The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-11-02

"PERcIE" is writing some good letters to the
Boston Post about the Swedes of New Sweden.
Among other things she says that no man of
this people can marry until he is member of
the church, and no one can enter the church
as a communicate until he can read and write.
She thus describes the personal appearance
and dress OF the colonists:-
do tell us all about them, how they look
and1what they wear" "Nearly all that have
been described possessed dark hair and eyes,
thought the Swedes were always light" sug-
gests somebody. And generally they are
These few were exceptions, and came from the
south of Sweden. The most of them are short
and thick of stature, with round, ford faces,
light, fiaxen hair, and small, round, exceeding
ly light blue eyes, which, though pleasant and
intelligent, seem dull compared with sharp,
restless Yankee orbs. They have low FORE
heads and plump, protruding cheeks, giving a
rotund appearance to the face, rather tie re-
verse of handsome, and to which the men add
by shaving their boards low, round and close.
Yet look of honest cheerfulness radiates fir m
all their countenances, and one feels that they
are faces TO be trusted. They move and speak
with deliberate air, as if each word and deed
were of the utmost Importance and to be duly
considered, and give the impression of most
honest, industrious, sober and law abiding
people. All the inhabitants round about speak
in terms of highest praise of their sobriety,
peacefulness and thrift. To own piece of
land and acquire some property that they can
call their own seems to be pervadiBg ambi.
ton, and not for mere temporary existence,
but a looking ahead into the future Such a
people can scarcely fail to make the best of cit
liens, and there is now NO reason to doubt that
such will be the satisfactory result. In man.
ners they are modest and retiring, but nOticea-
bly, kind, obligiDg and courteous. To strang-
ers they show the politest attentions, and ten.
der them the warmest hospitalities. They are
also kindly considerable of each others happi-
ness and welfare, and train their children into
strictest habits aud morality, obedience and
politeness. Their dress is at present strange
mixture of American and Swedish costumes
Those who retain the national dress wear
wooden shoes, made long and low, painted
black, and with high heels and pointed or turn
ed up toes. The dress of the men does not 9TH
erwise differ from the various customs seen in
our own country, save that they are of some
what Anticipated patterns. The costumes of
the women and children and quaint aid queer
enough. The women and girls all wear silk
handkerchiefs, made of the incest silk, folded
with great care over their heads, and tied firm
ly but softly under their chins, looking very
odd, to be sure, but at the same time both SEN
sible, pretty, and comfortable. A long narrow
apron is also an indispensable appendage TO
complete toilette. The dress itself has gener-
ally straight full skirt, with one or two tucks,
plain, short, round waist, and short, straight
sleeves. The little children look funny enough
Cidu pteCiSeiy lhe idtber anu inolner. ine
painted, vested and coated little boys, and the
nice little maidens in long dresses, narrow APP
IONS, and kerchiefs, demurely and soberly tied
under the chin, present tine appearance of
dwarfed editions of manhood and womanhood.
Some of the ladies have dispensed with the
kerchief, and supplanting their places are sue
cesSsfully attempted chignons, surmOunted by
fat straw hats. Quite a number of silk dress
es, few gold chains and some nice jewelry
were also conspicuous. 1t is to be remembered
that these coIonists are by no means poor, but
with them deas 10, Of o baggage and mon
Thomas, of Portland, acting as free banker for
the Swedes, has forwarded to them by bills of
exchange from Sweden some $4,000 addi-
tional.