The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-07-13

thas Oitf WAS tuhen ny tHe lNMeeueS uut
ing the Thirty Years War. A copy q
Koberger's Bible, printed at Leyden, 1921
and the margins Of which IRE filled wit
annolations by Martin Luther. Beside
these, the library is rich in manuscript
and rare editions
The King Of Sweden is the most aft
able and approachable monarch in Flu
rope. In his daily walks, or while goin!
about in the public steamers that pl,
through the waters of the city, as omni
buses do in New York, he enters freely
into conversation with the people. Ant
to strangers, especially Americans, he il
exceedingly kind or, as his subjects woulc
y.g'ucious. saw him frequently while
he was riding, but came no nearer {,
his Majesty. He had one of the mos
splend reviews that haiever seen, wher
the whole of the Swedish a. my that i.
stationed in this part cf the Country, to-
gether with the militia, all liable TO be
called on TO do military duty. are pu,
through a drill for few days and MIC Int.
every year, in the summer season A
vast open country, hill, wood and plain,
is chosen, tents pitched. and for few
days mimic war goes through all IFS mo.
tions, saving and except there is no blood
she'd This annual exercise does some,
thing to keep up Il martial spirit, and
makes few grand holidays when the
whole city is agog with the excitement.
A iete day in Rome, an Emperor's day
in Paris, or Derby day in London, would
not exceed the annual review in Stock
holm. The nobility and fashion, the
beauty and folly, the masses OF people in
all sorts of conveyances, and more on foot
that on wheels, were out at the parade.
The squadrons were set on hills so far
apart that telescope was needed to see
what was going on, and the marching and
countermarching made a pretty show that
delighted the people, and gave the soldiers
taste OF the amusements they would
have when rushing into battle under a
blazing sun, and blazing guns in front Of
them.
The wars of Sweden occupy large
place in European history Yet when we
see how small the population, how limited
the resources, and remote the situation of
the country, it seem. incredible that hu-
man wisdom has been so foolish as to per-
nit race of kings to waste the lives and
wealth Of nation of honest men, in the
miserable game of war.
But the genius of Sweden is seen in
very clever arrangement to make the bur-
den of soldering as light as possible The
standing army proper is very small, and
has little to do AT present. But the reserve
ia large and consists of men who are dis
tributed about the kingdom and quartered
on the government lands, which they
work in time of peace, and thus earn
their own support. If the crown lands
are leased 20 others, n certain number of
these soldiers is sct apart, or quartered on
the land, and the lessee has their labor
and is responsible for their support In
this ingenious way the government makes
its land pay the expenses of its army in
peace. We might take leaf out Of the
royal book Of Sweden, md by wise adj
property, make i; contribute something to
the support of the government, while we
improved its value. That would be Ger.
tainly more statesmanlike than to give il
away by millions every year to speculA-
Tors The Swedish soldiers are also em-
ployed in making roads, and on other
public works, as ouri might be, greatly to
their own moral benefit, and to the advan.
iage Of tn, country,
1t strikes me that there is more order
and less crime IN this northern part of
Europe than in any other country have
Yet visited. see little evidences Of ab.
ieot poverty and low vice. by night or
day | have not seen person on the streets
in Stockholm who seemed to te Of the
abandoned class. Longer acquaintance
may corr ct this impression and reveal
another stute Of facts. Rut the first view
is altogether favorable, and if | find any
thing worse, shall be sure to speak fit.
Two American travellers were robbed of
their watches and mon, y, a. the hotel
where | am lodged, but few days ago.
1t is not at al likely the thief is a native of
these regions. He has probably followed
the travellers, or what is quite as likely,
been one Of their travelling companions.
The landlord paid the losses without
lawsuit, and the Americans went on their
way.