The Portland daily press., 1881-02-17
THE KALEVALA RACE.
Selma Borg's Second Lecture.

1t was a decided tribute to Selma Borg, yes
terday afternoon, that 50 many citizens, espe-
cially ladies, turned out just after driving
storm to listen to her second lecture upon the
Kalevala race. On former occasion we call
ed attention to the enthusiasm with which
Miss Borg throws herself into her subject. 1t
is the enthusiasm that, in her case, is patriot
ism the same patriotism that has made Fin
land, like Switzerland, virtually free coun-
try as was described so eloquently and beauti-
fully by the speaker. We can but feel that II
all her country-women are as deeply imbued
with love of country as herself it is won
der her nation has produced so many braves
The lecturer commenced by tracing the
Firms to the Turanan race which is supposed 10
have populated Europe long before the Celts
were there. In the beginning the races were
so intermingled that it would be impossible to
trace them. The Firms of the North and
the Hungarians of the South will convince
any one that the TuranianS are not inferior
to the Teutonc races. The Firms are peace
full and industrious; a race that tolls, builds
up civilization, makes homes. They are pre-
eminently agricultural, and commercial; orig
inally driven back by an aggressive ana
years we find them among the Hindoo Koosh
Mountains, later among the Altai range.
Driven thence by the fierce Mongolan Tartars
westward among the Urals, and thence along
the Volgas, northward, we find them thrifty,
industrious and building up a fatherland.
They constructed the most important roads in
Russia. The Sclaves desired road to the sea
and the Firms stood in the way. The latter
race, never aggressive, but indomitable in self
defence, numbering but few, said, "Rether let
us be buried as freemen than live as slaves"
and fought their adversaries, tooth and nail,
until the ninth century, at times going into
caverns and drawing granite slabs over them
to escape subjection. In 862 the Firms pushed
into Finnland, resolved to live joint rulers
with the Sclaves, and from the ninth to the
twelfth century were occupied in building up
their fatherland. The Pope called upon King
Eric to make Finnland papal see. The plan
ultimately failed, and with it fell the military
Roman power in FINLAND, and then union
was formed between FINLAND and Sweden.
Now the national sentiment has so far pro-
gressed that Finnland has its own language
and literature. Napoleon gave that country to
Russia, but the people would not take the oath
of allegiance until the King of Sweden re-
leased them, and although Alexander became
their Grand Duke they are ruled by their own
Senate and Diet.
Such is brief outline of the lecture. But
no words can do justice to the lecturer herself.
Her historic pictures were painted in the most
brilliant colors and her audience was carried
along captive as with the most intense fervor
she described the Finnish coneuests, or the
part the Norsemen bore in helping on the Re-
formation and defending the rights of indi-
vidual conscience. No wonder her country
men are proud of her; no wonder she is so
thoroughly successful.
Selma Borg's last course lecture will be Civ
en- next Monday night, but the enthusiastic
audience yesterday afternoon subscribed for an
additional lecture to be given next Wednes-
day evening, and illustrated by j. W. Black
of Boston with his stereopticon.