New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-07

TWO WINTERS IN NORWAY c BENG an az md in
Sleigh Driving and Ine5noIn li an snsndeT With
Illustrations. Octave. pp. xiv. 20 LohsiiaA'
Green a. Co.
Mr. Spender's book robs the idea OF encounter
ing Norwegian winters of much of its terror
The rnerciless sea voyage, the cruel colo anu
the absence of light, lose half their reputation,
we are told when one really faces them AS 10
the first. the author tells US that on both Of his
crossings from Hull TO Christiania he encoun-
tered an almost absolute calm. and he prophesies
that ten years hence the tourist agents VIII
be as busy arranging for winter tours in Nor
way as they are in planning and executing sum
r,,er itineraries on the Continent at the present
time Neither did he find the cold unpleasant
In the cities the climate was not unlike thal
to be met with in England at the same season
of the year while away from the seacoasl the
air was so Cry that a man could thoroughly en-
ioy life with the thermometer at 32 degrees De-
low zero. AS to the short days, he adds they
are at least no worse than the yellow fogs or
London. On the ship that took him to Norway
or, his last trip were sufferer from tuberculosis
who had been ordered to make the journey in
the hope of saving his life and an American
from, Minnesota who going to Norway to
be cured Of catarrh. The language is not a serl-
Gus bar to ones enjoyment, for 1t is easy TO
nick I'D e few of the phrases needful In order 10
obtain the ccmmonest necessaries OF hfe' ana
good many of the natives have slight knowl-
edge of English
There were times. however, when the autnor
found the cold inconvenient- One Of them was
when he went TO church Here he found the
temperature actually lower than it was OUT OF
doors-so cold, indeed, that everybody kept MS
hat on. a proceeding that shocked the Brlton
sense Of decency It was not treasured when he
,hserved cuspidors placed prominently at the
foor Of the altar table. He found many other
.,pexpected customs among them the habit OF
ringing the church bells merriy at funeral IN
order that the changing might keep away the
devil. When a man dies in Norway his friends
DO not ride In his funeral procession Ihey
ba-ve another way Of showing their respect
Most of them leave their cards in a box out
side the house on the day Of the funeral Ii any
of tbern co attend in person they shake hands
solemnly with the chief mourner- once "hen
Mr.. Spender was entertained at dinner given
IN his honor he caused surprise by not joining
with the rest in drinking when his health was
rronosed. which il appears, is regarded as the
,rorer thing In Norway. When two friends join
IN lowering the contents Of the flowing poWl
they say "skan" which means skull Ihls
seerns TO be a survival Of the cid custom OF
politely expressing to a friend the genial nope
that he may have his enemys Skull norway
seems to be q sort Of Paradise for members OF
fhe Salvation Army. They are everywhere pres
ent in that country. and small wonder, Tor the
government recognizes them officially, ana
gives them funds for carrying on their work IN
the sluTns.
The winter sports at Homenkollen interested
Mr. Spender particularly. He calls them Nor
WAYS Olympic games. They are largely con-
fined 10 various tests OF skill and speed on the
skis. or snow runners. Not the least Of the
perfls of this sport is that Of freezing ones
toes or feet It is a danger shared by athletes
and spectators alike. These games are called
the Norwegian Derby and are largely attended
In, 1901 no fewer than 693 sleighs drove to the
scene of the contests, and the year before the
sports were witnessed by twenty thousand per
SONS among them being Italian organ
grinder The National Theatre is a conspicu-
Gus institution in Norway. 1t is national IN
character as well as in position. The ground Tor
the building in Christiania was granted by the
State and the money for the construction was
raised partly by gift from the municipality,
partly by subscription and partly by lottery
held in 1899 the proceeds Of this last oelns
equally divided between the theatre, Nansen's
exploration fund, the museum at Bergen ana
the restoration of the Trondhejm Cathedral
The theatre has not yet paid a dividend, al
though it earned 10000 kroners the first year.
It's income is devoted TO the maintenance OF the
theatre buildings and bonuses for the actors
The main purpose of the theatre is, of course, to
encourage local drama, but at least one play OF
shakespeare's is produced annually and the IN
stitution is hospitable to great plays in Ian
ruares other than Norwegian and English. The
actors are net any too well paid, but they have
the assurance Of being able to fall back on a
pension when they retire. Their profession, we
are informed is regarded with honor, and they
are received everywhere into society. MI
Spender witnessed q performance Of The Tam
ing Of the Shrew,' and was told that the the
.tre had also produced Hamlet and AS You
Like It" and intended to produce The Merchant
Of Venice in 1902 Naturally enough, Ibsen's
plavs are the most frequently performed Ibsen
r1sed TO be easily accessible to foreigners. but
with advancing years and illness has come a
dislike of strangers. OF the bronze statue or
the dramatist that stands outside the National
Theatre the author writes:
II Is said that Ibsen did not see the statue
before II was erected, but he ventured one
aftersoon TO change his daily walk TO the motel
bv diverting his footsteps to the theatre GROUNDS
He gazed at his Idol for some few minutes,
shook his head with disapproval and never re-
turned again