The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-12
EQUIPPED NORWAY
PREDIGEsTED FOOD GIVES NoRsE- MEN coon PHYsIQUEs AND
 EXCELLENT TEETH.
Indigestion is Unknown--Americaas Who Have Been Forced to sabsist fer Some Time on Their Foods
 Long for Something ssto
 Put Teeth rnto."


 The stranger in Norway" says a re- turned traveller in The Baltimore Sun, Is forcibly struck with the superior physique of the nation: he meets a, race of large boned, fair haired men and women, and his chief wonder is the absence of Uniformed and under developed people. When the rigor of the Norwegian winter is considered one is likely to ascribe this physical well being to the survival of the fit- test. But the splendid physique is also due to the widespread system of phys tcal development in vogue, but to the peculiarly suitable food eaten.
 The customary food of the nation Is of the soup and stew order This re- suits in a large quantity of nourish- ment being taken in a liouid form, and renders the diet one easy of di- gestion. Nations employing food in more solid shape require more liquid in the form of drink; but this unfor- tunately leads to dilution of the di- gestive fluids, and renders them unable to act on the solid food in the neces- sary concentrated state. If is thus matter of no surprise that few Norwe- gians suffer from Indigestion; indeed. it is easy to see that many of the dishes. as the result of their mode of preparation, are to an extent predi- gested.
 sIn this connection it would be we'll 10 point to the effect upon the nations teeth. Naturally, the possession of perfect teeth is guarantee of satis- factory mastication. the first stage in the assimilation of food. But the na- ture of the food taken determines to large extent the condition of the molars. This idea is borne out by the fact that in Norway, where roast notu ra ho of the teeth Is nearly always excel lent.
 The Norwegians, above all things, understand the art of preparing fish. One of the most appetizing ways of eating this article of diet is as fish balls, for which the fish is boned and pounded and stewed after being rolled into balls Meatballs are prepared the same way. When meat does appear 1t Is usually under the guise of boiled mutton. and this dish is generally fol- lowed by prunes stewed in tapioca. The national Saturdays dinner will not appeal very appetizing to Ameri- scap minds. for 1t consists of raw pickled herring (pickled in brine), with rgw onions and boiled potatoes. The Korwegfans claim for 1t that in this form none of the nutriment is lost An imported dish, which bids fair also & licious Spanish dish, resembling 'olla podrfda,' which is made of haked cod, baked with sliced potatoes, tomatoes and rich gravy.
 Supper is hearty meal. taken about in the evening. Among the various dishes in customary use are meatballs. slid salad (herring salad made of pickled herring. onion. sage and parsley. minced and eaten cold), t... AnN~ L. and steaming dried fish.
 During 'kaffe' a great variety of fancy breads and cakes are eaten. The Norwegian bread is varied in its cook cry. But the chief items of domestic economy which appeal to the stranger are the great variety of dishes, the lengthy time devoted to the prepara- ton of meals and the extreme care and cleanliness of the housewife, with whom nothing is ever too much trou- ble.
 .'One cannot but admire the sensible way in which tbe sen~~rahre <Yucsfisn Is .teait with, for Norway possesses non n-alcoho1ic drinks which are not palatabIe. merely, but delicious. The fruit syrups are things to be desired and the limitations of intoxicants are really attractive. This is a common sense way of dealing with intemper- ance. The 'alcohoIfrik liquid most frequently drank is known as 'vate- roel.' and appears to be an unferment- ed malt beer, aerated without being ob- jeotionably grassy It is sweet and nutritious and otherwise much resem- bles good stout; It Is said that the Norwegian who leaves his mother country has much difficulty in assim- Hating American foods and that he actually pines for his native diet; but month of Norwegian dietry to the average American induces in him a longing for something he can really put his teeth into.'"