The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-04-10
GL|MPSES OF FOREIGN
COUNTRIES
Continued from Last Week.
SVARTISEN

Continued from Last Week.
SVARTISEN
At five o'clock on the following
morning we. passed the famous
| Syartisen glacier. A bugle warming
was given and we were soon all up
to take look at this massive sheet
! of ice. We saw several glaciers
but this was the largest being over
az miles long and covering a space
of about 60 square miles.
NAES
On Wednesday afternoon we an
chored off Macs. We were again fay-
ored with fair weather and took
long walk. Macs is situated in the
Romsdal valley, one of the grandest
and most celebrated valleys of Nor
way. Before us rose the imposing
Romsdal to height of 5000 feet.
The Norwegian peasants seemed to
be making hay while the sun shines.
1t is said that the sun makes brief,
infrequent visits in this shadow
haunted vale. Haying seemed to be
an occupation in which the women
engaged as actively as the men.
MOLDE
In the afternoon we made a short
stop at Molde, called one of the fair
est spots in Norway, and it well
merits this name both for beauty of
location and its picturesque harbor
with its attractive background of
forest clad hills The bay stretches
away for many miles to the east and
west On the north it is sheltered by
the AIoldehei hills. The crest of the
hills about 1850 feet in height we
gained, the first part in a pony team.
the lattar by walking.
BERGEN
and not without some regret said
goodbye to the boat whose comforts
and life we had so long enjoyed.
Bergen extends in crescent shape
between high mountains. 1t has a
population of almost $4,000 and is one
of the Oldest cities of Norway 1t
Is also one of the richest trading
cities of the country. Here the
Northland fleets anchored with cod
| Gch lixor oil nd f,,,- In L.
ages and during the Hanseatic League
it was the seat of very extensive
commerce. The German traders
had almost entirely made Bergen a
German town. but that fate was
warded off by the breaking up of the
Hansa.
One of the most interesting places
We visited was the Hanseatic House
or Museum 1t is the last remaining
ring of German traders, who settled
down in Bergen in the 14th century
and monopolized it's commerce for
two or three hundred years. All the
other houses had been burned or de-
stroyed. We climbed up to a room
in the second story and were shown
a large number of curious articles
formerly used by these old mer-
chants. We had good guide who
told us some interesting facts concern
ing them. He showed us scales and
weights, the latter being of two sorts,
one for buying, one for selling
The Hans community was supposed
to be strictly celebate, lest they be-
tray the secrets to their wives. In
the counting room we found on the
account books such pious notices as
these: The blessings of God on
the small profit, without God's
blessing all is vain, I'm God We
Trust. Our guide said this was no
doubt to. offset the evil of the two
sets of weights. We went from here
to st. Mary's church where we saw
some interesting carvings both in the
pulpit and on the altar piece where
the apostles and the saints with
their symbols were represented.
On July % we took most Won
derful ride over the mountains tc
Christiania. The first through train
over the road was run in 1909. Dur
ing the course of the day we plunged
through over 1870 rock-hewn tunnels
CHRISTIANIA
We arrived at Christiania, the CAPT
tai of Norway, at 1915. 1t is need
less to say that after such an excit
ing train ride of fourteen hours, WI
lost no time in seeking our hotel ant
much needed nights rest. We wer,
up however in good season the mex
morning, eager to see what there was
before us in this new and to us UNI
explored field The sun smiled OF
us again today, the sky was cloud
less. We were fortunate in having
for our guide a young university stu.
dent His English was very good
even though he expressed himself
rather queerly at times. In the morn
ipo ua took thraa hourai ride In an