New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-18
New41ork Dailp Gribntre
Bayard Taylor in Northern Europe.
No. XXIV.
STOCKHOLM, AND ITS ASPECTS

The Swdes are proud Of Stockholm, and justly
60. No European capital, except ConstantinoPle,
can boast such picturesque bea1y OF position and
none whatever affords 90 great range Of shifting
yet ever Lovely aspects. Travellers are fond Of cali
ing it, in the initiative nomenclature Of common.
place, the "Vence Of the Nerth'-but it IL no
Venice 1t is not that swan Of the Adriatic sing
ing her death-sODg in the purple sunset, but
Northern eaglet, nested on the islands and rocky
shores Of the pale-green Maiar Lake. The Ssad, or
city proper, occupies three islands which lie in the
mouth Of the narrow strait, by which the waters Of
the lake, after having come a hundred miles from
the westward and washed in their course the
shores Of thirteen hundred islands, pour themselves
into the outer archipelago which is claimed by the
Baltic Sea. On the largest Of these islands, accord
ing to tradition, Agne, King Of Sweden, was
.tranged with his own golden chain by the Finnish
princess Skiofa, whom he had taken prisoner. This
vas sixteen hundred years ago, and thousand
years later Brger Jarl, on the same spot, built the
stronghold which was the seed out of which Stock
holm has grown.
This island and the adjoining Rdddrhotm, or
Island of the Knights contain all the ancient his
toric landmarks of the city, and nearly all Of it's
most remarkable buildings The towers Of the
Storkyrksn and the Rddarhom's Church lift them
selves high into the air; the dark red mass Of the
Riddarhxs, or House of Mobiles, and the white tur-
rets and quadraDges of the penitentiary are con-
spicuOus among the old white, tile rooted blocks Of
houses; while, rising above the whole, the most
prominent object in every view of Stockholm, is the
n e H. Ill -
royal residences in Europe. Standing on an i'm
mense basement terrace of granite, its grand quad
range Of between three and four hundred feet
square, with wings (resembliDg, in general design,
the Pitt Palace at Florence) is elevated quite
above the rest of the city, which it crowns as with
mural diadem. The chaste and simple majesty of
this edifce, and it's admirable proportions, are a
perpetual qualification to the eye, which is always
drawn to it, as a central point, and thereby pre-
vented from dwelling On whatever inharmoniOus or
unsighty features there may be in the general view.
Splendid bridges Of granite connect the island
with the northern ard southern suburbs, each of
which is much greater in extent than the city pro-
per. The Palace fronts directly upon the Norrbro,
or Northern Bridge, the great thOroughfare of
Stockholm, which leads to the Square of Gustayus
Adolphus, faDked on either side by the palace of
the Crown Prince and the Opera House. The
northern suburb the fashionable quarter, contain
ing all the newest streets and the handsomest pri
vate residences. The ground rises gradually from
the water, and as very little attention is paid to
grading, the streets follow the undulations Of the
low hills over which they spread, rising to the
wndmills on the Outer nights and sinking into the
hOllows 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. Catharine, which crowns the very
summit. In front of the city lthat is eastward,
and toward the Baltic) lie two other islands, con-
nected by bridges with the northern suburb. Still
beyond is the Djurgard, or Beer-Park, singularly
picturesque island nearly the whole of which is
occupied by public park, and the summer villas
of the wealthy Stockholders. Its natural advan-
tages are superior to those Of any other park in
Europe. Even now, when there N scarcely sign
of Spring, its cliffs of gray rock, its rolling lawns
of brown grass and its venerable oaks, with their
iron trunks and gnarled, contorted bouehs, with
blue gmpses Of ice.free water on all sides, attract
hundreds of visitors daily.
My Swedish friends all say: "You should see
"Stockholm in Summer You have passed the
"worst part Of the whole year among US, and you
now leave just when our fine days begin" l
need no assurance, however, of the Summer charm
of the place. In those long, golden evenings
which give place to all unfading twilight, when Inc
birch is q network of silver and green, and the
ID. adows are sOwn with the bright wild-f OF
the north these labyrinths of land and water must
be truly enchanting. But were the giories OF the
Northern Summer increased tenfod, couio NOT
live where such price must be paid for them
Until within the past ten days the weather mas
been of that kind which aggavates one to the loss
of all patience Dull, raw, cloudy skies, an ar
which penetrates, unnerves and depresses, mad
under foot, alternating with slushy snow-IH short
everything that is disagreeable in Winter, without
its brisk and bracing qualities. / have been In
state of semi sickness the greater part OF the time
and after finishing the records Of my Lapaud jour-
ney have felt neither the inclination nor the ability
to give you my impressions Of Stockholm until
the unfriendly season was over. traveller cannot
be too careful, lest he color his judgments with
tie hue Of sensations which spring entirely from
some peculiar mood Of mind or condition OF body.
As .hall also return to Stockholm after visiting
Norway this Summer, there is much which shall
leave unsaid until that time, contentng myself ~
present, with noting what Is most peculiar IN the
external appearance Of the city and in its SOCIAL e
The streets of Stockholm are, with but two or
three exceptions, narrow and badly paved The
II 10 hornQ