Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-09-05
WHOLE aeo,mrNr on sxA,sa
Soldiers Of Norway tee Then Ia Thsii
wiatef Ev01ations.


Soldiers Of Norway Tee Thea Ia Their
wister Evolations.
Norway, during q considerable por.
Zion Of the year, y covered with snow,
and her winters, which In other coun-
tries are Of short duration, extend to
i've or six months, and In the most
northern parts to much longer period.
During this time II IL impossible to
leave the beaten roads, for the purpose.
at least, Of travelling, and when fresh
snow happens to fall even the commu.
nicatlOn by means Of them Is stopped
until the sledglng IL able to be cOntin.
ued by means Of machine, which, by
being dragged by horses along the road.
restores the former truck by clearing
away the snow In part and nattening
and leveling the remainder.
The thinness, however, Of the popula-
ton, widely scattered over such an I'm.
mense extent Of territory, renders 1t N
many places impossible to keep the
roads open by these means. 1t was
e,aturai, then, that the Norwegian should
devise some mode by which to leave
his hut, generally removed from roads.
and traverse the forests In various di.
rections with sufficient cclerity to fol.
low the chase. his favOrite occupation.
For this purpose he devised the skies.
or snow skates, which consist OF two
thin, narrow pieces Of fir Of unequal
lengths, the foremost part being point.
ed and turned upward.
The longest, which measures about
seven feet, IL used on the left foot, and
the other, which Ii about two feet short.
er, on the right. The latter h called
aander, from the right foot being used
moro than the left, particularly In turn
Ing. Both skates are about three Inches
In width and an inch In thickness In
the center, where the foot 10 placed,
which 10 firmly bound to the exile by
loops at the side. made Of willow OF
| the fiber Of ar roots. to which are fast.
ened leather thongs. The skies ars
smeared with tar or pitch, and the un
der side 10 followed in the center Into
q groove to prevent their clipping later
ally and to enable the skielober, Of
skater, to keep a straight course.
The arms Of the skielober were
rife, to which was attached O broad
leathern strap passing over the shoul
der, and short sword. He carried Will
him besides stan (skicstoken) sever
feet In length and rather more than a
inch in diameter. This, which was hell
In his right hand. was armed at on
end with an iron spike, and above !
was placed q circular piece Of wood
The use Of the former was 10 penetrat
the foxen snow and Of the latter to pre-
vent the staff sinking In, giving thus
nrm support to the bearer.
The skiestok, or skicstay, as II va
called. was likewise. % has been be
fore observed, Of considerable use :
the sklelober In enabling him to modeI
ate his speed, make certain wheels an
preserve the necessary balance durin
the descent Of steep declivitieS. Th
skielober to the skate exercise unite
that Of the ordinary chausseurs.
light troops, Of which Il constituted
part. and II performed all the dutiel
differing from them only In marchin
on skates, which gave It very gres
superiority. The skielober moved wit
singular agility. and from the depth q
snow were afe from every pursuit q
; cavalry or infantry.
On the other hand, they could attac
the enemy's column on march and ha
ass them inceasantly ON both sides
. the road without incurrng any dai
ger to themselves. Cannon shot pr
duccd little effect against them. dh
; persed as they were at the distance
200 or 800 PAGES, and their mOvemen,
were 80 rapid that at the very instaI
you would expect to see them secon
time they had already disappeared.
reappear again In quarter where yo
were not the least aware Of them. I'll
real superiority Of the skating soldier
4 however. was chiefly shown when Il
I enemy haked after long march. Wha
4 ever precautions might then be take
I they were In constant danger fro
b troops which had no occasion for pa
or road. and traversed with indiiYcren
Z marshes. lakes. rivers and mountain
O Even In those parts where the leo VI
n too feeble to bear the weight OF a MI
a tho skielOber glidcd safely over by q
4 mere rapidlty Of his motion.