Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-02-12
Peasant Lie In smsdsu.

There is feature in Swedish nationality
which we rarely miss that is, the feeling of
the peasantry for a certain degree of com
fort, elegance and neatness. It is only in
the two oaextremes-in the rich peasants, who
make an unhappy attempt to initiate the
higher classes, and in the inferior order Of
peasants, who are crushed by taxes-that we
observe the contrary. But among the mid
die class of peasants, whom neither wealth
nor indulgence drives from the national posi-
item the cottage is q, model Of cosiness and
beauty.
The whitewashed firepIace. with its we'll
swept hearth, and which n.the summer is
clothed with fresh green branches the
rough, but nevertheless clean floor the
plain eartains, which hang by the side of the
wind0ws and before the shelves, and which,
made Of so-called lace or tPkaots, that is to
say, the ends of linen cloth, whose loose
branches of fbers are tied together to a
species of Iattioe-work.- all betraya a struggle
between the feeling of beauty and limited
resources in which the former is victorious.
~ we compare our inward satisfaction
when we enter asplendid room, where silk,
gold and velvot, pier!glasses and chandeliers
everywhere gleam, with that which we ex--
psrience when we contemplate the interior
ef Swedish. PEASANTS cottage, where no
painting, no gliding eonceals the wood,
which, scoured'and polished, seems to gam
by age-fof every year it becomes whittier
if we see the bright copper vesselsS pewter
plates which shine like mirrers, porcelain,
made of birch resin, beside row of earthen-
ware, with dates on the bottom, all arranged
on the shelves-the comparison inelines In
favor Of the little cottage, and we only La.
ment that we can not stand quite upright
lest we knock our head against the roof
beam. .F
Whether, consequently, we more willingly
enter is into eso-oalled high. ridged cottage
in poor Smaland, where, far up under the
root, barleycskss hang on poles, and where
| perhaps kid, the friend and playmate of
| the children, comes forward TO meet US,
smells at our hands to discover if we have
| something for him, and offers his horns for a
| contest if he finds himself deceived. ft
But this comfortable house contains only
independent persons, who dwell on their
| own little farms, or the free cotteT, who is
king in his abode, however small this may
be. Both these men are masters and owners
in the trHest sense.
On the contrary, as soon as we enter the
territory of the gentry, We find deviatious
/ from the original character Fortunately,
there are many landowners who do much,
if not every thing, for those whom they em-
| ploy; but the simple circumstance that the
lsbOreTs situation il not secure, that be can
receive warning, that the contract with him
| can be broken, is cause sufficient for his
coming into another, into false position,
which the present proprietor, or even he
who has life interest in the land, avoids.
There IS wanting to this class of peasants an
outlook TO the future; for in order 20 have
this, feeling of security is demanded. IL
therefore, the peasant acquires property, il
is not that he himself his children and bis
children's children, may remain bound 70
the soil but that he may be able to move Il
necessity demands it. sSJ
This nomadic idea CLEANS fhrodgh his