The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-04-10

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lures in the country, although built
of wood, have stood the test of 700 or
800 years and are still worth looking
at. They reveal the art spirit of a
far distant age. This church was
purchased by Oscar II in 1885 and
moved to the present location. Around
the base was a kind of cloister from
which the dim interior received its
only light The top was surmounted
by steeple and the shingled roofs
were ornamented with dragons heads
and crosses. Within was one small
room with curious carvings and ar
rangement as odd as the exterior.
There was space about "a feet
square which was surrounded by pill
lars behind which were benches for
the congregation. On the altar was
a quaint representation of the Last
Supper with the disciples. From
here We went few steps to Nor
wegian peasant cottage which dated
back to 1888. The interior was fin
ished as they were in those days. We
next went into building which con-
tanned only the remains of viking
ship. 1t was from the fjords of
| Norway 1000 years ago that there
went forth those dauntless warriors
of the north, who for 200 years ra-
vaged the coasts of France, England.
Iceland, asd even crossed the Atlantic
seas to America, hundreds of years
before Columbus sailed from Spain.
The name viking comes from the viks
or creeks in the fjords, where dwelt
these bold adventures. These ships
became the tombs of the dead chiefs.
A viking chief after his death was
placed with all his arms, all his
treasures on board his ship, and then
the ship was buried deep in the blue
clay near the shore of the sea that
the old Vikings liked SO we'll. This
ancient relic of the past was found
some II years ago in mound by the
sea. 1t had reposed there for ten
centuries owing its preservation to
the hard blue clay
IBSEN AND BJORNSEN
We now visited the graves of Hen
J rik Ibsen, that powerful writer of
plays. and the Norwegian poet
Bjorssterne Bjornsen, dear to the
hearts of all the Norwegian people.
On Ibsen's monument was hammer,
indicative of his belief in the pagan
God Thor. The grave of Bjorsen
according to his own wishes is
marked only by a bed of flowers. In
the center were bright red gerani-
ums, on the very outer edge were
pansies. We now took delightful
ride up a hill over wonderfully
constructed winding road. From the
summit we had wonderful view OF
the city and the surrounding country.
! We now returned to the hotel for
dinner. The remainder of the day we
spent in the shops, departing on the
6 o'clock train for Copenhagen
Before leaving Norway it would
! perhaps be interesting to hear few
words about the royal family. King
Hookon VII is the son of King
Frederick VIII of Denmark and the
nephew of the late King George of
Greece. Queen Monde Is the third
daughter of King Edward VII and
Queen Alexandria of England. This
makes the little crown Prince Olaf
the cousin of all the royal children
of Copenhagen of Stockholm, St
Petersburg, London, Athens and Ma
drid. He is said to be the most pop
ular parsonage in Europe. The Nor
wegians are all loyal to their rulers
whom they have chosen by election
They are proud of the Danish King
and English Queen and devoted to the
young crown Prince. This very
happy and very loyal family regins
over one of the most interesting, one
of the most picturesque. and fasci-
mating and one of the most democratic
nations of the world-Norway