The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-04-03
GL|MPsES OF FOREIGN
COUNTRIES
As Described from Extracts of Miss
Olive Green's Account of Her Ira.
yels Abroad Last Summer


We are privileged to print the fol-
lowing extracts from Miss Olive
Green's paper "A Trip to Viking
Land" recently read before the men,
bers of Sorosis. Miss Green was a
member of party conducted by Miss
Eunice Bodwell of Portland, formerly
teacher in the Skowhegan High
School, which visited the foreign
countries so charmingly and aptly
described in the following extracts:
or all the places mentioned on our
itinerary the one that appealed to us
the most was the two weeks cruise
to North Cape along the coast of Nor
way, THE Land of the Midnight Sun"
Our anticipations were to be fully
realized, for in Norway nature affords
an example of scenic beauty and sub
Unity to which the beauty and grand
eur of the Swiss Alps, as We saw
them afterwards, seemed incompar-
able. To speak of Norway is to
speak of the miracle performed by the
glaciers in the formation of the wond
rous fjords. AS one sails along the
coast he sees everywhere these deep
narrow arms of the sea winding in
land for thousand miles sometimes
amidst masses of rocks, gashes that
are cleft in the mountains, whose
slopes descend to depths more than
1000 feet below the level of the sea.
To speak of Norway is also to speak
of rugged mountain tops, sombre
cliffs, beautiful colors. and withal
happy. contented thrifty, industrious
people.
We embarked at Leith on the 18th
of July on the English cruising yacht
the "Arcadian", all happy to know that
we were at last bound for the North
ern Seas.
TRONDHJEM
Trondhjem has often been called
the cradle of the kingdom of Nor
way, as in old times the Norwegian
kings were elected and crowned in
this city. 1t has population of 49,
600 people and although, less beauti-
fully situated than other cities visited,
it is in point of historic interest SUI
perior to them all. The streets are
Ia1 h,,;l nd fharn
an electric car line, a large hospital,
il has several daily papers. and in
fact has every appearance of being a
progressive city.
The coin of Norway consists OF
the kroners and ores, the former
amounting to about % cents, and the
latter being LOO of kroner. The
kroner is about the size of our own
quarter, and this made shopping seem
rather expensive in Norway because
we had to remember that we were
spending % cents every time instead
of %. A difference to be sure of only
three cents, but it looks much greater
MneH one is separated II Oilt ioAh' W
so many miles of water and land.
The great pride of Trondjem is its
cathedral. which is considered the
greatest church in Scandinavia 1t
dates back to the 18th century, is
built of a blush slate material which
gives to the interior softness and
beauty that contrasts admirably with
its white columns. At one time pill
grims from all over northern Europe
laid their gold and jewels on its
shrine. At the east end of the altar
in the transept is a fine cast of Thor
walsens wonderful statue of the
Savior which bore the inscription:
Come to me all ye that are heavy
laden and ! will give you rest. We
LEFT the church feeling well repaid
for the visit
TORGHATTEN
Some twenty-four hours after leav-
ing Trondhjem We stopped at Torghat-
ten, one of the many islands off the
coast OF NORWAY nlS loldiiu 10 pV'
forated by an almost square tunnel,
through which a patch of sky is visi-
BILE. This tunnel stands at height
of more than 400 feet above sea level,
is more than 500 feet long. 200 feet
high and 40 feet wide. We were
rewarded for the arduous climb up
the steep side of the island to this
tunnel. 1t was difficult to believe
that that which is attributed to the
work of glaciers, was formed unaided
by human hand. Soon after leaving
this curious freak of nature we cross
ed the Arctic circle and arrived on
the following day at the Lofoden Is
lands.
These islands are celebrated for
the cod fishing along their shores.
Most of the islands lie so close to-
gether that we could seldom see an
opening in their long mountain chain.
We found ourselves in the midst of
hundreds of snowcapped mountains
of every conceivable size and form.
One imaginative could picture almost
any style of church, castle or tower
in their varied outlines.
DIGERMULEN
The launches soon set out for the