Denmark | Page 9

the Cross, and the heathens were filled with fear and fled.
Then the Danes knelt down on the battle-field and praised God, while
King Valdemar drew his sword, and for the first time under the folds of
the Danebrog dubbed five-and-thirty of the bravest heroes knights."
Another legend tells the fate of a wicked Queen of Denmark, Gunhild
by name. This Queen was first the consort of a Norwegian monarch,
who, finding her more than he or his people could stand, thrust her out
of his kingdom. She made her way to Denmark, and soon after married
the Danish King. Though beautiful, Queen Gunhild's pride and
arrogance made her hateful to her new subjects, and her attendants
watched their opportunity to rid themselves of such an obnoxious
mistress. The time came for them when the Queen was travelling
through Jutland. A sign was given to her bearers, whilst journeying
through the marshes near Vejle, to drop her down into the bog. This
was done, and a stake driven through her body. To-day in the church at
Vejle a body lies enclosed in a glass coffin, with a stake lying beside it,
the teeth and long black hair being in excellent preservation. This body
was found in 1821, when the marshes near Vejle were being drained for
cultivation. The stake was found through it, thus giving colour to the
tradition. Poor Queen! lost in the eleventh century and found in the
nineteenth.
Folk-dancers.

The Danes, like all the Scandinavians, are renowned for their love of
dancing. Lately they have revived the beautiful old folk-dances,
realizing at last the necessity of keeping the ancient costumes, dances
and songs before the people, if they would not have them completely
wiped out. A few patriotic Danes have formed a society of ladies and
gentlemen to bring about this revival. These are called the folk-dancers,
their object being to stimulate the love of old-time Denmark in the
modern Dane, by showing him the dance, accompanied by folk-song,
which his forefathers delighted in. Old-time ways the Dane of to-day is
perhaps a little too ready to forget, but dance and song appeal to his
northern nature. The beautiful old costumes of the Danish peasants
have almost entirely disappeared, but those worn by the folk-dancers
are facsimiles of the costumes formerly worn in the districts they
represent. These costumes, with heavy gold embroidery, curious hats,
or pretty velvet caps, weighty with silver lace, must have been a great
addition to local colouring. The men also wore a gay dress, and it is to
be regretted that these old costumes have disappeared from the villages
and islands of Denmark.
In olden times the voice was the principal accompaniment of the dance,
and these folk-lorists generally sing while dancing; but occasionally a
fiddler or flautist plays for them, and becomes the leader in the dance.
Some of these dances are of a comical nature, and no doubt were
invented to parody the shortcomings of some local character. Others
represent local industries. A pretty dance is "Voeve Vadmel"
(cloth-weaving). In this some dancers become the bobbins, others form
the warp and woof; thus they go in and out, weaving themselves into an
imaginary piece of cloth. Then, rolling themselves into a bale, they
stand a moment, unwind, reverse, and then disperse. This dance is
accompanied by the voices of the dancers, who, as they sing, describe
each movement of the dance. A very curious dance is called "Seven
Springs," and its principal figure is a series of springs from the floor,
executed by the lady, aided by her partner. Another two are called
respectively the "Men's Pleasure" and the "Girls' Pleasure." In these
both men and girls choose their own partners, and coquet with them by
alluring facial expressions during the dance. The "Tinker's Dance" is a
solo dance for a man, which is descriptive and amusing; while the

"Degnedans" is more an amusing performance in pantomime than a
dance, executed by two men. Many more than I can tell you about have
been revived by the folk-dancers, who take a keen delight in
discovering and learning them. They are entertaining and instructive to
the looker-on, and a healthy, though fatiguing, amusement for the
dancers.
In the Faroe Islands the old-time way is still in vogue, and the dance is
only accompanied by the voice and clapping of hands. Thus do these
descendants of the old vikings keep high festival to celebrate a good
"catch" of whales.
The old folk-songs, which were sung by the people when dancing and
at other times, have a national value which the Danes fully realize,
many being written down and treasured in the country's archives.
CHAPTER VI
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
The Danes being a polite and well-mannered race, the children are
early taught to tender thanks