210 SPORT IN NOEWAT. 



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 Saetersdal 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, brasndeviin 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 



