Evening star., 1931-05-31
BY JUNIUS B. WOOD.

OSLO.-Our car swung around an
other curve on the hill and stopped in
a bay of the road. where Hans H
Krag-I never met the gentleman, but
that is the name on his pedestal-over-
looks the landscape. Hans stands with
his legs crossed, his stout figure braced
against a cane, hat on the back of his
head and apparently quite comfortable
and natural. AS statue, Mr.. Krag is
a welcome relief from the conven-
tional styles-men in uniform, men on
skittish horses. men in scholarly gowns
and in other dour-faced stage positions.
He Is just as man would stand,
whether for minutes or 500 years, if
he were going to enjoy the view Of the
city below, boats on the bay and rays
of the setting sun gliding the fortress
! crowned harbor, wooded hills and
silvery lakes.
Norway knows how to enjoy its leis-
ure better than any other country said
my American companion, inspired by
Mr. Krags deliberated pose.
This was that gentlemans favorite
stopping place when he tramped the
hills, and many thousands since have
agreed with his choice. The Norwegian
does love to hike. He Hospitality invites
you to Sunday dinner and adds:
Come about IL O'Clock and we'll take
a little walk for our epcetites."
So at IL the little" walk starts, and
after plodding over the hills you are
back at the house for dinner at 3 with
the appetite On Sunday the hills a-e
alive from dawn until dark. In the
Winter the young people are IN their
shirt sleeves, bright scarfs contrasting
with the snow, and most CT them on
skis. 1t makes a healthy people, and
the diet suits them-meat and fish, car
rots and potatoes, with the white bread
and sugar.
If other countries would learn how to
enjoy leisure, overproduction and unem-
ployment might be reduced. Enjoying
life is more important than work. No
body expects to find the head OF ar
office before 10 o'clock in the morning
or after 8. He may be playing golf
Oslo has the farthest north golf course
or just rambling around, but, anyway
his days worries are finished. Then
there is a vacation In the Summer
away In the cool pine-covered hills, two
weeks in early September hunting
grouse two weeks around Christmas tc
start the new year right and two weeks
at Easter time for skiing. :,
Leisure by those who can afford Il
has brought social legislation for the
larger number who must work, gov.
ernment grain subsidy for the peasant
health and old-age insurance and gov
ernment loans and rent control 1ol
workers homes. Sterilization OF the
kroner hit the rural districts ana un'
employment affected the cities. Farnl'
| which had been in families for centuries
were lost. and a novel law allows eacf
heir in order of succession three year:
wears to buy back a farm or torres,
| which has been in the family Tor y
wears Appraisers Ak the value, ana i
usually equals the mortgage.
Norwegians are probably the mos
vora cio,,s readers in Europe. Educa-
tion is compulsory, and the country
has 10000 technical school graduates
They are more than 1t can ABSORB,
bringing both the complaint that tne
Young man cannot find place LOT ms
talents at home and that the country
| is giving an education which penents
ether countries If they 60 abroad. Eng
! fish Is a part of the public .school sys-
tenn. and there are few hamlets where
the American cannot be understood
Norway Is akin to the United states
while Sweden has more the dignity anc
department Of Britain.
C,Iide books tell all about the scenic
and climatic attractions OF the Scano!'
nayian countries, their museums, pal'
aces and hotels, but to me among the
most interesting things in Norway were
the folk exhibits. They show the Life
of the people, how civilization and com.
forts In living have changed through
the centuries. The largest is just across
| a ford of the bay from Oslo, rev
| minutes by ferry or taxi. and in add
ton to the big park and a church o.
ancient times it has several building
4 of exhibits weapons, textiles
statuary and even the old Parliamen
| hail. A few blocks farther q Vikinl
galley, used centuries ago as queen
burial barge when the hardy Norsemer
were showed adrift on the waves the!
loved, is in a separate building.
The Sandvig collection-work Of on
man and, though smaller, possibly NOR
chronologically complete than the stat