The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1899-10-25
QUEER FOLK, THOSE
PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON THE SHORES
IS OF THE FJoRDs OF NORWAY.
Queer Customs of These People Who
Never Bow or Offer Their Hands
When Calling AT q Neighbours
House,

When Calling At q Neighbours
House.
Inhabitants OF the shores of the
fiords and the valleys of the coast range
of Norway are the most taciturn of
people. A peasant calling at neigh
boris house neither bows nor offers his
hand. He does not even take off his
cap. He simply says GOOD day" or
uses the customary Norwegian greet
ing, Thanks for the last" Nor is tho
host distracted from whatever he il
doing by the entrance of a visitor. He
merely looks up and responds. God
bless YOU" or mo thanks needed" but
his words and accent leave the visitor
In no uncertainty as to whether he IL
welcome or not.
When n farmer Is about to take a
journey he packs his wagon, bitches up
his horse and gives his wife minute or
ders concerning the work to bo done
during his absence, but II never enters.
his head TO mark the parting with a
| "Goodby" or pressure of tho hand.
| There Is the same absence of greeting
or any signs OF satisfaction on his re-
| turn. He first cares for the horse and
then, surrounded by his children, who
always expect little presents upon
these occasions. he unpacks the pur-
chases he has made In the city. He
does not kiss his wife nor greet her In
any way, and she, on her part, does
not allow her momentary occupation to
be disturbed at all by his coming.
Old Eilert Sundt who, some forty
years ago made IA laborious investiga-
ton of Norwegian customs. said to q
peasant 1T seems to me that your
wife ought to leave her work and give
you her hand and How are your
when you come home.'
The peasant could not restrain his
mlrth. lie said; why, all the farm
hands would laugh at U.S."
Ibid you ever hear of n farmer say
Ing Good day to his wife when he
came homer" Sundt asked.
Yes" the peasant answered There
was man In the parish good many
years ago who had that singular hab-
H."
i.oye-tnlk and affectionate demon
STATIONS of every kind are avoided
studlously, even between parents and
| children. The children receive the best
possible care. 1t may be mentioned, In
cldcntnlly. that each child has Its own
| little chest containing among other
things one shirt for each pear OF his
life. But parents never pet children
who have left the cradle. The custom
nry Good morning, mamma" and
Good night, mamma" almost univer-
sal elsewhere. IRE unknown In Norway.
Even when the grown son or daugh.
Ter leave the paternnl roof to seek &C.
cupation elsewhere no handeasp Is ex-
pected When the daughter leaves AZ
Il bride she does offer her hand to her
parents, but In token, not of farewell,
but for gratitude for benefits received
In the home.
Courtshlp IL carried on by means OF
an intermediary, usually an elderly
man. This agent calls on the girl.s
parents and after expressing his desire
TO borrow n plow or buy n calf and
beating about the bush gradually he
works up the real object of his visit
II he finds TINT the suitor IL acceptable
he leaves, promising to call again soon,
Meanwhile the news Ii Impaired to the
| girl. who, as II rule, IL of the same
| mind ns her parents, ns sentimental
considerations count for little with her
Months may elapse before the suitor
makes his formal offer Next the par
ents hive further parley with the aged
deputy of Hymen In regard to dowry,
wedding expenses and other details,
tith WV bNtiOtiihi tuhfH Diutt.
AS for the wedding itself II may be
remarked that II Is usually AZ brilliant
and snowy M possible. A peculiar
cumstance IL that the bride leaves her
home and Is conducted by her father to
the brldcgrooms house a week before
the wedding day. On that day she sits
like n statue among her female rela-
lives and friends. Her long and usu-
ally golden hair IL hanging down her
back Her bosom In covered with gold
and silver pins and brooches adorned
with dangling disks. Around her waist
Is wound long and magnificent girdle
made of gilded plates of silver bearing
the prettiest designs of the German
Renalssanee--a masterpiece of old
Norwegian gold smiths work and on
her bend IL the old fashioned. tall.
pointed crown. usually made OF glided
silver or copper. The wedding festivi-
lies do not differ greatly from those OF
other countries. There are musiciafs
IN plenty. lavish spread" and the
guests often number 800