Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-01-19

The men are physically fine race, and
are generally honest and industrious, with
an air OF Independence and straightfUr-
wardness. Like the poorer Swedes else
where, they are greatly given TO the use OF
tobacco in all forms aud besides smOk ing
and chewing in the usual approved meth
/, DDS, they actually eat large quantities of
SNUFF, helping themselves, as the High
landers do, with horn spoon from box.
The women have pleasant faces, with rath-
er refined expression. There is \ strong
family resemblance among them, and the
sytsO ~..usIS,~ large s ~ cy~s, "ro~s
hair, rather fair complexions, a free carri-
age, and not ungraceIul figure, though with
full waists and large hands and feet. The
elder women look worn, but never have
the haggish and almost brntalized look
which in not uncommon in old women in
other countries who have led hard outdoor
lives. The general expression OF counte-
nance is somewhat pathetic, though they
seem contented with their strange, solitary,
and joyless life; and We cuuld never get
any OF them 10 confess that they would
care TO change II, nor even to complain Of
what, as il appeared 10 US, must be the ter
rible monotony and hardship Of the long
dark winter. In looking at these settle
ments and considering the nature OF the
life, we seemed TO understand more clear
ly the position and circumstances Of the
emIgrants who are gradually pushing fur
ther and further along the shores OF the
great rivers OF the American continent, and
carrying into The solitudes of the immense
forests of the West the proofs OF Anglo
Saxon courage, endurance, and pertinacity.
At some of the stations we saw specimens
OF the original inhabitants Of the lands
within the Arctic Circle, in the persons OF
Lap men and women of uncertain age,
about four feet high, and dressed in skins,
with blue eOnieal caps on their heads. In
Norway 1t is said that the Laps are looked
upon and treated as an inferior race. the
pariahs of the North; but in Swedish lap
land there is no appearance Of such dis
| tinctions. The comfort and even safety OF
the settlers depend so much on their good
relations with their neighbors that they
have remained on terms of equality and
friendship. Intermarriages are not un-
common, and many of the present settlers
show signs of the mixture of the races.
The population OF Swedish Lapland is said
to include 1000 persons OF true Lap race,
| and in some districts Ahis Dumber Is in
crsasing. The children born in the noun
tains die fast, but those who remain in the
| villages are healthy. Provision is made
for their instruction. and in common with
the children of The Swedes they all learn to
read aud write, though judging by the alb
sence OF books at the settlements, they reap
little advantage from their instruction.
The Laps were converted to Lutheranism
some 100 years ago, and are said to be
| strict religionists. At the present time
some kind of a revival is going on among
them, a faint reflex of the Moody and San
KEY movement in this country and Ameri'
ca. They depend for their living entirely
upon their reindeer, which they take uI
into the mountains all the Summer, iced
ing them in the villages during the Winter
when the rein-moss, which is their ordi
nary food, is no longer obtainablo in thu
woods. This migration is rendered neces
sary by the habits OF the reindeer, whicl
must be near snow to keep in health
When on their Summer excursions, th'
Laps live in tents made of rein skins, ly
ing at night round a fire in the centre,
hole being left in the roof for the passag
of the smoke. Their food consists of rein
flesh, fish, and game, and they keep pot
like the gypsies, constantly on the fire, In
to which are thrown all contributions il
the way of edlbles, which are thus stewe
together into a thick rich soup. In tn
Winter they move about on their snow
shoes, in the management Of which the
; are extremely adroit, shooting down th
hills and in and out OF the trees with i'm
mense swiftness and precision. On thes
shoes they hunt down both wolves an
, bears when these animals, which are no'
getting scarce, cross their path; they XII
/ them with their spears and knives, gettin
, a reward OF so kronor from the Govern
ment for each head killed. The sale
r spirits is strictly prohibited in Lapland, 4
some years ago their immoderate use WI
decimating the populations but kegs
branvin are still occasionally smuggle
!, across the borders, aud produced on the O
cAsion OF feies and holidays. The IAI