The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-04
THE LAND OF THE
MIDNIGHT SUN

The coast Of Norway, as seen from
ships deck, Is lndescrihable but it's
rugged, frowning defense qf rock is
like nothing so much. to me. at least.
as huge branch OF the toughest twig
OF tree coral built by insects Of the
mammoth age, who could mold and
shape granite itself az easily as do the
little coral mites OF to-day their sea-
foam deposit.
Torn, distorted, fanciful, the rocky
coast rises out OF the sea triumphant,
but ragged as the fra%ed edge OF
long-used battle flag. and. to carry the
fancy stili further strewn at the feet
Of the mainland lie the giant dead
upon the battlefield, the countless rock
islands that are held in triumph by the
sea. tho coastgirdling islands that
give birth to the fiords.
And the fjords! Children of the
ocean, They play the part of scouts
and advance guard, rushing far inland
by every unguarded road twisting and
turning. lodging the frowninE senti-
mel mountains or creeping up to their
very feet. then flowing ba elk with the
recedinG the to tell the sea OF the land
It cannot have. and then their monster
mother lashes its poor hostages. and
~
In sharp contrast to such iron-strong
black rocks, as are rarely. ii ever
seen clscwher
Norway is a country full OF fairy
tale lore, and when one listens TO these
fRnciful histories OF the folk he be-
iieves. Half the crass and peaks are
named for the suggestion given ny
their weird shape
From Naagen, for instance. where we
"A yiclY
and his wife, who. In times past. were
turned TO stone. ne upon mountain
top with his oars across his knees she
in her boat on the beach, just below
the Kallen hill. their crime being that
they tried to prevent the building of
the church at Faagen, and the sum-
catching them, petrificd them forever
This is one of the lhcal stories every
where told Of the local rock wonders
The people are reverential, as they
must be- living in the face of such
stupcndous nature. and perhaps much
travel in their land may help us in
that respect.
While near Vaasen we went over TO
Stokmarknaes, very busy trading
station, and from which place the won
derful day night may be seen 10 per-
lection. The chief interest in Stok-
narknaes at the time was the annual
fair; 1t is the busiest time OF the
whole year
The harbor was crowded literally
hllcd. with every kind Of craft, best
described by saying that they were all
different from anything we have ar
home Booths tents, tables. shanties
filed all the streets; the people were
buying for the year; il was serious
work for them if only scene in Won
derland for us. Men were buying boats
In which 10 earn their living: to buy a
boat TO them is to set IN their plant
for life Women. bought the stuffs
for the years wardrobe, and every
body spent 4 just proportion OF the
money earned almost always at the
risk Of their lives. in nonsense and
mirth. gun was fred at a certain
time in the evening and every one went
for dance, and as there IS an ever
lasting uncertainty as to when it is
night when day .hc dancing kept
up long aud vigorously.
The fair gave U.S. perhaps. our best
view Of the primitive customs OF the
people of these rocky towns
II is hopeless in short space to
describe the glaciers and ice fields
| that We crossed. or the snow-coyercd
iron mountains that in tho summer
Ike spring from an emerald bed OF
meadow land at their feet. making the
great predominant colors OF the land
scaper green. iron gray and snow
white.