The National tribune., 1909-12-16

a nice. MISUNDERSTANDING man, well
dressed, who strikingly resembled the
| picture of Norway's great dramatist and
writer, Ibsen. He was approaching us,
and / said to Elizabeth: I'm going to
| ask him the way to the Historical Mu-
seum," where we were going. Il
wouldn't replied my companion; I
don't quite like his looks. and we can
find the way all right. This city is as
easy as A, r, c. All the places you
want are right together in a BUNCH"
but in spite of her l stopped and spoke
to the man when we came up to him.
| He was almost effusive in his desire to
help me, and insisted upon taking us
to the building, but as it was in plain
sight, and he an elderly man, of course,
I coldn't allow that, and, in fact, ran
Iaway from him, leaving him standing
on the corner of the street.
Elizabeth and I found the ship which
had been dug up intact in sort of a
shed, which it entirely filed. 1t was
a big black thing of the ninth century,
turned up at the two ends, the prov, or
front, having little rude ornamenta-
tion. We were told that it was 172
feet long, and / counted the holes for
the oars and found there were 80 on a
side. l made me think a good deal of
an Immense rowboat Like the old
IGermanic Kings. who were buried with
their war steeds, doesn't that sound
delightfully."- medieval?) these old Vik-
ing chiefs were laid at rest with their
arms and treasures in their ships. In
the center of the ship was the wooden
ttomb-chamber where the chief or cap
tain of this particular ship was once
placed by his rude followers or crew
when Death laid him low. Both these
ships (the other one looked too fixed
up and kind of new to interest us par
. ltirnIar ri and di1n'f
time looking at iD were found during
1.-THE last century,-one in 1867 and the
other in 1SS0,-and the reason why
they had not been entirely dccayed was
owing to the preserving qualities of
the blue clay in which they were found
Embedded.
When we came out from this place,
there on the corner still stood my nice
old gentleman. I'm going to cross
over and thank him again, Elizabeth -
] said. See how interested he has been
to stand there all the time we were in
side just to find out what we thought
of the ships. This evidence of national
pride pleaseth me, and I'm going to
make him happy by praising the ships
and everything else about Christiania." !"
Better not" said Elizabeth; national
pride never kept that old man glued
to the corner over there while
we were inside, I'll bet a cookie"
But l needed not her skeptical re-
mark and crossed the street. My
elderly friend with the Isben face
lgreeted me with beaming smiles, and
we walked along together. He didn't
seem at all interested in what | said Ia
him about the ships or the Storthing,
or the attractiveness of the city, which
surprised and disappointed me, but in
his very imperfect English seemed tC
me to dwell inconsequently on thu
richness of Americans. / couldn't un-
derstand anything hardly he was say
ing, but / gathered that he had some.
thing unpleasant on his mind. Finally
to my utter anaZement, he turned I.
me, and in wheedling tone asked m'
outright for "a leetle money-just I;
leetle." i had taken him for a gentle
man.-one of christianias leading cii
! iZens.-and my surprise in finding hi;
an ordinary beggar so ratified me, re-
ally half frightened me, that for tbs
second time / fled ignominiously froE
his presence. When 1 rejoined Eliza
beth and breathlessly recounted til
, adventure, little light of triumph
!, cleaned in her blue eyes for a secont