Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02
To Celebrate the Adoption of the
National Constitution.
AMERICAS CREDITABLE DISPLAY
A Town Where Rain Falls Almost
All the Time.
PICTURES QUE FEATU RES


Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star,
BERGEN. Norway.
This ancient city on the southwest coast
of Norway mas been en- fete in an unusual
manner for the past four days and seldom
II ever. in Its history have the surround
ing mountains or bergs-which have given
the place is name-Iooked down upon a
similar period of festivities.
First among the events of the week was
the opening. on Monday. May 16 of the
International fisheries exhibition assocI-
ated with which Is the national Industrial
exhibition. which apparently embraces by
far the most important and Interesting col
lectiOns from Norway, although it may yet
be too early to form correct conclusions.
ON Sunday evening the royal salutes fired
from the antiquated Notifications that look
out over the harbor's entrance announced
the arrival OF the gunboat that brought
Crown Prince Gustav and suite from Stock
holm To participate in the opening cere-
monies ard to lend their distinguished pres
ence TO the events OF succeeding days For
hours preceding the coming of The vessel
that bore his royal highness all Bergen was
on the qui vive; people in carriages Were
seen driving through the streets TO the
quay. and neither lowering skies rain nor
mud prevented the trooping multitude of
pedestrians from focking in the same d.
rection. every one intent on getting a
fact that this city Is considered the fore
most place in Norway for democratic indie
pendence of thought and action, and for
opposition to royalty, 1t is evident that
Jhe average Bergenser has the usual stock
OF human nature in his make up. and that
ne is not a whit behind his brethren of
other cities and lands in trying to what
Is TO BE- seen and In paying homage-at
least far his presence is concerned
TO titles and dignities.
Rainy Town.
Bergen is celebrated the world over for
:ts rain The mist-laden clouds that sweep
in from the seattle European end of the
gulf stream-meet cold barrier In the
sn0w-capped mountains at the foot of
which Bergen nestles; the moisture is con-
densed. and rain-soaked streets and parks
are 50 common that one familiar with
the locality feels the least surprise at such
conditions. W hen rain is falling children
play in the streets with as much indiffer-
ence as IS manifested by nude Eskimo chill
dreu who gambol and play about an igloO.
quite unconscious of any discomfort, though
the temperature may be ten degrees below
Zero Indeed. the people here enjoy repeating
the story Of the old Dutch skipper who had
yoyaged to Bergen for many long years
and had become familiar with the rugged
coast of Norway in winters gale and sum-
merS calm. On one occasion, SO the story
goes. H. arrived off Bergen on fine sunny
day The glorious orb OF day fell in SPLEEN
dor on the hills. and their Jagged barren
peaks stood out against the clear blue ether
of the heavens like an exquisitely cut
cameo
1t was such scene as an artist might
sigh for. but one totally unacceptable
by the ancient skipper. who. tradition tells
Us. stOuty maintained that, in some mys-
ferrous way. he had lost his reckoning for
Bergen in the sunlight was as strange to
him as fairyland; and SO he sadly turned
his galli0t in another direction to search
for water-soaked town. feeling that his
I'M a ION Il
badly furnished by making such a land
fall.
All day Sunday and the succeeding night
the clouds hung dark and heavy upon the
mountain sides, and pour ed out their boun-
thu HbationS upon Bergen. Monday me
lain still continued The prospect for pro-
piuCus weather for the opening ceremonies
was far from encouraging. The time set
for these was l O'Clock. Toward noon the
rain ceased, at least in large part and
though the exhibition grounds We're water
soaked, and the functions Of the hour
C uld not be held in the open air, the riffs
IN the clouds. through which the sun peep
ed from time to time. promised weather
much more satisfactory than that prevail
ing for the previous four or five days
Opening the Exhibition.
Shortly after the time appointed the
crown prince arrived at the main building.
and entering through the chief portal took
up his position on a raised platform facing
by the chief officials of the city and ex-
hihtion and by the crown prince The
nne Norwegian band played stirring airs
before the speechmaking began and sub
s6quently. Another notable feature Of the
occasion was the singing of cantata by
mixed chorus Of four hundred voices clos
Ing with the national anthem.
The Nygaardsparken-the park which is
the site OF the exhibition-is an ideal spot
for the purpose to which 1t has been de-
voted on this occasion. The diversif ed
contour OF the grounds. which. in places
ts steep and hilly; the presence of shrub
Dery and trees; the fine dwellings that
surround IL; an artistic fountain opposite
the main buildng-the gift of a citizen to
the ctty-the characteristic and picturesque
buildings and, in addition the clear deep
waters of the harbor that wash the shores
OF the park, and beyond which q mountain
looms high toward the clouds, white cot
tsges nestle at Its foot make I'D q pic
lure which Is Doth attractive and unique
and one which might easily tempt q per-
son TO travel far to see even although the
structures were not fued with collections
rom many lands, including far away
Japan. representing the orient and our
Own dear land, the great republic of the
occident.
While much vet remains to be done to
complete the installation, many of the ex-
hioitS present attractive features The
aquarium. though small. Is in excellent
condition and well worth seeing. Sweden