Home › Contents › Exciting Race on Snow-Shoes

Exciting Race on Snow-Shoes

- (231) Skid-racing is a favorite sport in north- most kindly heart; and, though outern Sweden, Lapland and in the valleys wardly cold, he is easily moved to the of Norway, and is so old that it is men- other extreme. Kind to his family and tioned in the folk-lore of the Edda. In dependents, and merciful to his beast, he mediæval times and up to the beginning must be known to be appreciated. He is of this century, the skid was a favorite pious, sometimes even to bigotry, and in means of locomotion in time of war. Up the character of both men and women to the year 1830, a certain branch of the there is a vein of quietness and pensivesoldiery was drilled in using the skid. ness which fit in well the stern aspects of The Laplanders possess great skill in skid- nature around them. Parents are affecrunning. On their snow-shoes, they hunt even the wolves and the reindeer along the hillsides and across the mountains.

Prize Races. tionate to their children, children exceedingly respectful to their parents, and members of families well disposed towards each other, though, unlike the Germans, An endeavor is being made in Sweden, the Norwegian is not apt to carry his to introduce the skid-sport more generally heart on his sleeve. Frequent Divorces. and extensively by arranging races for prizes. There are erected hurdles and Quarrels are rare, and crime is less freother artificial obstructions, and the quent than in any other part of Europe, championship depends on the taking of where the distance from authority is as these impediments in the fastest and great.

Wives and husbands usually most approved style. One of the favorite agree well, though, unhappily, owing to sports is the jumping over ditches dug in the licentious facilities which the law the snow, the widest of which are nearly affords for divorce-a mere desire to part twenty feet. Of course, accidents some- being sufficient cause-separations are times happen, but as the men mostly fall somewhat frequent.. into the deep, soft snow, serious injuries The farmers are very clever at all kinds rarely occur. Generally, these accidents of handicraft. When one wants to build. are the source of great merriment among a house or make any addition to his farm, the spectators, who are always present in he goes to the forest and cuts the trees, great numbers. and is his own carpenter. He may also be We naturally look for a hardy race of a tanner, harness-maker, blacksmith, shoepeople in cold countries where the climate maker and miller; along the coast he can is bracing, and the air is clear. Our coun- build boats and ships, and is an expert try boys who face the storm and snow, fisherman; he is also a maker of musical have their out-door sports, their snow-forts, instruments and furniture, a goldsmith their skating ponds, their coasting hills, and a jeweller. As a hunter in the mounshould be bright, cheery, ruddy and full tains he pursues the bear, the wild reinof life and vigor. It is in this way that deer or the ptarmigan. The Icelanders have characteristics you learn to endure hardness, and you are not schooled and trained until you somewhat different from those of their have met and mastered some of the kinsfolk in Sweden, Denmark and Norseverer elements of life. way, which may be owing to their physi- As Mr. Du Chaillu justly remarks, the cal surroundings and the isolation which Norwegian has under a rough exterior a they have maintained for a thousand Harald Cuppies