The workingman's advocate., 1869-11-27

A correspondent gives the following in.
teresting description of Stockholm, the beau.
tiful capital Of Sweden, which, though Sit
uated in nearly so degrees Of north latitude,
has a mean temperature of only 42o, or go
in winter and 900 in summer.
Cities generally radiate in suburbs which
make the visitor aware Of bis destination. In
London and Paris the railroad skirts miles
of dense habitatiOns before it terminates in
the heart Of these capitals Stockholm you
behold without an instant's warning, like q
fairy castle in wood. No smoke Of fac
tories, no compact settlements, suggest vour
near approach. When, at length, the islet
OF Lake Malar open and disclose their hid
den gem to the intruder, surprise and ad-
miration at enCe seine and charm him. The
vain attempts Of culture to subdue the neigh
borhoOd Of Stockholm, have left the capital
Of the north in possession Of its wild, urimi-
tive beauty. Not only has the water Of
Lake Malax and. tho nnmerous sheets that
- -. llz!s6 III ~ W. ttscourings u cSs ss
Of re6nement-a the Seine, the Thames,
and Chicago rivers ha 1e been-but also
slopes, in sight Of the metropolis, are still
covered by the virgin forest, or commanded
by bold masses Of rock, rs they were before
Birger Jarl spied and settled the advan-
tageous little isle. Originally Stockholm
meant no more than a rocky point in the
neck Of that lake, whose body reaches tar
inland, near the place Of meeting and ming
ling Of the salt waters Of the Baltic with its
sweet current. While this situation was
chosen to check the incurs;ons of sea rob-
bers along the Malar coast, it soon gained
positive advantage through commerce, whose
sea ships met lake boats from the interior
at this deep and abundant harbor. Thus
the city grew and became known beyond its
own kingdom. when Gustavus Adolphus
and Charles XII. crossed over to help, or
avenge, the princess Of Europe.
From the innermost parts of the busy city
glimpses of landscapes may be caught over
expanses Of water bounded by wooded
slopes. Country seems to merge into town.
A few minutes in a convenient little tug will
convey you in any one Of dozen different
directions from the workshop to the wood
land. Water communication is as active, if
not as essential, as in Veniee-not only for
the business between different points of the
mainland and the island, but to pleasure re-
sorts and summer homes Of the Stockholders
also, these agile vehicles, beyond comparison
with the caiques of Constantinople or gon-
dolas of Venice for convenience, though not
sumptuous as they, ply momentarily across
the different arms Of the lake and the sea-
Bound in as they were by nature, all sum-
mer long, the citizens revel in this bondage.
From noon until night the tugs are burdened
with pleasure parties for Dijurgarden, bluff
near by the city, where numberless houses
of merrimont throw open their doors iu the
woods. PanorOmas and puppet shows, con-
certs and circuses, and all Of our city amuse-
ments, are seen and heard, while the sun
shines in the very home Of Bacchaus. An
unpatroitic characteristic of the Swedes is
suggested by the styles and names Of the
various gardens and restaurants The AL
hambra, with its fretted Moorish ornamen-
tations; the Tivoli and Schweizeri, names
best known to Italians and Swiss, seek to
please the Mortimer BY this silly imitation
Of the South. Nothing is 50 much priced
as that which bears foreign stamp, be il
person, fashion or thing That land is
poor indeed that needs to borrow its very
customs, and hopelessly servile if it bows to
foreign standards Of taste and criticism.
Of all the public buildings of Stockholm
the royal castle is the most imposing fol
size and situation. Its history is lorg, and
underneath the pleasure palace Of to-day arc
still exposed huge blocks of the foundation
of the old fortress and of its walls of gloomy
dungeons. Above the 200 cellar rooms
and vaults, and 33 kitchens, the vast struc
ture contains 300 lighted, warmed and fur
nished apartments, some Of which belong t
the King, others to the Queen, still other
to the Queen Dowager, and to the roya
orders, while the rest are apportioned to tb'
royal household and retainers.
While there are no vast halls and mile.
Of painted walls, and acres Of frescoed cell
ings in this palace to make journey thro
it tediously magnificent, as at Versailles, th'
varied succession of chambers, low and small
enough to be home-like, yet in furniture anc
ornament always kingly, charms withou
awing YOU. There is no restraint agalns
your opening glded volumes, or stopping 4
examine regal couches, and Their
is no safety from viewing pic
lures artistically arranged, yet no
crowded upon the walls. You pass from th'
red room to the white and the green, frou