Proud Story Of The Vikings From Norway

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 34, 3 February 1939, Page 38

Proud Story Of The Vikings From Norway

Radio Globe-Trotters In Far North

THE famous male impersonator, Vesta Tilley, once alluded to. Norway in one of her music hall songs. Dressed faultlessly-shiny "topper," frock-coat, eye-glass, | gloves, cane and spats, she delighted a former generation with the following: ; fhe Midnight Son, the Midnight ". Son, You needn’t go trotting to Norway, Yowll find him in every doorway. Yowll see him in his glory, If you only take a run Down the Strand, -That's the Land Of the Midnight Son. This song gave the Land of the Midnight Sun something of an advertisement, because at that time. the cheap tours of Norway were on the up-grade. -Norway’s history has always been exciting, colourful and full of fighting, from the days of the Vikings. These bands of Norse seakings flourished in the eighth, ninth and tenth centuries. They established a reputation for themselves as freebooters, pirates and marauders. Many countries suffered at their hands. They would set sail in their celebrated ships for some coast, where tliéy would suddenly land and ravage the entire countryside, carrying off every description of plunder, and more often than not, young maidens as wives for them-

selves. To-day the Norwegian is primar. ily a seaman, colonist or mountainecr, Olav Trygvesson was the start ot a gradual change-about 1000 A.D., he introduced Christianity. This man was the most famous Viking of his day, and his flagship was the most costly vessel ever built in Norway. With its gilt head and tail, its 84 benches for rowers, and its impressive size, the "Long Serpent" came to be known far and wide. Olay Trygvesson Christianised the peasants by offering them baptism or battle. But Norway’s history was to continue its stormy course, wars and revolts continuing all down the Ages. In 1905, however, Norway, by a vote of the people, became a separate kingdom, with Prince Charles

or Denmark as its royal head. He was crowned King Haakon VII, and his queen was Maud, youngest daughter of our King Edward VII, The present enlightened Norway, with its edvanced democratic

institutions, its universal franchise, and its high general standard of education and culture, is something of a model to more than one Huropean country to the south. Ibsen and Bjornson, the dramatists, Grieg, the composer, and

Amundsen and Nansen, the explorers, are men that any nation would be proud to include in its hall of fame. The deep seriousness of the mass of the people, their liberal-mind-edness, and their honesty and courtesy render a visit to Norway among the most pleasant ways of spending an ideal holiday. Amid scenery that is enchantingly beautiful, it is easy to succumb to the charm of the lakes, mountains and fiords, and conjure up in the imagination many incidents of Norway’s romantic sagas and thrilling history. On Saturday, February 11, the "Ports of Call" series of radio expeditions will be continued at 2YA, when listeners will pay a visit to Norway.