New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-04-14
Bayard Taylor in Northern Europe.
CROSSING THE ARCTIC CIRCLE.
No. XIV.


Correspondence OF The n. Y. Tribune.
JUOXENGI, in the Frgid Zone Jan. 6, I-57
Twas obliged to remain three days in lIaparands,
applying poutices, gargles and linments, accord
ing to the doctors instructions. As my Swedish
was scarcely sufficient for the comprehension of
prescriptions or medical tcchnicaties in general
a written programme of my treatment was fur
nished to Fredrika, the seryant-mad. who was
properly impressed with the responsibility thereby
deyolying upon her Fredrka, no doubt, thought
that my life was in her hands, and nothing could
exceed the energy with which she undertook its
preservation Punctually to the minute appeared the
prescribed application and if she perceived or sus-
pected any dereliction my part, it was to be
reported TO the doctor at his next visit. had the
taste Of camomile and mallows in my mouth from
morning till night; the skin of my jaw blistered
under the scorching of ammonia; but the final re-
suit was, that l was cured. as the doctor and
Frcdrika had determined
This good-hear girl was genuine specimen Of
the Northern Swedish female. OF medium height,
plump but not stout with rather slender waist
and expansive hips and foot which stepped firmly
and nimbly at the same time, she WAS as cheerful
body as one could wish to see. Her hair was of
that silky blonde SO common in Sweden her eyesa
clear pale blue, her nose straight and well-formed,
her cheeks Of the delicate pink of u wildrose leaf,
ard her teeth 40 white regular and perfect that
an sure they would make her fortune in America.
ALWAYS cheerful, kind and active she had, never
thcless hard life of il; she was alike cook, cham
bermad and hOstler, and had mistress To
boot She made our fires in the morning darkness
aud brought US our early coffee while we yet lay IN
bed in accordance with the luxurious habits OF the
Arctic zone Then, until the last drunken guest
was silent toward midnight. there was no respite
from labor. Although suffering from distressing
cough she had the outdoor as well as tho indoor
duties 10 discharge. and We saw her in a sheepskin
Jacket. Harvesting horses, in temperature OF 800
below zero. The reward of such a service was pos
sbly about eight American dollars year. When
on leaving, | gave her about much as one of our
hotel servants would expect for answering ques-
tcn, the poor girl was overwhelmed with gratitude
and even the stern landlady was 80 impressed BY
INV generosity that she insisted on lending MS
sheepskin for our feet. saying we were good
men,"
There is something exceedingly primitive and
uusophisicated in the manners of these Northern
people-a straightforward honesty, which takes
the honesty of others for granted-a latent Kind
ness and goodwill which may at first be over
locked. because it is not demonstratlve and total
Inconsistencies of what is called, in highly civil
lied circles, "propriety.' The very freedom OF
manners which, in some countries, might denote
axity Of morals, is here the evident stamp OF their
purity. The thought has often required to me
which is the most truly pure and virginia. nature
the fastidious American girl, who bushes at tne
sight of q pair Of boots outside gentleman
bedroom door aud who requires that certain
unofending parts of the body and articles OF cloth
ing should be designated by delicately clrcumlocu-
tious terms. or the simple-minded Swedish women,
who come into our bedrooms with coffee, and
make our fires while We get up and dress coming
and going during all the various stages OF the toi-
LET. with the frankest Inconsistencies OF mpro-
pretty This is modesty in its healthy and natural
development, not in those morbid forms winch suS
gest an imagination ever the alert for prurient
images. Nothing has confirmed my impression vi
the virtue If the Northern Swedes more thah 'nl'
fact and have rarely felt more respect ior woman
or more faith in the inherent purity OF her nature
We had snug quarters in HapsrandS' aud our
detention was therefore BY no means irksome
large room. carpeted, protected from the outer
colo BY double windows, and heated By an immense
Russian stove. was allotted to Us. We had TWO
beds. one If which became broad sofa during the
| dsy. backgammon table, the ordinary appliances
for wishing. and beside q number Of engraylngs on
the walls (among them portrait OF the Rev Dr.
Rairdl our window commanded full view OF
Torneaa. and the icetrack across the rver, where
hundreds of persons daily passed to and fro. The
eastern window showed US the Arctic dawn, grow
ing and Frightening through its wonderful grada-
tons Of color for four hours when the pale orange
sun appeared above the distant houses to slide
along their roofs for two hours, and then dip
again. We Lad plentiful meals, consisting most!
If reindeer meat. with sauce OF Swedish cram
berries. potatoes. which had been frozen, but were
still paatable. salmon roes soft bread IN addition
to the block shingles Of fddJrJd, English porter
and excellent I-meaa beer In fact i'll no country
inn Of the United States could We have been more
comfortable. For the best which the place AZ
fcrded during four days with small provision Tor
the Journey. We paid about seven dollars.
TIE day before our departure, endeayored to