The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-09-05

Lars Olsss 4 ~ !, e . king Of
Sweden, vho6 \ ps1i q = London.
d ono Of che anost res kable men Of
his -, psshaps. Ne nn remarkable
6eandinsviaa u his $50 Although
his eldest dangAter d Abont 70 be MAY.
ried 70 the soa d the psesident OF the
swedish HOUSE Of Lords Nbofeby allay.
ing him 10 one q the ART families In
Sweden, few msn carry out the extreme
democratic principle With such unspar-
ing thoroughness o. Lars Olsen Smith.
To hear hmm talk, eithse in explaining
his plans Of the future o. III describing
what he has already accomplished, re-.
calls "reminiscences Of the heroes OF Dis.
raeli's novels.
Mr. Smith b . man who he's been The
largest manufacturer ofspirits in Swed-
en-, and il now the most energetic apos.
tie of temperance in northern Europe;
an idcalist capable Of dreaming Of The
regeneration q society, and yet . hard
headed man OF business; . prosaic look
ing, sturdy, plebeian. too independent
to allow anyone TO assist him ON with
his overcoat, Mr.. Smith is, nevertheless
at this moment practically debating TO
the parliament Of his native country an
entire reversal Of its legislation = to
the sale Of strong drink, and is engaged
in gigantic experiment which, il sue
cessful, will render Sweden, the para
disc Of the social reformer. This man,
who once was the terror Of the brandy
makers ofSweden, who rugged the mar
ket, controlled prices and conducted his
financial operations with the nerve Of o
Vanderbilt and the daring Of . Gould,
is now carrying on . campaign against
the sociAl evils of hls time with the
same energy, directness Of purpose,
and keen sAgacity that distinguished
him in the days when he was building
mp the gigantic fortune which he is now
dedicating to the amelioration of the
condition OF his countrymen. A Swede
Of the Swedes, typical. Northman, he
Is . cosmopolitan Of the latest modern
type. He speaks seven languages, and
is ct home in almost every country in
Europe. His daughters are q present
in Paris; one son has just taken his de-.
gree at the POlytechnicum 1t Zurich,
aud is now studying the social question
in the United States; the other, who Il
with Mr.. Smith in England ct present,
is . student of "Stattswissenchaft, st
the university Of Tubigen. At this mo-
ment Mr.. Smith has agents scat
tered over the continent, studying in
every land the latest experiment for
ameliorating the condition Of the people
and gathering wher sver they can be
found hints and suggestions for the 10.
luton Of the great social problem. Mr..
Smith himself is indefatigsble.
To-day he will have On interview with
Mr.. Chamberlain; tomorrow he will
proceed to Manchester to investigate
in that city, in Liverpool and in Roch-
dale what has been done in Lancashire
to improve the condition of the working
population. Nor has Mr.. Smith, with
all his researches, accumulated go many
facts IS to he bewildered in the midst Of
his stores of knowledge. He has not put
80 many books on the top of his head
as to crush out his brains. On the con-
trary. We have never met any Ut0pist
who entertained clearer idea as to how
the world might l,e regenerated, or how
society might be revolutionized, than
this hard .headed millionaire philan-
thropist, who has worked ont his theories
in practice and is able to substantiate
his widest assertions BY an array Of
facts and figures such as il usually con-
fined to the pages Of Blue Book. He
is no longer a Brandy King" He has
abdicated, and is now waging war to the
death against the consumption Of 81.
cohol.