The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-08-26
GheGntelti1aetrlte
am, EUROPEAN LETTER.

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, August, 1876.
Editors IplelliSenCcr:
The word by which this city is named is
compound. .Stoek means log, and hOlme
an i.le, The story told in regard to its
origin and application to this city Is that
iniIlsS Of our ERA, Sigtura, one OF the
most ancient and opulent towns Of
the North Of Europe, was sacked and
harmed by those hordes who used to in
babit the eastern coast Of the Baltic sea.
Some Of The inhabitants Of that untortu-
nate place are said to have deposited their
yoIuables In an excavated log (stock).
Thew then sent il adrift, with the deter
mipa,ion to settle wherever it was wash
Ell ashore. The spot where it lodged was
nm isle lholme), which now constitutes a
nart oi The site Of this metropolis. And
40 the city was called Stockholm.
/ do not pretend to youch for this
tradition. But it il certain that Stock
holm has existed for more than
six hundred years. And visitors and
residents vie with each other in the
praise Of the exceeding beauty OF
IL, location. II Is built ut the junction
Of The AIalaren and the Saltsjon, two
small lakes OF water, in connection with
which the Baltic sea thrusts its arm into
the land. It stands upon two peninsulas
and on several islands, all Of which are
connected by bridges. The approaches
by water in summer are represented to
he peculiarly beautiful. A multitude OF
green islands adorned with cottages and
Villas are passed. And the views from
many points in the neighborhood are no
doubt unusually attractive. They are
among the things which every tourist is
expected to visit, just US the regular rou.
tine will take him to the royal palace and
the museum. ...
TIE PARIS OF TIE NORTH.
Stockholm is n city OF perhaps 10000
inhabitants. While It is not possible to
name any one thing which gives it
.pecial prominence, unless it is the beau
~ Of Ia situation, il certainly Is one OF
the finest Capitals in Europe. 1t is often
called 'the Paris Of the North" and it
uosse,ses some characteristics which war
rant the title. One can detect here the
same love Of worldly pleasure which
dominates 80 largely in the French met:
rOpOlis. The people seem to be as fond
oi public gardens with concerts and
places for eating and drinking rs are the
Parisians themselves. The Djurgarden
is almost as much frequented rs il the
Champs EIysees. And in il, Hasselbacken,
with il restaurant and concert, is one Of
the most famous places Of the sort in all
Europe Unjust say also for Stockholm
that the Grand Hotel, 80 far as | have
found, has no equal outside Of Paris. But
il not merely in such things that the
similarity between the two cities can be
traced. There is here u loosenesss Of
morals which Is n sad stain upon the fair
name Of the city. Partisan dlssoluteness
hOurishes in this northern soil. Itseems
to me that tinge OF the Oriental is also
discernibIe in Stockholm, just as in its
neighbOr, ST. Petersburg. .r7
THE COUNTRY AT LARGE. FL
Sweden at large is a fair land. It is,
for The most part, not rugged like Nor:
way. The country in the central part OF
the kingdom is gently rolling. Hun
dreds upon hundreds Of little lakes dot
the landscape, and help greatly to beau-
thy il to the eye OF the traveller. The
southern part Is moro level, and is less
attractive. Much Of the country is clothed
with forests Of pine and OF oak. The
products Of the soil arc chiefly grass,
wheat, and especially oats and rye. l
never before saw SO much Of this latter
grain, 1t is just ripe as we pass through
the country, and vast quantities are yisi-
bic either in the shock or waiting for the
reaper. 1t is used very largely for the
manufacture OF the bread OF the people,
and, along with oats, constitutes one OF
the principal articles Of export. l never
saw liner fields Of grain than have be.
held in Sweden. The farm houses seem
comfortable. Most OF them and also OF
the barns are painted q deep dark red in
color, and with . background Of green
fields or forests they look very pretty.
Agriculture has within the last few years
made great progress in Sweden, and is
one Of the principal industries. Its iron
mines also are immense in capacity, but
am under the impression that they are
not in process Of rapid development at
the present time.
THE GOTTA CANAL.
One Of the great internal improve.
ments OF Sweden Is the Gotha Canal.
The object Of it is to connect, by short
route, the waters OF the Baltic and the
North Sea. This is done by means OF a
Channelwhich has been cut between seven
lakes, and which unitcs them with the
seas. This canal was twenty-five years
IN building and cost several millions Of
dollars, Al one point II attainS an eleva.
lion Of 3OS feet above the level Of the
ocean. GOthenburg on the west coast Is
IN close connection with this canal. 1t
hasa population Of at least 10000, and
eNceS the capital in point Of commerce.
ursALA.
Besides Stockholm and Gothenburg,
Spsala is the only other town which can
Gesa'd to be we'll known outside OF Swe-
uen' i hnot large but II is famous as
,ae place where the Kings used to be
crowned, and also for its ancient Cathe.
ORA! and its university.
y; Inc Swedes are an Intelligent people.
Education, ! believe, Ia not compulsory
mere a. It is in Norway, but il Ia almost
universal, 80 that to meet with per.
'On Who cannot read and write Ia com.
H'auyely rare event. The higher
TnooI, are said to be exceedingly good.
Indeed indeed it Is unquestionable that in
@any Ways Sweden ia one OF The most
progressive nations Of Europe at the
gIaeisa'day. For more than half a century
aen @ stood ulooi from the wars which
nav nave cursed other continental countries.
S sue. maintains only small army and
IVY, She has Of late turned her atten.
HUn .Ilh great effect 10 her own internal
,SS'.pttOvement, and she is now reaping
'' "'pPY results Of such course.
RELIGIOUS INToLERANcE.
.,i SuI there are things in which there Il
"a" a. room Tor great Improvement. This
tio0 P o,ly true in regard TO the posi-,
IUI allotted 70 the State church. II i
,ott tt AZ Of the older and high and dry
lSt;oD me clergy still pronounce absc.
S;'Vui and the church holds N ibe doc,