River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-02-06


able odor, felt like turning back
or asking the guard to come along.
The candle did good service for the
boy, but we stumbled and CROPPED
our way along with most uncanny
feeling through several passages,
and turned down several flights of
stairs. We finally reached dark
cellar, one of the rooms of which
had been used for a prison, 1t was
bare, cold and damp, l disliked the
thought of any human being having
been confined there.
But to the majority of tourists
the fsh-market is probably the
most interesting feature in Bergen.
The fishermen bring their fish TO
the market place where are dozens
of watts with running salt water
where each fisherman sells a par
ticular kind of fish, some of which
have beautiful coloring, some blue
as indigo, others bright red, others
spotted reddish brown and many
very much like our fresh water fish.
Wednesdays and Saturdays are
market days and it is, a curious
sight to see all kinds and conditions
of people elbowing their way through
the crowd, English and American
tourists among the rest; the peasant
girls dressed in their picturesque
costumes of white waist, red or
green jacket and black skirt with
fancy apron and artistic brooches
and chatelaines; the men in knee
breeches, fancy short jacket and
round tasselled cap. Here they
bring their fruits and vegetables to
sell. The smaller fruits are the
finest I've ever seen. the currants,
raspberries and gooseberries being
twice the size of Wisconsin berries,
and strawberries some of them al
most as large as an egg, the flavor
however, being no better than the
smaller berry.
An American, especially one COM
ing from the west where a city Is
years old is quite aged-into a city
founded 900 years ago-is constant
1y impressed by the ancient appear
ance of the building and general
plan of the city, although nothing
looks neglected or dilapidated.
A little farther down the street
we are confronted by an old build
ing directly in the middle of the
street, with the passage way through
the center, and were told that it was
originally a part of the old north
city gate, built sometime in the
middle ages. Near this is the largest
and most modern dry-goods store
in the city. On entering one is
surprised to find the shop very small
compared with our best city stores.
and one begins to wonder how such
a stock can be packed into so small
a space. They seem to make
very little attempt to display
goods of this character either in
side or from the show windows. If
one makes small purchase the time
and care taken in doing it up Gal
ways with small handle tied in the
string) is remarkable. No one
seems to be in hurry or running a
race with time.
Coming down the street one day
at noon I noticed large card on the
closed door of one of the largest
places of business which read,
"Closed two hours for dinner. "
What CONSERVATION such sign in
one of our store windows would
create! The business men usually
rest after dinner for some time, then
take after dinner-coffee and cigars
before going again to business.
There are several large exclusive
fur stores and the display of furs in
them is magnificent, but can be
bought no cheaper than at home
However, no one failed to notice
we were Americans and as the city
through the summer months is fill
ed with tourists, from whom it is
said is reaped a rich harvest it may
account for the exorbitant prices
quoted.
Through the entire summer every
| day from IL until l o'clock in small
park in the center of the business
portion of the city there is given
band concert where the music is
the best. There are plenty of COM
Portable seats, beautiful flowers, a
large fountain and no keep off the
grass" signs, the principal attrac-
ton being the noon and evening
concerts and a convenient place to