The Country And The People
Christiania presents but little of special interest to the traveler. It is
pleasantly situated at the foot of gently sloping, grassy and pine-clad
hills, the picturesque fiord stretching away in the distance, enlivened
with occasional steamboats and sailing vessels. For the most part, the
dwellings, as well as the customs of the people, are very plain and
simple.
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It is hard to realize that in Christiania we are as far north as the
southern point of Greenland and Alaska. The winters here are not
severe. But the days at this season are very short. The sun rises as late
as half past nine, and sets about three. In summer, of course, the days
are correspondingly long. At mid-summer it is so light all night that
one can see to read print. Children are often playing in the streets till
midnight. At the North Cape the sun does not set from May 15 to July
29.
Norway has about two million inhabitants; the people are remark-
able for their independent, liberty-loving spirit. For many centuries this
country belonged to Denmark; but about seventy years ago the Nor-
wegians cast off the Danish rule, and united themselves with Sweden.
They have their own legislative body, which is called the Storthing.
The king is required to be of the Lutheran religion, and he must live
four months of every year in Norway.
The Norwegians are generally a well-educated, intelligent, law-
abiding people. Honesty and cleanliness are cardinal virtues among
them. They are simple and kind-hearted, and hospitable to strangers.
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