Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-10-06
QUEER FOLK, THOSE
PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON THE SHORES
OF THE FJORDs OF NORWAY.
Queer Customs of These People who
Never Bow or Offer Their Hands
When Calling At Neighbours
House.

Never Bow or Offer Their Hands
When Calling At Neighbours
House.
Inhabitants of the shores of the
fiords and the valleys of the coast range
OF Norway are the most taciturn of
people. 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 the
host distracted from whatever he is
doing by the entrance of visitor. He
merely looks up ana responds God
bless you" or mo thanks needed" but
his words and accent leave the visitor
ill no uncertainty as to whether he is
welcome or not
When a farmer is about to take n
journey he packs his wagon bitches I'D
his horse and gives his wife minute or
derS concerning the work to be done
during his absence, but it never enters
his head to mark the parting with Il
"Goodby" or pressure of the hand
There is the same absence of greeting
or any signs of satisfaction on his re
turn. He first cares for the horse and
thcn, surrounded by his children, who
always expect little presents upon
ihcSc 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 m0mentary occupation to
be disturbed at all by his coming.
Old Eilert Sundt who. some forty
years ago. made laborouS invcstiga-
ton of Norwegian customs. said to a
peasant: 1T seems to mo that your
wife ought to leave her work and give
you her hand and a How are youY
when you come home
The peasant could not restrain his
mirtl. He said: ''Why. all the farm
hands would laugh at u.s.
"Did YOU ever hear of a farmer say
ing Good day to his wife when he
came home| Sundt asked
Yes" the peasant answered. There
was man in the parish Il good many
years ago who had that singular hab-
it."
Love-talk and affectionate demon
STATIONS of every kind are avoided
studOusly. even hetWecn parents AMI
children. The chi drt II receive the hest
possible care. 1t may he mentioned. in
cidcntally, 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
airy Good morning. mamma" and
Good night. mamma" almost univer-
sal tl>CW he @. are n noWn IN Norway
Even when the grown son or dhugh-
ter leave the patelnal roof to seek oc-
cupatiOn elsewhere no handclasp is ex-
pected. When the daughter leaves as
bride she does offer her hand to her
parents, but in token, not of farewell
but for gratitude for benefits received
in the home.
Courtship is carried on by means Of
an intermediary. usually an elderly
man. This agent calls on the girls
parents and after expressing his desire
to borrow pillow or buy calf and
beating about the hush gradually he
works up the real object of his visit
If he finds that the sutton is acceptable
he leaves, promising to call again soon
Meanwhile the news is impaired to the
girl who. as a rule, is of the Same
mind as her parents as sentimental
considerations count for little with her.
Months may elapSc before the suitor
makes his formal offer. Next the par.
ents have further piiley with the aged
deputy of Hymen in regard to dowry.
wedding expenses and oInpr details,
and then the betrCthal takes place.
As for the wedding it ELF it may hc
remarked that it is usually as brilliant
and snowy as possible. y p"cu'iar
cumStance is that the bride leaves her
home and IS conducted by her father 10
the hridCgroom's house Il week before
the wedding day. on that day she >fr
like statue among her female r'ta-
tiveS and friends. Her long and USl-
ally golden hair is hanging down her
back. Her bosom is covered with gold
and silver pins and brooches adorned
with dangling disks. Arc, nj her wal t
is wound long and magnificent gir.iie
made of gilded plates of silver hcar'ut
the prettiest designs of the German
RenaiSSance--a masterpiece of old
Norwegian gold smiths work-and on
her head is the old-faShioncd. tall.
pointed crown, usually made of glidcd
silver or copper. The wedding festiVi-
ties do not differ """"tl fly from those Of
other countries. Th".c are ma -. rs
in plenty. a lavish -. lread'' and the
guests often mum e. 800.