The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-06-05
ABOUT NORWAY
The Land and the People of
that Sea-WaShed
Kingdom

W ~.
the DEMOCRATS readers if | should
not tell them what | know about Nor
way and Denmark, as well as about
Sweden. Therefore we will today
make a little trip thraugh Sweden's
nearest neighbor, Norway. 1t is Sit
uated west Of Sweden. In the north
it is separated from Russia by Var
anger ford. This country is still
more mountainous than Sweden, and
the oceans go deep, deep into the land
under the name OF tiOrdS. Nothing
can surpass the beauty of these fiords
OF which the three, ToldstiOrd Kris
tiana and Sogne ford are most known.
And now we must imaginedcep, Wild
ing waters, whose shores consist Of
steep mountains crowned with stately
fir and pines. I%nSunshine or in moon
light their brOoding silence is scarcely
broken, save by a lone tisherman'S
boat that swiftly glides over the
waters, or rests at given fishing places.
OF late years as the railroads have
increased, tourists, mostly English
men, go to the tiords to enjoy quiet
sport. Only around kristiania is the
surface Of the land smooth and tit for
agricultural purposes. Otherwise it
is with great effort that the farmers
gain a little farm land in the deep
valleys. The harveSts are not very
abundant there. Thus the Norweg-
ian must seek other resources, anG
he finds them in the mountains, in
the woods and from the depths of the
Atlantic. / a also add, from the
surface Of it. For the Norwegians
are masters as shipbnilders, and their
ships sail on all waters exchanging
their " produce for that of other
countries. Big fleets Of fisherman
gather every year during February
and March. There they get the fine
cod fish that later is nn. On the Mai
ket in many different forms. In good
years about Is millions OF fish can be
taken. Just think Of it. That is
to fish for the world.
AS for religion, the n of the state
at large, is the same as in Sweden, the
Lutheran. Any religion is free to
build it's church therein. Politically
Norway is united with Sweden under
the same king. He has about
as much absolute power as our COVER
nor. In foreign politics, Sweden and
Norway t-y to pun together. yet not
without difficulties at times. They
have their different armies and diff
erent government at large. In Nor
way the greatest power rests with the
stovthing, l believe, that every year
assemblies at the capital, Kristiania.
that city is very beautiful, situated
on the ford which gears its name, it
is surrounded by beautiful wood land
and farming fields. At the terminus
OF a wide, straight street, Carl
Johannsgade, is the royale castle.
And to get there you pass theuniver-
sity to your right. Ii l remember
correctly, it consists Of three impos-
ing buildings, with massive pillars,
somewhat resembling the Masonic
temple in Aberdeen. Anybody that
visits Christiania should also visit
OscarshaI, a gem OF a castle, built by
King Oscar /, and situated not far.
from the capital. / will not try to
describe the beauty Of that place as /
saw it. 1t was in June and the castle
nestled in a bed of blooming roses
a III %lilacs, that filled the sunshiny
day with their perfume. We were
permitted to enter the castle for a
consideration to the keeper. Its in
terror decorations and furniture bore
witess OF the taste and wealth of it's
royal owner that had been, the pres
ent kings father, who passed out of
existence July 8, 1859.
The Inhabitants of Norway are in
many ways different from those Of
Sweden. ] suppose that depends to a
great extent upon the countries
themselves, so differently builded by
mother nature. The majority OF the
Norwegians are stern and silent, they
are easily offended, very hard to make
free with. The somberness of their
home country rests over them long
after they have found a home in the
comparatively sunny America. AS
far as freedom is concerned there are.
at present many bitches" to that
blessed state. both here and in the
old abodes. /, for my one part, have
inst { % earn, that we
are just as free as we think ourselves
to be. IT We see the thing at large
we are all free, wherever our present
abode is, to do the best we know how,
both for selves and others. The
brotherhood of man exists the world
"a -