Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Travels through Finland - Chapter XXIV
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
THROUGH FINLAND. 329
our appearance feemed at firft to lay fome degree of reftraint upon
the dancers. The only one among them who fhewed he was not
to be difcompofed was the fidler, who continued diligently in the
practice of his calling ; for he was blind, and confequently knew
nothing of what happened around him. ‘Thefe peafants, how-
ever, foon became familiar with our foreign afpect; and being
entreated to proceed and fhew us their dance, they refumed their
places. |
Their dancing confifted in the moft ruftic jumping, without
the fmalleft grace, mixed with certain capers ; in executing which
the women made their petticoats fly about in the air. There was
no variety in their fteps, nor paffion in their Bean ee: nor expre{-
fion in any one of their countenances, They danced with the
fame earneft diligence that would have influenced them in the
performance of any thing by which they were to have gained their
bread. The only variety that entered into this exercife, was a
difference in the pofition of their arms, which they alternately
laid one over the other, in a very aukward manner, without dif-
covering the moft diftant notion of tafte or natural grace. It was
fomewhat curious to obferve thofe people amufing themfelves with
fuch a ferious air, and without even having the fmalleft difpofi-
tion to fmile. A pot of beer was placed upon the table, which
every body might make free with, but was ufed only to quench
thirft. It was fo weak, however, and reduced fo much with wa-
ter, that it could neither ftupify the fenfes, nor raife the {pirits of
the company. Every creature, even the mufician was quite fober,
Vor. I. - Uu | a very
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
