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POLITENESS OF THE NORWEGIANS.
21
coloured with red ochre. Flowers in a poor man’s
dwelling are the outward symbols of most of the
domestic virtues: I have had much experience in
seeking lodgings in strange places, and always make
first application at those houses which have well-tended
flowers in the windows.
I once believed in the theory that a soft, southern
climate, bright skies, and out-of-door existence, had
much to do with the general diffusion of politeness and
external refinement among the poorer classes ; and by
this theory accounted for the superiority of continental
poor people over our own countrymen; but what I have
already seen in Christiania has altered that opinion, for
the Norwegians are remarkably polite : ceremoniously so
in the matter of bowing; and the best feature of this
bowing is, that the gentleman bows to the poor man in
just the same way as the poor man to the gentleman. I
saw to-day a man, who appeared to be a rich merchant,
alighting from his carriage; a servant opened a broad
gate that led to the house he was visiting ; the owner of
the carriage took off his five-guinea Panama hat, and
described with it a large semicircle, terminating at the
knee, as is the custom here; the servant did the like,
neither more nor less respectfully than did the
gentleman—ergo, both were gentlemen.
The physiognomy of the Norwegians is peculiarly
English—more so than that of Englishmen; the special
characteristics of the " wooden-faced" Englishman are
seen more strongly marked here than i it London. The
Norwegians shave the hair ofl’ their faces with razors,
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