Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-11-23
THE HOLIDAYS AT HOME.
A Party Of scandinavians En- Route to

A Party Of scandinavians En- Route to
Their Native Land to Spend Christ
mas-.-The Incentive to the Trip,
Cost, Etc.
Five coaches of Scandinavians passed
through Rock Island the other evening on
the st. Paul express bound east over the
Rock Island road. The homes of the ex-
cursionists are 10 Minnesota, Dakota and
Montana. There were three hundred in
number. not more than thirty being wom-
en-, and they were en- route for their ma
tive towns in Denmark. Norway and
Sweden to spend the holidays. The party
take passage at New York tomorrow on
the steamer Heckla, the entire fare from
St. Paul to Copenhagen or Stockholm
being but 81. The luggage of these peo.
pie filled baggage car-and a great por-
ton of the baggage was composed Of
boxes and baskets of provisions for the
ocean voyage.
A Democrat Gazette reporter inter-
viewed several of the excursionists during
the twenty minutes stop at Davenport.
He was Informed that fifty of the excur-
sionists were from Duluth, two hundred
from St. Paul and Minneapolis. and the
| others from various other places. -Four
young and sturdy Danes were farmers
from Idaho: their intentions are to bring
back large number of old friends for the
purpose of creating q Scandinavian set
Element in their region. These and others
go back and relate 10 their eager and
ever listening kinsfolk and friends what
the new country is and what pros
perity may be in store for all who wish
to come over. BY bringing back
a number with them, they obtain
their return passage free. The scribe had
an interesting talk with Rev. Nels Bron
strom of Canon Falls. Minn-a Lutheran
divine, twenty-eight years of age, who
was making his second "Chrisimas
visit" as he called it, to bis parents. He
said that every year, as the holidays ap
prosch it has become a custom among
the Scandnavians in Minnesota, which
contains more of them than any Other
state, to visit fstherland. Christmas
here is not the Christmas we have in
Scandinavia" said Mr. Bronstrom. III
our native land Christmas or Scandina
via n Jul. is a season of festivities, last
ing in many places in the northern coun
tries for three weeks. The Christmas owe
there is celebrated great deal as it is her
in one respect, with Christmas trees an
social gatherings, but there the HON
q brewed ale flows Gnsparingly. and III
q merry makings are incessant. Old folk
, as well as young folks dance. Littl
work is done during the three weeks
it is season of great JOY. Man
weddings take place-and | doul
that score or more of youu
men in this party will return with wive
Three have asked me to officiate at the
weddings So it IS to enjoy many
:, these festal occasions that exist in Il
memory of every one born IN the o
. country that many Scandinavians go {
. pilgrimages about this time of the year
=. the laud of their birth. Some go bac
=, too, because they find it cheaper 10 wi
ter there than here, after reckoning
what it costs to travel both ways. Ia
ing into consideration the climate, viii
. is beautiful there in winter, the change
a good one; and there are those who ha
done well here and 90 over to marry
:. sweethea1ts they left behind when th
cams to America. Others, like the you
storks taking home food to the old on
. bestow share of what thev have esrr
=, on the care and comfort of their az
49, friends"
-. Nearly all the men were engaged
logging on the pinery streams. in
lumber mills of Minneapolis, and in faI
~ ing since spring