A summer in northern lands; the journal of a trip to Scandinavia . doors are closed,the only light admitted is through smallopenings high up on the walls of the guide book says, Window glass was un-known in Norway at that period, and theservices probably consisted solely of theMass, chanted in the candle-lighted choir,while the congregation knelt in the darknave. Dark and cold it must have been ona Norwegian winter morning, when the sundid not rise until after ten oclock, unlesssomeone had common sense enough to builda bon-fire in the middle of the church, togive light and warmth to the
A summer in northern lands; the journal of a trip to Scandinavia . doors are closed,the only light admitted is through smallopenings high up on the walls of the guide book says, Window glass was un-known in Norway at that period, and theservices probably consisted solely of theMass, chanted in the candle-lighted choir,while the congregation knelt in the darknave. Dark and cold it must have been ona Norwegian winter morning, when the sundid not rise until after ten oclock, unlesssomeone had common sense enough to builda bon-fire in the middle of the church, togive light and warmth to the congregationkneeling or seated around. I say, seatedaround for there is still a seat extendingall the way around the church next to thewall, save where the doors are cut through,and there were probably movable seats infront. At the time this church was builtthe dwelling houses of the people were usu-ally heated by a fire on a stone hearth in themiddle of the room, while above there wasa hole in the roof through which the smokeescaped. Now what about the square. A SUMMER IN NORTHERN LANDS 91 tower, With its ornamented gables over thenave? It was not the bell tower but musthave had some use, otherwise I do not be-lieve it would have been put there, eventhough the old Vikings were lavish in deco-rations. Certainly it would make a finechimney, if properly arranged, and, if thatwas its object and they actually had a fire up-on occasions In the church, a large shed wouldbe necessary in which to store the winterssupply of fire-wood and where could youfind a more convenient place than in the ar-cade about the church. I have mentionedthe doors. They are two at present, one tothe south and the main portal to the capitals of the columns, the doors, andthe door frames are embellished with elab-orate and intricate carvings of dragons andother figures. In fact the western doorwayis a wonderful work of art and goes far toprove that the Northmen of that day wereexperts in designing.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookidsummerinnort, bookyear1922
