The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-02-04
Girls of the Hardanger District.

membered and in most parts Of the
country paganisn was revived.
Another Olav -Olav Haralsson-
also a product of southern raids and
a Christian, reunited Norway under
one king in 1915 and took up anew the
task of making the country Christian.
His methods were not so overbearing
as the former CLAWS, but force was
not entirely lacking. From his accession
until 1923 he reintroduced the faith
into one region after another. Final
ly, in 1924, he had drawn up and
adopted a church code making the
Christian faith official. 1t is the ami
versary of this act which Norway is
now celebrating.
| Fishers and Sailors.
| AS in the past, so now, fishing is
one Of the basic industries Of Norway,
| where millions of dollars worth Of
| cod and herring are taken annually.
Bergen with its great fish market tells
eloquently Of the Importance of fish
to this nation. Before the Thirteenth,
century Bergen was supplying a great
part Of Christendom with the fish
which 1t consumed on Fridays and 9TH
er fast days. The Lofoten islands, OF
the Norwegian coast just above the
Arctic circle, form the fishing center
of Norway. The waters are rough and
the calling dangerous. Between two
of these islands surge the turbulent
waters known around the world as
forming the famous Maelstrom.
The Viking spirit of the old Nor
wegians is not dead, but has been
transmitted into a driving force for
modern activities. The modern Viking
does not raid his neighbours coasts;
instead, he takes his cargo ships all
over the earth and carries a large
share Of the worlds commerce. In
1913 Norway stood fourth in shipping
among all the nations.
Another way In which the Viking
spirit manifests Itself today is in Nor
wegian immigration. Thousands of
Norway's sons have left their old home
during the past centuries, most of
them going to America. More than a
quarter as many men of Norwegian
blood live In the United States as In
Norway.
Situated so far north, Norway might
be thought incapable of producing
much of value in crops. But farming is
even more generally engaged In than
fishing. The harder grains are grown
and potatoes flourish. Cattle and goat
raising Is the most important side of
for the pasture land is ex-
cellent and hay is produced in album
lance. The picturesque pasture plots,
often days journey or more from the
farms, and in many cases perched far
Up on steep mountain slopes, are
Known as "saeters"
The late Nineteenth century and the
Twentieth have seen the growth of
umbering in Norway's extensive for
.sts and the development Of industry.
hundreds of thousands of horse power
re available from Norway's many wa
erfalls and these are steadily being
larnessed to turn factory wheels and
perate electric power plants.
Capital Beautifully Situated.
The queen of Norways cities II
the capital, situated
round the southern nose of the penin-
ula, Off the water Of the Skagerrock.
~ summer the weather is balmy. A
all for go miles up the island-studded
'hristiania ford Is a fitting entry into
he city which nestles in an amphi-
heater of green hills dotted with
eautiful suburbs and country estates.
The deep blues of hills and islands,
he warm colors Of the houses and the
-uits and flowers of the market
laces conspire to create an Illusion
lat one is In the Sunny South. In
lie winter the surrounding hills AFFORD
finite opportunity for skiing and to-
oganning, sports which are dear to
lie Norwegian heart.
Norway Is modern politically, indus
tally and in almost every other way.
ne admirer declares unequivocally
lat the Norwegians are "the most
people In the western
orld." So progressive Is their con-
tuition that the Norwegian king has
'scribed himself as "a constitutional
'esident for life" Telephones and
legraphs are in use In all parts of
Re country, and in spite Of great
mculties railways have been extend
to many of the most rugged re-
ons of the peninsula. supplementins
Gamer lines that ply to all ports.
1ucation Is compulsory. With its vast
alter power and Its ample supplies
raw materials, Norway's Industrial
ture is particularly rosy.