Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-10-10
NO. 24O

tney are so little expected as we were. Oir'
johnson invariably opened the door without
giving any warning of his approach, but there
was none OF the fuss and furry observable
when one so enters many residence OF our
own people. The children are also coarsely
dressed and they are very properly allowed
to get themselves as dirty and as grimy as
they please at their play As nearly every
piece of wood near the house is coated with
charcoal, and the ground is covered deep with
cinders and ashes it may be presumed that
the young people are not what is usually un-
derstood by the word presentable. 1t is, new
ertheless, pretty sight to see these SOLVE
branches" transplanted so young to this new
soil, enjoying themselves in the dirt as every
child is naturally inclined to do. The chill
dren's hair is generally almost faxen, but
dark shades predominant among the older
people. Perhaps it is dyed by the sun, to
which their heads are constantly exposed
while they are at play. ~
In SO short visit as I was compelled to
make, it was of course impossible to learn or
observe much of the social customs of these
people. We can all remember Longfellow's
delightful description of rural life in Sweden.
Much of the charm of such mode of life
exists in the manner in which it is described.
| fancied that there was in life, in New Sweden
at least much less of romance than there is
in the pleasant picture of our great poet.
But one thing is certain. The people all
seem to be contented and happy; they work
like beavers, make no complaint of the hard
ships to which they are subjected in this new
country, and wear universally a cheerful
countenance The religion of the new colo
ny is mostly Lutheran. There are, however,
few-perhaps dozen-Baptists among
them.
'1Iow many of them are church members?"
I asked of Mr.. johnson.
"Well, sir, what do you mean by that? ?"
tried to explain to him what did mean,
and to draw distinction between members of
the congregation and those who receive the
sacrament. He told me that all the people Of
fifteen years of age are church members. 1t
is, he said the custom in Sweden, as soon
as child reaches the age of fifteen, for the
parson to go to the house and examine him
or her to see if the child can read or write.
If it can, it is at once admitted to the sacra-
ment; but otherwise it is placed on probation
until it has acquired the requisite education.
Virtually all the people are thus church MEM
bers. Whether this system is the best for
the promotion of vital godliness, or not, gives
some ground for argument, but it is certain
that the Swedes who are here display great
deal of practical piety in their lives. Some
ministers have been up here distributing tracts
and other reading matter printed in the Swed-
ish language, which may be very useful
and very Christian work; but it is certain
ly to be hoped that there will not be any
studied attempt to introduce the discordant
element of religious division and dissention
among people who seem to be so nearly in
the right path already. 1t is to be said, at all
events, that the system adopted, if it was ac-
curately described to me, which may be a
matter of doubt, results in making the entire
population grounded in the rudiments of edu
cation. There Is not one adult person in this
new colony who cannot read and write.
1t was impossible, in the short time at my
command, to see all that would have seen.
In fact, the groups of houses are scattered at
such distance from each other that it would
have been more than one days work to have
gone the rounds. In one part of the new
town store is erecting, where the colonists
can trade. They are now obliged to draw all
their supplies from Caribou, eight miles dis
tant, or from point still farther off. In the
centre of the town, in the great clearing that
has been spoken of, a fine cellar has been dug
and men are at work getting out the frame
of a building to be used as a church, hall and
schoolhouse. Artisans of various trades may
be found among the men, and there is even
one parson among them 1t would be diff
cult to suppose better nucleus for such a
colony The land on which they are located
Is sad TO be OF the very pest IN aroostooh.
As they came late in the year, it was impossi-
BILE to get crops to any great extent but tur-
nips were planted on one large tract, and an
abundant crop of that vegetable was raised.
A considerable quantity of winter wheat has
been put in, and it is already peeping up
/ through the ashes in a very promising man.
ner The colony is an experiment still
Everything is not just what the Swedes or
their friends might desire, but they are doing
well in spite of draw backs. year hence
visit to them would be both interesting and
profitable The impression which your cor
respondent received was on the whole very
favorable both to the colonists and to the
State which has brought them here.