The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-10-12
mn WINE swhnIsn coLoNl.
Whc-o new sweden ~, and how the Colony
wnr Foriutd The New CoiouiAts, ircir
Nod" OF life, how they LoOk Prospects.

wur Forto,d The New UoiouiAts, ircir
Mod" OF Lifc, how they Look Prospects.
Corrs aout.1ca NJ Hr Eoyton idrpusr
Aroos~oot CorSrv, Me-. Oct, 1870 rhc state
Legislature passed resolve gst winter ,r1utiut 4.r
TOT tie Idrp"sc Of creating q COLONY, Mr. VIA Vs.
Thomas. Ir, ~ Portland, VAS appointed Commis.
sionCr to secure thC sctucrs--a NotK Tor whoa IA
eHrtri, nee Ne Consul ut 1otlenbLrg had fitted hin
Two OF ttree not tns ago The first installmeu num-
u.Iln6 ABOUT nI.y;, arrive lnl were welcomed
a Mud aa can De impiovised N this new country
aud since that tims about twenty more have arrived
land.
Tie land on which ;bos are located in the town
ship Known a. numhc~ nfleen, range three, est
OF the east line ot the St.t', Or, It will hence
forth be called, New swclen n your readers will
take any map Of Maine on witch 'he smaller places
arc noted, they can easily find the town OF Forr
fairneld situated very near tle nOrihvCstern cor.
ner OF the state on the Aronstook river and clO'e
Sweden Is twenty miles northwest from that town.
Each setter !. 20 nave "A lot o. given size, and
the houses are built 81 the corners where they join,
80 that they ATE arranged In tours, whica makes II
both more sociai Tor the settlers and eaHict for
them to render assistance to each othor IN cnso of
need. The cnhins are all alike and they wee built
by tho State. They are lut OF peeled logs, pnd
are, should judge. about eighteen bY twenty-five
feet in size. The roofs are neatly slinVled and tho
cabins are rendered sufficiently light by roal win
dows which all log huts In this section Of the coun-
uy cannot boast. Inside they are nnishod with
plain wooden benches and tables, aud all have
stove Of n PATTERN to give considerable surface for
cooking. and At the same time serve to give out
great cea OF heat There arc othnr little things In
tue cabins which have been brought by the Hwedes
themselves from tue mOtherand; but much OF the
crockery and iron NarO IL ENTHUSIASTICALLY 1aukee
I'm ono OF the hut. 7 saw little bundle Of rattan
rods which my mind pictured as the ins ruments
with which parental rep Juf was metCt out TO tue
younger members OF w. hnllY on occasion. The
spinuing-whe has not vanished from the farmers
houses w AroostoOk county yet, aud here most OF
the cabins contain one. There Tor q cradle Ia
nearly every residence and the pattern en-,
The mother rocks her babe. using one iuot and
standing on the oiacr, While wiz. her hands sue
prepares the hugal rcpast for Nc family or scruos
Your CORES Oondent visited = considerable number
Of these cott1ees. None OF the women con speak
Engish hut they invara0iy greeted the visitor with
q pleasant smile and word In their mother tongue.
" johnson introduced me alwa, az, 40 iar "a
could make out the sound, Elm hsrTen U0n Boston"
Tney all shake hands and drop curtesies. II has
been stated that marriage has taken D ace among
the colony since Its arrival. found tie bride seat
ed on wooden bench before tho tabo which 10
used. undoubtedly, IN the preparation OF dnncr,
writing letter. The ink was contained apparently
In 40 low doorknob. standing on IT'S rounded pors
uon. she is very prett! and healthy looking girl,
and vii make her hu jand good wife, no donbt.
She brought US out some homemade beer, which
l. prepared from boiled corn and sweetened with
mOas-os. Another OF the sights vas tie now baby
tile Miles siantish OF New sNedcn-a healthy
looking infant OF a few weess The mother took i
out o. the cradle 70 show. The Guild was dres-ed
or rather sewed up In tight-nttiug bag Of yellow
lanno., and uad upon It's he ada quilted hood thick
enough for It's mothers head gear 10 dead winter.
The style oil dress IL not IN accordance With our
uOns. out Tic children iuOk wei ana lAppy anu tue
custom has. OF course, been followed from time im-
memorial. Tho Grandmother OF tiis first cdid came
over with her Two sons. She san Old ads OF over
The Swede, Of both seves md Of all ages are
quite c1siy ds'iGc1ishJhe from Americans by
their lress alone. The men wear stout, seryiceh3le
clothing, AMI are covered with hats OF q peculiar
style, AMI many OF them wear wooden shoes,
though this Is not universal These shoes are great
cumps Of wood. -ednr or btrch, with pointed aud
upturned toes. 4 heel that Il long and slopes for
ward, and avery high n.tep They arc nicelY hol'
lowed out within tor tho foot and are quite com
Portable IN appearance, though they must be heavy.
saw man ~ work fashioning them BY hand out
Of great blocks OF green birch. The women Gre
dressed In plain coarse garments and their persons
arc destitute OF any Of the iripperios with which
American women even m thee Wild woods would
deck themselves 1ho chignon ~ not known IN
New Sweden and very .lt.e attention, apparently
is paid to tue manner IN watch the hair is dressed.
There Is udg look abou, mem, however, "hieh il
The religion oftho new colony "a mostly Lutheran
rherc are, 10, ever, !o"-p,rlAps a aozsn-BiD-
tsts among them.
How mauy OF them arc church members ?" I
sseed Of Mr. Johnson.
We'll, sir what do you mean by that ?"
tried to explain TO him what did mean, and to
draw 10 III TIN t!ln between members Of the eongte-
CATION gnd taose Who irc-ive the sacrament. lie
tod le % al ts pcop, ~ nitecn years OF age
s~eder as soon a. caf reaches the age Of Or
teen, fr the plr.on 10 - 10 tao house and examine
him o. her to IL the child can read and write. IL
81 can, It Is 1t once admitted to the sacramento bue
Otherwise IL il placed ON pro patton .ntlI IL has ae
Nuiith wv ltNllsAt NN-unlon. NftuallN All TIC
people are tAus church members. Whether this sys.
ten |. the beet for tho promotion OF vital goiliness
or NOT rive some ground for argument. but Il is
certain that the Sweies who are here display great
deal Of Practical piety Ia their lyos.
The lIud on vlich they Crc located IA saif IN be
the very best IN Aroo-toUk. As they came late IN
the year, u was impossible to get crops % auy
tent. Tut turuips were planted on one large tract
and an abundant crop Of that vegetable raise.
A considerable qua-tty of winter wheat has been
pat in ana It II already popping NJ through TIC ashes
in very promising manner.