THE SCANDINAVIANS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2797, 11 March 1882, Page 3

THE SCANDINAVIANS.

Tjieife are, according :to M. do Chaillu, many curious and-many admirable customs amongst the Scandinavians. 0£ the curious may be mentioned the social bath; something after the manner of the primitive bathing hf Japan. If it is hot consonant with our notions of propriety, it is warmly defended by the .traveller, who contends, that only evil minds can see f •yirin the practice. Other examples, less marked; perhaps, are given. At a grand wedding at which, he was an nonOfed guest, a small bright-red house, containing a single room, was assigned to him during the week of the festivities. The furniture consisted of two fixed beds, opposite each other, with a window between, but, on account of the great number of guests who had arrived from a distance, a temporary couch also had been put in. I was the first to retire, and had hardly done so when the bride and the sister of the bridegroom came in, and said, “ Paul, are you asleep On’my saying ho, each addhd, “ I hope you will ’have a good time during the wedding;” and taking off their shoes, and partly dressed, they lay down to rest on the bed opposite mine. This waff the T true Darlane hospitality—a mart 'of‘ honor and respect I was trusted as if I was a Dalecarlian, for the girls said, “We come here to keep you company ; we dp not want you to feel lonely, fpr it is not pleasant to be alone in a house." Soon afterward a dalkard, and a handsome dalkulla, to whom he was engaged, came in, and both la}’, fully dressed, on the oiher couch, and fell'asleep in each other’s arras. At three 1 o’clock I was awakened by the bride, who had risen and was putting on her shoes ; she was going to the house of her future father-in-law to begin her toilet, as several hours are required for this service in Dalecarlia. !

But there is much in the habits of the people to give a delightful air of innocenoy to all these proceedings. For example, when Du Chaillu started on a difficult journey of several days, a pretty yeung girl, aged 17, Elsa Karolina, was sent vyith him as his guide. Young women, pleasing and innocent, act as sledge drivers and stewards on steamers. Of the admirable customs the author gives many examples. Filial respect and obedience are characteristics of the raco.

When the father of a family is grown old his son 'takes his place, providing for his rest and comfort before all else. In the country houses of the higher classes the life is simple in the extreme, yet this simplicity is combined with culture and refinement. We ; cannot read without envy of the maintenance of all those 'habits once popular in England, when home manufacture was the rule and not the exception ; when the spindlo and the shuttle, the malthouso and bakery, were integral parts of our domestic economy ; and master and man, mistress and maid, were well-known and tried friends to each other. This happy con-

diticn still exists in Scandinavian country life, bringing in its train plenty and contentment, Of the same nature but having some objectionable features in it, is the unbounded hospitality thrust upon the guests. Our traveller tells us of having had to consume thirty, meals in two days, there being no escape from compliance with his various; entainers’ pressing invitations. In ’ this respect he remarks : One of the peculiarities of the Norwoigian farmer is that etiquette demands that a friend when visiting him shall ignore that the preparations made on his arrival are on bis account. The guest has no sooner seated himself than coffee is roasted, the coffee-pot put on the fire, and food prepared. When he sees that everything is nearly ready he gets np and says “ Good-bye,” upon which he is entreated to remain, and after a'little resistance on his part, js led upstairs or into the next robm. The coffee-cups are always filled to overflowing, for otherwise it would appear stingy. Another custom that amused me greatly is when milk or branvin is offered, the guest first refuses, saying, “Do not waste it on me.” The host; in siste on his drinking ; then the guest sips and returns the glass or bowl, saying, “It is too much.” Another remonstrance takes place, and then, the third ’time, he swallows the contents ( of the glass. :