Morris tribune., 1908-02-15
NORWAY.
ChriStiana.

The big ski tournament will be held
iii Christiania Feb. 20 to "A. Snow
this year is very plentiful and well
adapted for the sport. King Edward
and Queen Alexandra of England, be-
sides number of distinguished
French diplomats are expected to at
tend. Says Michael Alger, the Christi
ania correspondent, in speaking of the
winter sports in Norway: '"rhe for
eign tourist traffic travel in Norway
has hitherto been almost exclusively
during the summer months ana al
though certain interests for years
have been working to draw the atten-
ton Of foreign travellers to the beauty
of the Norwegian winter and the out
door sports INDUCED in, the number
of winter tourists is still small But
1t is increasing every year. In Former
years it was only the great Holmenkol
ski race they came to see. Now it is
different. At present such places as
Holmenkollen, Voxenkollen, and 9th
ers. have already a number of guests,
mostly Englishmen, but also many
Danes and Swedes. They are learn.
ing the art of skiing and seem to en-
joy it just as much as the native
sports. Foreigners who have no idea
Of what joy and healthy stimulation
fight on the Norwegian snow shoes
brings, are inclined to think Of Norway
in winter as most dreary and miser-
able place, and for the man not ia
miliar with skiing this may be partly
true. Should q foreigner land here
for the first time on a day like this,
he would find the Norwegian capital ~
foggy, dark, chilly town, and perhaps
leave it in disgust. But should the
same person know how to use skis, he
would take the first electric car UP to
Holmenkollen-it would take him
about half an hour-and there the sun
would be shining gloriously over the
snow-decked forests of fir and pine,
and he would spend his day at the
greatest winter outdoor pastime that
ever fell to the lot of mortal. But
the proof of the pudding is in the eat
ing of it, and skiing has to be tried
before it can be appreciated, and when
gradually the number Of foreign win
ter tourists has grown the day will
come when Norway will enjoy tour
list traffic also in winter, which may
not ever come UP to that of the sum-
mer season. but will be of great i'm
portance. Just as now returning sum-
mer tourists tell their friends of Nor
ways beautiful scenery in summer, so
gradually will the fascinating story Of
ski sport and the grandeur of the
snOwdecked forests and mountain
ranges, on which the winter sun
throws its golden rays, turning the
whole landscape into fairyland, set in
white and gold, be told. Such reports
from friend to friend count more than
all the advertising that any assOcia-
ton or tourist bureau turn out, al
though such institutions are very &C,
tive in spreading useful information
to the outside world as to what Nor
way has to offer as a tourist country.
both in summer and in winter, and
undoubtedly such endeayors are fol
lowed by material results"
The MoT@anbladet says that King
has purchased extensive hunt,
ing grounds in Numedal. The land
extends from Dagli up through the
Hardangcr plateau and most Of it is
5000 feat above the sea. Reports
from this section state that there is al
Of white grouse and some
excellent fishing lakes.
CLrtstiaaia papers state that EN-
Premier Nicholson will remove to
CIristiania this month. Mr.. Nicholson
has always favored the capital and
thrives there better than anywhere
else.
The storthings Radical and Con
sentative parties have selected presi- |
lent Bornor and Professor Frederick |
Stang rs their respective leaders.
Last year there were 1896 children |
born in Christiania. Of this number |
$3.50 are dead, leaving the actual |
number at 2,845.