The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-16
ALABAMA MAN WRITES
 FROM NORTHERN EUROPE

To the Editor of The Age-Herald.
 I am just finishing up a meteor-like trip, so characteristic of Americans, through England, Norway, Sweden, Rus sla, Germany, Holland and France.
 A brief outline of my impressions and the sights have seen may be of Inter- est to the many readers of your columns. l am ashamed to confess we did London In day-a city of more interest than any on the globe. Six million souls are centered in this remarkable place. The history or the world might be said to radlate from it. London, however, was only the starting or assembling point for our Journey to Norway the land of the midnight sun, and Russia, the richest and most misgoverned country in the world
 Leaving New Castle on lynne on a norwegian coasting steamer, we crossed the North sea and landed at Bergen, norway. Here we got our first impress sion of Norwegian life and customs. It was here saw my first live fish market NO hsh are allowed to be sold dead There was long row of tanks in the market, which Is on the wharf, and diff Ierent kinds of fish kept in these tanks. All not sold the first day must be put pack In the sea. All varieties are to be had, and the finest Holsters in the world are had on the Norwegian coast. Lep- rosy prevails among the people, which Is said to be caused from so much fish eating.
 from Bergen our steamer skirted along the coast, going in and out of the re- markable Fjords (pronounced Fiords), which are the wonders of the world from scenic standpoint. It is, almost sac rllege to attempt a description of these f1ords They are arms of the sea which penetrate the mountains for miles to the ha 11c of t,a mountains in few hundred feet of the snip will rise to a perpendicular height or 5000 feet. Innumerable water falls caused by the melting of the snow are to be seen falling to mist along their walls. Some miniature Niagras and some like bridal veils. A trip out through the interior of Norway is delightful. per- Feet carpet of grass of the deepest green studded with forget-me-nots, wild dais- les, red clover blossoms many colored poppies, all abloom in their richest and most gorgeous hues present themseves to the eye. The sun shines practically all the time during the summer months and brings them to their perfection. The beautiful lily-like complexion of the wom- en with the rich red in their cheeks were the envy of our party. Together with three gentlemen I left the ship and took coaching and walking trip through
 
 100 miles further north. We rode be- tween walls of snow which were 20 feet high, with overcoats buttoned up, but the sun beat down on us fiercer than on an August day in Alabama. It was remarkable experience.
 The first night we saw the midnight sun was on the 4th of July. Just as the hour of 12 came the captain had the United States flag hoisted and the can TT col It1ta fha ha vaH played the national airs of America, "Dixie" included, and the photographer took picture of the Americans who had assembled under the flag. Our vessel being chartered strictly for the pleasure of the party we had many opportunities of seeing the sights. One day a whale was sighted in one of the Fjords, and the captain turned the boat and chased him up and down for half hour until he finally disappeared.
 We had one old gentleman, 7S years old from Ireland, who was a confirmed scenery-lover-so much so he would sit up for two nights and days at time-of course it was all daylight-for fear he would miss some of It. Frequently he would not come down to his meals. It was his seventh trip and his devotion to the beauties was pathetic. He said he always wondered If he would ever see 1t again. The Norwegians are, as a whole, a good looking class of people and appear to be prosperous. They have good horses and take remarkable care of them. In nearly all the stables they have a sign in Norwegian which trans lated means "Be good to the horse.' We went past the Arctic circle as far as the North Cape, which is the most north erly point in Europe. Winter clothes and overcoats were necessity. The trip along the coast lasted about two weeks, and surely no trip in the world affords such beauties as the Lords Art Gallery in Norway.
 We left the boat at one place and went out to see the Laplanders and their rein deer. The Lap is a disgrace to the hu- man family. One can scarcely imagine a more hideous, repulsive, deformed look ing creature. Their reindeer seen in such pleasing ways in the picture. books of children are a delusion. A lot of tame animals herded together like sheep among a lot of vile smelling tents comprise the outfit.
 At Trondjhem, Norway, on the return trip. we left the boat and went through Sweden to Stockholm, its capital This Is a beautiful city, cut up with canals and resembling Venice From there we