Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-08-22
is THE JAPAN OF EUROPE.
Norway's Similarity to Oriental Ma
ton Pointed Out by William
E. Curtis,

~ . uIb4N. NoGWdy, July lo.--l WIZ
liam e. Curtis in Chicago Record-Her
ald).-One sees many striking resem-
blances between Norway and Japan
the mountains. the gorges, the
streams, the waterfalls, the forests,
he roadways and other attractions.
There are no temples, however or
shrines along the roadsides, dedicated
70 pagan gods, dragons or demons.
but only staid, plain, ugly Lutheran
churches, as simple and as severe as
the character of the people who wor-
ship in them, and the children have
ow heads instead of thick, black.
stiff hair. Science tells us why grass
is green instead of blue, and a skillful
gardiner can make carnations and
chrysanthemums of all colors, but |
have never been able to find anyone
who could give satisfactory explain
alton of racial and climatic features.
fhe Norwegians and the Japanese are
much alike in their industries. their
sobriety and many of their habits,
md their environments are strikingly
similar. The climate of the two
countries is much alike, and yet the
tiff. jet-black hair, while those of
the other country have clear blue
ayes and fine hair of the color of
straw. They have a similar diet for
both eat mostly fish, eggs ang yege
| tables, and you don't see fresh meat
| in Norway any more than in Japan.
There is an abundance of ham, bacon
md other Cured meats, and odd things
| ike reindeers' tongues and launches
| from polar bears sent down from the
| lrctics. but very little beelsteak.
| roast beef or mutton.
Occasionally you find similar Gus
tom. In front of every Japanese
temple is tort" a sort of arch for
birds to roost upon, while in Norway
wisp of oats, rye or barley is tied to
| a branch of Il tree and fastened upon
the ridgepole of every barn for their
| benefit These wisps are put out
twice a year, on the two Christmases
the 25th OF December and the 2lst
of June the longestday in the year.
which is known as st. Hans day, or
i st. Johns day, rs among us. 1t is
a holiday throughout all Scandinavia,
and it celebrated by the observance
of several interesting customs, which
| differ in the various countries. On
| lhe morning of ST. Hans day and on
Christmas morning new wisps of bar
ley or rye are put out for the birds
and everything is trimmed with green
At Christmas they use pine, spruce
inr fir branches; on St Hans day
beech and birch. They trim the
wagons and carriages, and even the
railway locomotives and cars, and
put branches of green foliage out of
the windows of their houses.
! We We're in Gothenburg, Sweden,
on St Hans day and the town was
| fullof people, brought in by eXcurs-
ion trains from every direction. while
other excursion trains seemed to be
carrying fully as many people away.
When | asked the waiter at the hotel
If there was any particular program
of ceremonies he replied:
No; it is simply IA holiday. The
city people go into the country and
the country people come into the
city. Both drink a great deal o!
beer and get very tired and that is
about all there is Cf It,"
There was quite sensation at
IGothenburg at the time because of
the recent return from America of a
aative of that place named Wallin,
who had been coachman twenty
years ago. before he emigrated. He
found his way to California, went
out in the mines. and. like many 9th
ers. struck it rich. He is now mil
lionaire and has come over to the
old country to gather up his parents
and brothers and sisters to take them
all back with him to the land of bon
anZas and let them share with hin
the results of his success.
There are several similar examples
am told-peasants who went to the
United States in the steerage and have
been blessed with amazing success II
.nll their undertakings, until they ar'
able to come back to their old homes
and families in. Norway with indie
pendent fortunes.
From this part Of Norway th'
United States has drawn some Of tt