Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-08-01

islands, which lie in the mouth Of the narrow
strait 10y which the waters Of the lake, afler hav-
ing come hundfcd miles from the westward, AMI
washed in their course the shores Of thirteen
hundred islands, pour them Wlyes into the "uicr
archipelago which is claimed 10y the DLl,c Sea-.
On the largest OF these Islands, according to ira
dition, Agne, King of Sweden, was stranglrd
with his own golden chain by the Finnish princess
Skolfa, whom he had taken prisoner. This wa
sixteen hundred years ago, and Thousand years
later Birgcr Jarl, on the same spot, built III
stronghold which was the seed out of which Sto X
holm has grown.
This island and the adjoining R6iidrholm, or
Island OF the knights, contain all the ancient his
toric landmarks OF the city, and nearly all Of its
most remarkable buildings. The towers OF the
Storkyrkan and the Rlddarholm's Church lift
themselves high into the air the dark red mass
of the Rdddrhus, or House of Nnbcs, and the
white turrcts and quadrangles of the penentiary
are conspicuous among the old white, tile-rooicd
blocks Of houses; while, rising above the whole,
the most prominent object in every view OF Stock
holm, is the Slot, or Royal Palace This is one
of the nobcs royal residences in Europe. Stand.
ing on an immense basement terrace Of granite,
its grand quadrangle of between three and four
hundred feet square, with wings (resemblng, in
general design, the Pitt Palace at Florencc) is
elevated quite above the rest oi the city, which
it crowns as with a mural diadem. The chastc
and simple majesty of TINS edihce, and ITS admi-
rable proportions, are perpetual qualification to
the eye, which is always drawn to it, as a CEN
tral point, and thereby prevented from dwelling
on whatever inharmonious or unslghtly features
there may tie IN the general view.
Splendid bridges OF granite connect the island
with The northern and southern suburbs each ot
"h'cn Is nucn greater III extent Una" the cry
proper l"c a'acc ,rou's 1re't! upon Tue
'o.Iuo, OF not.neIii nrIEe' ,'e SIea' lnorouS"c
,Sre vi o'oek"o''i' "h'ch i,aus 10 inc SQUARE OF
"us'aNus AiopnuS' iahNeu on el'ner she ny 'he
l@'dce ,, VI tne N'o"h ti"ce anu inc Ta HOUSE.
i"o "o."'Vin Su""'o Is 'nc 'dSh'oh'o'u quarter
containing all the newest streets ana inc hahd-
somcst private residences. The ground rises
gradually from the water, and as very itlc at
tcntion is paid to grading. the streets follow the
unduatons OF the low hills over which they
spread ris ng to the windmills on the outer heights
and sinking into the holows between The
southern suburb, however, is single long hill,
up the steep side of which the houses climb,
row after row, until they reach the Church Of
st. Cathrine, which crowns the very summit
In front Of the city (that is eastward, and toward
the Batic) lie two other islands, connected by
bridges with the northern suburb Still beyond
is the Durgaid, or Dccr-Park, a snguarly pic
turesque island nearly the whole of which is oc
cuTied by public park, and the summer villas
Of The wealthy Sioc ckhOlmers. Its natural advan-
tages are superior TO those Of any other paIk in
Europe. Even now, when there is scarcely u
sign OF Spring, It's cliff Of gray rock, It's rolling
lawns ofb brown grass and It's venerable oaks with
their iron trunks and ,nared, c0ntorted bouglis
with blue glmpses OF ice-irre water oil all sides,
attract hundreds of visitors daily.
NV Swedish friends all say: "You shoulJ sec
"wo,st n,rt Of tho whole var rs ,nd co.,
"now lc,ye inst when oir fine davs hco;n ~ +
need no assurance. howcyer. of the Summer
charm of the place. I'm those lone. Golden even
ings, which give place to an unflding twilight.
when the birch is network of silver and green,
and the meadows are sown with the bright Wild
flowers Of the north, these labyrinihs OF land and
water must be truly enchanting. But we're the
glOriss Of the Northern Summer increased ten
fold, could not live where such price be pad
Tor them. Unul within the past ten days the
weather has been OF that kind which aggravatcs
one to the loss OF all patience. Dull, raw, cloudy
skies, an air which .penetratcs, unneryes and de-
presses, mud under foot, alternating with slushy
snow-in short everything that is disagreeable
In Winter, without its brisk and bracing quail
ties. have been in state OF semi-sckness he
greater part Of the time, and after finishing the
records Of my l-apland journey, have felt neilh-
er the inclination nor the ability TO give you my
impressions OF Stockholm, until the unlriondly
season was over a traveller cannot be too care
iul, lest he color his judgments with the hue of
sensators winch spring entirely from some pc
culiar mood Of mind or condition of body. AZ
shall also return to Stockholm after visiting Nor
way this Summer, there is much which shall
leave nnsa'd until that time, contenting myself,
a. present wl'h noting what is most peculiar IN