The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-01-03
THE LAND OF MIDNIGHT SUN!
Mons Paul Du Chaillu's Adventures in the Ar
tic Regions "A Model People and their DEM
cratic King.
From the New York sun

Thursday. lie SAID that he grew tired OF The
Equator and went to Il : 80 north latitude,
where for three months the sun does not set.
lie continued: The Swedes and Norwegians
are fine people; the country the grandest |
have ever Travelled in. There are evidences
that twas once covered with ice. The noun
tam rocks are smooth from this cause, and
the valleys show the effect of ice foes. In
May, June and July the sun shines all the
time. 1t is q SANDER to call the Scandinavians
barbarous. They are all civiilZed-all read
and write. They are compelled by law to at.
tend school Their religious faith is Protest
ant. They esteem their churches highly, and
revere their grave-y ards. When man dies
his body is inferred in "a graveyard if it has
to be carried 100 miles, The people are hon
est and moral. was never robbed of a cent
though with them three years. why, the wo-
men put their jewclry in my room to show
they were
NOT AFRAID OF NE.
When IN Stockholm | had desire to see
the King, so wrote to the secretary of state
was politely informed that his majesty had
gone visiting but would return in two DAYS
When he arrived, ! was invited to call on him
| went to the palace expecting to see soldiers,
infantry, cavalrymen and artilerynen; but
there was only one soldier, and he did not
even ask me where | was going or what |
wanted. | went up stairs unchallenged, and
at length intercepted a servant, by whom |
was directed where to find the King.
Good morning"
"Good morning" | responded.
And this was our introduction. In less
than three minutes he asked me to have a
cigar, and then showed my books, which had
been translated. felt proud; it was an hon
or to have them in his language. He asked
me to come and spend the next day with
him. | went and roamcd through the palace
in search of its owner. Finally halocd,
rs there any one about?" and succeeded in
arousing some one, who pointed me to a
room. | entered it, and found the King Just
putting on his coat. He had been at work
painting. was Hospitality entertained
When about leaving | requested some of his
portraits to give to the girls in Brooklyn. lie
pleasantly complied, writing on them at my
solicitation, his autograph. Now" SAID he
laughing, you must send me some portraits
Of Brooklyn girls" thought he was
AsrLENDID MAN.
Reaching the seventy degree, you
meet immense forests Of fir and pine. These
forests are the wealth of the land. The peo
pie are farmers of democratic ideas. Land
owners worth half million have their ser
wants eat at the table with them. In the cities
this custom is not allowed, and you find
chgnons and Crlnollne, as you do in America.
Travellers are always very welcome. The
citizens generally speak French, English and
German.
| find tina, the horse won't carry you up
hill. When they reach the foot of one they
look around to see you quit the carriage if
you don't they stop. The people are meyer in
hurry.
l went into a church and saw club lying
on the pulpit. | inquired its use when
my congregation get asleep pound on the
pulpit with that to wake them" was the re-
ply. There was also q poe eight or ten feet
long, which was told the sexton kept to poke
into the ribs of sleepers for the second offence.
can't understand how they get asleep. The
seats are uncomfortable, about six inches
wide, straight in the back, with narrow ridges
to keep your head straight, and they never
have fire in the churches, although the Their
mometer sometimes stands As degrees below
freezing point. Their Sunday lasts "a hours,
beginning atisix on Saturday evening. Sun
day afternoons are devoted to dancing. The
lScandinavans drink and get drunk, but they
don't get the tremens, nor quarrel, nor fight.
The worst thing they do when Intoxicated, is
to
KISS ALL THE PETTY GIRLS T5EY MEET
On the streets. There arc church-yards six
hundred years old, that have no tombstones.
The people are exceedingly religious, Every
house has a Bible or book of Psalms, /
saw numbers of men and horseback loads of
good things going into house one day. and
concluded 1t must mean a wedding. where
is the bride 2" ! asked "Tisn's that" was
answered; 'the man has lost his wife, and
they are holding thu funeral joNiflcation.'"
These Qualifications are often continued for
days.
AT last got into the Land Of the Midnight
Sun. watched it Throughout the first night,
and remained there nearly seven weeks. 1t
bothered me 10 know when to % to bed.
discovered the birds retired at Il Z. NJ , and
| got up IT > \. NJ. Some of the farms have rs
many rs As houses. There are houses for
butter and for cheese, and this thing and that
thing don't know what all, Each farm
has two dwclling-hOUscS, one ior winter and
the other for summer. Houses can be rented
for S. a year Carpenters wages are 45 cents
day, and yet they strike. Everybody works.
There are no markets; nothing il sold. Who
ever has more than he wants for himself, he
gives il 10 whoever needs it, The people are
healthy. They do not have consumption, and
YOU never see an CINaCiatcd form. You never
see a bcggar either. lftoo poor So live they
are too proud TO beg, and
NOT MEAN ENOUGH TO srEAE.
The subsistence Is sour milk, coarse bread,
meat twice week, and fish.
! At length reached II degrees 80 minutes,
the cape, the northern end Of Europe The
coast of Norway is magnificent. It's harbors
lined with steamboats,: its mountains, high
and grand, are covered with glaciers; its
waters so clear that the bottom 81 the sea is
discerniblc Sweden bears no comparison
10 it, GrogshopS are one hundred miles
apart. They buy whiskey by the quantity,
and keep drunk while il lasts CourtshipI
and marriage are peculiar institutions 4
saw one match made He met her at the
gate and poked his fingers in her ribs, and
said:
Il want TO get married. don't youY "Oh,
don't know. Go away" YES, you do; let's
get married" Well, ask papa" NO never
mind him, we'll get married anyhow And
he went around telling everybody he saw
I'm going TO marry that girl
\ 1.