The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-01-26


A country wedding in Norway is an |
interesting sight to behold, and, besides |
being amusing, l should think, is quite
unique in its way. 1t 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 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.
was rather behind my time, and
when l reached the village the good
people were returning from the church.
The first thing l caught sight Of was a
troop of gayly dressed men and women
collected III 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 cratic
squeaking every bit as much as if it had
! been the finest orchestra in the world
under the charge Of some celebrated con-
| ductor.
The new made wife, covered with
bushes, looked sweetly picturesque in
her bright red skirt and snow white
bodice, and her jewelry tinkled like
fairy cymbals as she walked or rather
gently swayed along.
IIer most conspicuous ornament was
the bridal crown, which it is the ambi-
ton Of every village girl to wear. 1t is
the property of the whole parish and is
generally under the charge OF the priest,
who hands it over just before the cere-
mony. High above the maiden's head
it stood, looking most imposing, as the
sun glistened on the many jewels which
were set around it.
Joined the merry throng, the men
raising their caps and the women cour-
tesying low when they caught sight OF
me. Then followed the party up some
narrow steps to the first floor OF a big
matched barn belonging to the father
of the bride. An old oak chair was
dragged forward to receive my portly
person, and sat me there and wonder
ed greatly what ON 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 at
the bottom. Then the bride retired. OF
course accompanied by her husband,
and changed her ceremonious garments
for lighter attire. l thought her wise
when l 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 Twas to wish then
health. | touched it with my lips. Their
the bride bent her pretty head and tool
: a sin. That one taste was enough To-
mo. But there was more to come.
They signed that l was to go OF
drinking. / shut my eyes and did so
Between every two drafts the brid
bowed her head and courtesied befor
: me. At last it seemed might leave on
/ But. no; 1 had to go through 1T al
' again with the bridegroom until TN
howl was empty. And when that tim
came was heartily glad, for the drinl
was strong, and liking for it is mos
I surely one that could only be acquire
= by long acquaintance.
And now the husband led his bird
into the middle Of tho room and trlI
d ned one of those graceful pas deux pecul
: = lar to the country.
{, At last, hot and flushed, they stoppe
and stood before me. A tiny silver Gu
Is was held out, and was asked TO drin
,, their health again, this time in cognaf
I did 80 without daring to think OF tn
:. morrow.
e This was the signal for the dancin
10 70 commence in earnest. Only four PEI
9 ple-two men and two women-were q
T. lowed to dance at one time, but a. 500
le as they stopped, exhausted, others siippe
II in and took their places, and the OF
. fiddler scraped away until thought d
arm must break.
Presently there was lull. Twowon
en-. dressed in gauzy, wavy dresses stel
ned into the middle. They were the vi
lace dancers. Then followed marve
GUS exhibition of high kicking. 1t WI
a a yeritable triumph in the terpsich.
rean art, for every few steps they toucl
ed the ceiling with their shoes. and q
louder the click Of their shoes the lou.
# er came the applause. And 30 the mig
hours slipped away UNDECIDED. Dance 10
:, lowed dance and song followed som
until at last they could keep awake
:. longer. and, with kiss to the brit
~ and the bridegroom, one and all depar