Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 183, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 July 1920 — QUAINT OLD NORWEGIAN CITY [ARTICLE]

QUAINT OLD NORWEGIAN CITY

Bergen Known for Many Thing* Bo•ide* IM Proverbial Wrtnm » Waa Homo of Ole Bull. v The old Norwegian port of Bergen la known as th* rainy city. “Always cany an umbrella in Bergen,” la the rule widely followed both by inhaMtanta and strangers. That the umbrella Is an accepted part of the Bergen costume is shown by the extravagant old saying that a man once walked la the streets of Bergen without an umbrella, at which sight the horses werewo frightened that they reared and shied and even ran away. In spite of Its reputation, Bergen has many beautifulsunny days, when the only reason for wearing an umbrella would be to codforxp to custom. Whatever th* atmospheric conditions, the fish market of Bergen is the post crowded and noisy place in town. Fishwives are excitedly trying to sell their flopping, wriggling wares to undecided customers, while other buyers and venders grow heated over the price of herring or trout. Away from this fascinating scene of confusion, in a quiet little park, is another significant phase of Bergen’s interests. Here is a statute of Ole Bun, Norway’s great violinist. Ole Bull was' born in Bergen, and he now lies in its graveyard. The city’s tribute to - this genius is this statue of him, standing, as Ms fellow citizens had so often seen him stand before them, with his violin ready to play, but listening first to the rain and the birds and the talk of men that he might convert them into the language of the violin. This simple statue embodies more truly the spirit of Bergen than Its scrambling, moneyhoarding markets, or its flippant attitude toward the weather probabilities.