtesied before
me. At last it seemed might leave off.
But, no; had to go through it al
again with the bridegroom until the
bowl was empty. And when that time
came was heartily glad, for the drink
was strong, and liking for it is most
surely one that could only be acquired
by long acquaintance
And now tho husband led his bride
into the middle of the room and trip
ped one of those graceful pas deux pecul
lar to the country.
At last, hot and flushed, they stopped
and stood before me. A tiny silver cul
was held out, and was asked to drink
their health again, this time in cognac.
I did so without daring to think OF the
morrow.
| This was the signal for the dancing
to commence in earnest. Only four peo
i ple-two men and two women-were al
1 lowed to dance at one time, but as soor
as they stopped, exhausted, others slipped
in and took their places, and the ole
fiddler scraped away until I thought hi
arm must break.
Presently there was a lull. Two WON
en-, dressed in gauzy, wavy dresses, step
ped into the middle. They were the vii
lage dancers. Then followed marvel
GUS exhibition of high kicking. 1t was
la veritable triumph in the terpsicho
rean art, for every few steps they touch
ed the ceiling with their shoes. and tht
louder the click of their shoes the loud
er came the applause. And SO the night
hours slipped away unheeded. Dance fol
lowed dance and song followed song
until at last they could keep awake NJ
longer, and, with kiss to the bride
and the bridegroom, one and all depart
ed.-Hartford Times.
The Value Of . Cup.
One Of the most comforting things
| c1...ao., %, b,,nto, can carry with him