Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-07-16

spaces ON three sides 1t has elevations, depress
sions, rugged cliffs of rock, AID the highest ele-
walton is crowned with Beyidere, tower whose
summit commands view of the city. the lake
the Baltic and its islands This splendid park is am
NV provided with stately forest trees, of which
the beautifully dropping whIte-birch, the Norwe-
gian pine the linden, the elm, aud the oak, are
the chief. OF the last named there are some Of
immense proportions, not lofty, but of broadly
expansive tops, with trunks six feet 10 diameter
Some Of these several centuries old, beneath
whose arms the Great Adolphus may have strolled
and mused ere he starred on his great military
campaigns which stamped his genius and safes
ship the treaties and the theological and politi-
cal map of Europe, aud under the same, eighty
years later, the youthful Charles the MI, the Ma
poleon of the North, perhaps took solitary walks
ere he launched forth on his dazzling career of
conquest beyond the strength of his country TO
maintain. when Swede met Dane, Pole, Saxon
and Russian, with the fierce grip of war, and his
enemies though four TO one. went down before
the iron columns Of the Swedish kiug-victories
of fascination which lured him to his ruin
ard in the end proved 50 injurious to his country,
destructive of much that Adolphus and his heroes
and open spaces of lawn and grassy dell, and vel
vet sod beneath the forest trees, and is open all
the days to the public. Here the people swarm
in thousands from early morn until late at night,
pic-nics in couples, in families in groups of ten,
fifty, hundreds, throngs Of baby carnage. all
sges from tottng infancy to trembling years,
seated or lying on the grsssSsrd, each party with
its baskets Of refreshments, of bread, sweet meats
and the all-howing, the even ready, the not highly
charged, but hilarious beer. Fleets of steamers
have carried thousands up the Melsr, while
horse cars, coach, omaibus, private carriage.
every description Of wheeled vehicle, and more
busy than all, the rapidly gliding white awned
gondolas, have been crowded this many houred
day 1t lis, indeed, feast day of the entire popu.
lstlon.
Glorious summer has flooded all with fresh,
sparkling refulgence and fragrance. Nature her.
self palpitstes with exuberance of life and joy.
Why should not all Scsnd NAV ia, from Lapland TO
Southern ScInis, from the Atlantic to the Bal.
tic, join in the feast of enthusiasm more brilliant
and absorbing than anything pictured in the leg
ends OF Oiin and Thor. Waving foliage and
bouquets of green and flowers adorn the windows
of the houses and shops the carriages, boats and
steamers, aud everything seems to share in the
common joy. For many hours this feast of Sum.
goes on in the glorious sunlight, and lake,
bay and stream, field forest and mountain, city,
hamlet, temple and tower, birds, animals and men
seem alike absorbed in this exhlliratng festival
of nature.
To the credit of the Swedes it may be said that
throughout these many hours of feasting aud joy
in which Stockholm is almost literally out OF
doors and participant, we have witnessed no rows,
no angry gatherings, no violence, the policeman
has seldom been seen--such is the general kindly
feeling and regard To public order. We have
nothing to add 10 this imperfect sketch of the Gel
ebrstion Of Midsummer Day, unless to suggest
that if Europe has too many feast-days, in the
United States there are too few.
MAINE SHIPS.
As am writing this, moored close to the out
ward line of the great park-Djurgsard-is a new
American ship from Bangor, Maine, one of the
largest merchant vessels that ever came to this
port-the Llewellyn l.. Morse, built at Brewer.
IL is splendid specimen of naval architecture a,
perfect from keel to topmast as the one which
Longfellow so finely described as the fitting sym
Dol Of our Union of States So fine q model she
is. that the king. who served years in the Swedish
Navy, has made visit on board, given a minute
examination, paid respects to Captain Anes and
Lady in their cabin, and drank the health of the
latter with cordial eArnestness. Regarded by
the Swedes as perfect specimen of a merchant
ship, she has been visited in crowds for several
successive days. Near by is another fine Ameri-
can ship-the Julia s., Bsrker-built and owned
in Freeport, Maine, Capt Wait in command, his
family living board with him. These two
ships brought cotton from New Orleans to Revel,
Russia, and are to load with Swedish pine lum-
Der for Australia. 1t is not unrefreshing to look
on the Stars and Stripes floating these fit rep
resentatves OF American mercantile marine in
these distant waters. j. L. S.