SKETCHES FROM SZXTERSDAL. Dit 
pest of town civilization which, beginning at the head, 
will soon descend lower, and exchange the genuine 
Norwegian costume for the tasteless ‘‘ Dano-French ” 
tail coat. The old inhabitant sees them disappear with 
regret, as they give place to the broad-brimmed, be- 
tasselled caps, which the Norwegian peasant seems to 
receive with especial affection wherever the national 
dress is disappearing. 
There was a time (and there are still to be found 
old men who wear this dress) when the Sztersdal pea- 
sant used to go about in his long white frock, short 
yellow leather breeches, long white stockings, and 
garters with tassels; but it is long ago, and the rising 
generation scarce remember it. Then the overwhelm- 
ing power of civilization came from the north over the 
Fjeld, not as now, from the south through the valley. 
Then there was no regular road, and the traffic with 
Christiansand was but small ; but therefore consequently 
greater with Thelemarken, whence came the fashion 
which swept away in its devastating current the knee- 
breeches and the long peasant frocks, introducing in 
their place the short jacket and the enormous trousers 
peculiar to that district. Now-a-days, the Setersdal 
peasant is completely immersed in his breeches, while 
at the same time he is hung up in his jacket, thus quite 
putting to shame the old proverb—‘‘ He who is born to 
be hung cannot drown ;” for here, as is so often the case 
