Omaha daily bee., 1885-10-13
A QUIET, COMMENTED PEOPLE.
The Towns and Cities Of Norway and
Sweden as Seen by an Omaha Man.
HONESTY. soBRlETY HAPPINESS.
Glimpses OF Gutenberg, Christiana
and Stockholm, Where the AL
mighty Kroner is a Scoonda-
ry Deity-An Interest,"
ing Letter.

mighty Kroner is n ~ScConda-
ry Deity-An Interest,"
ing Letter.
STOCKHOLM, Sept. 5.-GCorrespondence
of the BEE.l-My impression of Norway
and Sweden as an agricultural country
does not compare favorably with Ne
braska. 1t might, however, compare
with some portions of Oregon, Washing
ton territory and the Puget Sound
country. About four-fifths is timber and
water, leaving but little for farm pur-
poses. The harvest in the southern por-
ton has just begun and farther north in
the vicinity of Christiania everything is
green, and | question whether they will
harvest it. l notice the potatoes are just
IN blossom, and a frost n few days ago
nipped them. The people are feeling
quito blue and say this is a very late wet
and cold season. L agree with them, for
it requires all the clothing we can get on
to keep us warm. This, however, has
been the case ever since we left New
York August /. The scenery is not grand
but picturesque, III consequence OF the
numerous lakes, gorges and waterfalls
skirted with heavy timber, principally
spruce and Scotch frs. The latter are
most valuable for commercial purposes
and are exported in largo quantities TO
other countries. The lumber business
seems to be one of their greatest indus
tries, although the Norwegian and
Swedish iron has gained n world wide
reputation. ] did not see as many fur
naccs and rolling mills as expected.
There are no Pittsburgs or Wheelings in
either of these countries. We came into
this country by way of Denmark, took
steamer at Copenhagen for Gutenberg,
about twelve hours ride overs beautiful
sheet of water from two to ten miles
wide, and enter one of the finest harbors
in Sweden. Gutenberg has u popula-
ton of 5000, 1t is the first commercial
and second largest city in Sweden, and
third largest in the scandinavian PENN
sula
The streets are all well paved. 1t has
fine botanical and other gardens, mu-
seums, picture galleries, theatres, etc.
The only affection | have for the place is
a very bad cold which | brought away
with me, and have not been able to get
rid of it yet. Here we take the cars for
T~rollhattOn falls. The scenery about the
falls is very fine. The falls themselves
are not so much, but the Surroundings
make it u delightful resort. Quite n num-
Der of factories utilize a portion of the
power in making pulp out of wood to be
used in the manufacture of paper. These
falls are said to be the largest in this
country. They will not compare with
Niagara or Shoshone. We go from here
by rail to Christiania, the capital of Nor
way. The population is about ninety
thousand. The city occupies a pictur-
esque situation at the northern extremity
of the Christiana Fjord, eighty miles
from the sea. This country is full of
these Fiords or inlcts from the sea. The
largest vessels 60 all through the noun
tain country. One can visit the North
Cape and all the grand scenery of the
north and mountain country by steam
ers. 1t reminds me very much of the
Puget Sound country; in fact, it is very
similar, and when como to think of it
we must BIO very nearly opposite to that
country on the globe. While at Chris
tiana we had a chance to see the most
learned men, both old and young. The
university turns out, or did turn out on
the I'd of September, aboutone thousand
students, old and young. This is the
time of their annual meeting. There
were twenty-five persons present who
graduated fifty years ago. They took
their dinner at Il hotel. The grand
class of about 100 who We're students
Free Mason Hall. A finer looking or
more intelligent set of men | never
saw anywhere. All wore the con
ventional evening dress, including
white cravat, They are all re,
quired to learn at least three
language, including the English, consc-
quently English is frequently heard i'll
Christiania. Nearly all the shop keepers
speak it.
beautiful avenue in particular leading up
to the palace suggested to mt what Capt.
tol avenue might be if Il citizens would
turn their attention to parking the cen
tiers of our wide streets and having only
II road way of fifteen feet on either side,
or thirty feet in the centers with parking
sides. Sod is much cheaper than paving
and a well kept lawn is certainly more
beautiful. When | compare this city
things that really adOrn and make u city
beautiful and attractive, ! feel as though
we had nothing, yet we have ten times
the trade, commerce, business snap and
get up that they have. But they are
away ahead of us in that which makes
life pleasant and desirable. When we
left home we expected to have gone up to
North cape, nut TINS luea we
as it was too late for the midnight sun
and too late in the season for comfort,
May, June and July are the best months,
So we leave that for some future time
perhaps. Last year some thirty thou
sand tourists visited this north country,
This year there were not nearly so many.
When one has the time and II good, con
genial party | would regard it a much
finer trip for the summer than Switzer-
land. The scenery as you go north is
much finer.
So we leave Norway and two days
by rail brings us through the heart of
Sweden TO its capital, Stockholm. The
is about 200, 600. 1t is built
upon nine islands and two semi-islands,
and is called the Venice OF the North. 1t
is IA beautiful situated city, clean and
healthful. In fact the cities in this coun-
try are all healthy and the grave yards
will bear witness to this fact.
The city as we see it tonight from our
third story in the Grand hotel, is partic-
beautiful. 1t is illuminated in
honor of the Prince of Wales, who has
just arrived from the regatta down the
1