210 SPORT IN NORWAY. 
below, made with no calculation, and devoid of art, 
graceful in its capriciousness—would form a suitable 
frame to this magnified picture. But when you now 
roll along at your ease in a comfortable carriole 
through the whole length of the valley, you swallow 
with a feeling akin to gratitude the dust which is 
the constant attendant of a prosaic high-road, if you 
can only first rightly appreciate the prosperity and 
civilizing influence which is mixed up in its particles. 
Formerly, there was only a miserable bridle-path along 
which the Seetersdal peasant had to lead his mountain 
pony, taking his produce to the town on its back, and 
bringing home in the same manner the purchases he 
made. The old folk in the valley look back (as old folk 
are wont) with unspeakable regret on these bygone 
days, which they regard as the age of contented sim- 
plicity, in comparison with the conceited depravity of 
the present time. It is true, they used to bring less 
from the town, and took fewer articles to market; but 
they were satisfied with less, and did not long for that 
which they neither knew of nor were used to. Now, 
however, luxuries and superfluities, brendeviin and 
coffee, frippery and foppery, are more easily conveyed 
on a broad road, and in a capacious cart, which formerly 
four horses could scarcely have dragged. At that time, 
too, the old-fashioned hats, with their national buckles, 
broad crowns, and narrow brims, did not vie with that 
