The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-21
BIRMINGHAM WOMAN IN
 LAND OF MIDNIGHT SUN
BY PAUL PRY.

1 plans looked each at the other and re- marked: Wherever that crowd goes we
 will go." Scene No. ?, is at Christiana, l Norway's gay capital, some three weeks
 later. The American party are aboard l the train bound for Stockholm. Pensive,
 maybe. but still exuberant. Two forlorn
 Englishmen are left on the platform.
 Their sad expression recalls a world of
 memories and happy days, even to the
 chaperone of the little crowd. As the
 whistle blows and the train slowly moves
 one of the Englshmen dashes into the
 car, steps and kisses the hand of one
 of Virginia's fairest daughters. We are
 all touched but can only whisper "auf l Wiederschen."
 From the descriptions of Norway by | Stoddard and numerous other writers 1 we had fully prepared ourselves to stay
 awake for at least eight nine days and nights. Fearing though that we
 might behave like the chickens we heard l Of that were taken to Norway from the South of England. They walked around 1 for the space of about three days and nights waiting for the darkness that
 never came until finally the rooster in l the midst of a lusty crow could endure
 the strain no longer and dropped off to sleep. While the hens equally tired out l dropped to sleep in their tracks.
 Our second night out from the Eng 1 fish coast gave us our first novel anu charming experience of the Land of 1 the Midnight Sun" as we sat out on deck at 10 o'clock and saw the sun l shining brightly However. 1t soon sank
 suddenly out of sight. Our experience 1 though in Norway proved to us that we could sleep all the time-day as well
 as what should have been night No l where else have 1 experienced such charming climate and the presence in numerous attractive situations of "sani-
 tariums for we'll people" convinced us 1 that they were especially designed for
 the tired brain and wrecked nerves of Americans We have dreamed dreams
 and seen wisconsin this mystic land but
 we can never say we did not sleep all l the time we could spare from the gor- 1 geous scenery.
 We were not fortunate in having AS
 clear weather as we could have wished, the mist hung low hiding from view 1 some of the highest peaks of the moun- l tans But we forgot this in the happy 1 rrivilege of viewing the midnight sun" | Tourists climb the North cape which 1 is a precipitous cliff one thousand feet high, for better view of the sun. It | Is worth the. fatigue, inasmuch as the gorgeous reflection of sun and clouds in l the sea made a sight ever to be remem- bered. It is marvellous sight and yet | it is difficult to realize that it is mid night and not day. We had our party | photographed on the cape at midnight that 1t might prove a constant reminder
 of the genuineness of our marvellous ex- | periences. After some slight refresh
 ment at the pavilion we descended the
 narrow and precipitous path and in the
 little skiff rowed to our steamer Anchoi-
 ed some yards away.
 | It was one o'clock in the morEing and | the sun shone out again suddenly from l behind passing clouds giving us another | gorgeous panorama. 1t was a happy cx | perienee and we were a merry crowd as we danced over sun-glinted waves Pres Aently each happy heart burst ut in song
 and Dixie" was echoed far away in i the rocky depths of the bold North care. hearty supper was served aboard
 ship upon our returned and many tosst5
 were drunk until It was after two o'clock
 before we could consent ta leave the
 beauty and witchery of me scene There are many Interesting features
 that are visited each day ,during the
 cruise from Trondhjem to the cape and l return. We would go ashore each day, :, sometimes twice a day, and sight-see, ] which relieved the tediousness Of ship l life and gave us the necessary diver
 sion. The Lapps in Tromso in their i quaint village and picturesats costumes | were most interesting an their snrewd- ness in bartering their wares proved to
 us that they were 'up-to-snuff.
 Hammerfest the most northern city In the world was especially interesting, while the gorgeous skins of white polar bears made us wish we we-c blnattd l bondholders" The furs in Norway gro all right but you are mistaken if you think they are cheap" One of the most
 novel sights to us was the 'wfaling sta 1 tion' where we saw eight enormous
 whales that had just been harpooned
 and brought to the factory by the little steamers. A marvellous sight, the di5a-
 greeable features of which have a way
 of lingering with us, especially when anyone mentions fish. And you had bet
 ter not come to Norway if you object to l fish and cheese. Can't get away from
 them and some how after awhile you I don't want to-
 I The salmon of Norway Is especially de- licious One morning at breakfast we
 counted nine different kinds of cheese But of course you don't have to eat them | end If they offend your sensibilities they can easily be moved. And so with bright light at nearly midnight at Bergen l send hearty greeting.