The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-01

many shallow reaches OF Maiar lake, where
the depth of water is insufficient to allow
OF the passengers being landed in the or
binary manner directly on the landing
stages, and so have to be taken on shore in
small boats. The ferryman on shipping
his complement of passengers would first
take dozen strokes or so, in order to clear
the crew of the steamer, and then would
carefully lay aside his oars, rise from his
seat and take off his hat with solemn bow
TO the people sitting in the stern whom he
had Just taken off the deck of the steamer.
He would then row on again and put them
ashore. This did not occur as an isolated
instance, but regularly every time the pas
sengers had to be landed by shore boats.
am afraid even our English railway guards
and porters, whom / had hitherto inn
agined TO be the best-mannered people on
the planet, would not bear comparison
with these natures gentlemen. Lord Ches-
tsrfield himself would scarcely be in the
running.
The women of the middle and lower
classes are little If at all behind their hus-
bands and brothers in this matter. Their
good temper and pretty behavior are
worthy OF all praise. Tue servant girls in
Dalecarlian peasant dress, cafe-nidmscttes
and the young persons employed IN shops
all make the prettiest OF all possible little
bob curtsies and so, oddly enough. do the
young ladies of good family up to the day
of their confirmation, which ceremony
takes place rather later than with us, gen.
orally about the age OF is. From that day
forth they put their hair up and take to
bowling.
The Upsala students amuse one a good
by the elaboration and ceremoniousness OF
their manners. Any day, during the vaca-
ton few OF them can be seen gathered
round table in the garden cafes OF Hassel-
backen or Tivoli, drinking their punch.
They are mostly lads under 20, but they
bow to each other and make little civil
speeches and pledge each other with solemn
salutation, all according to the strictest
Swedish etiquette, as If they were middle
aged gentlemen OF high dignity and posi-
ton but slightly acquainted with one
another. They certainly take them
selves very seriously. The custom
of pledging or heaith-drinking is survival
from very ancient times. The glass is
Literally BOWL pronounced, followed by
another slight bow. when the glass is re-
placed on the table, generally empty. it is
not de rigeur, however, that it should be
so, but in Denmark, where a similar Gus
tom obtains, the glass must always be
drained to the last drop. To English eyes
it appears quaint to see this complicated
college companions not yet out of their
teens.
That this universal courtesy and polite
ness is not merely on the surface is proved
by the trouble to which Swedes put them
selves in order to be of use to stranger in
need of help or information. So much is
this the case that / at last tried to avoid
asking my way in the country round about
Stockholm, because 1t so often happened
that the countryman whom / Intercepted
would lay aside his occupation and accom-
pany me some little distance in order to
make sure of setting me on the right path.
For this service he would seldom accept
any recompenSe.
Another point which soon attracts the
attention of visitors Is the punctiiious hon.
esty and truthfulness of the Swedes; this is
best Been in the many little incidents of
daily life. When asking for places at a
theatre, for instance. the ticket clerk never
fails to inform you if. owing to the crowded
state of the house, better position would
be secured with a cheaper ticket than the
one asked for. Again, when parcels are
taken out by steamers from Stockholm to
the country places in he>neighborhood,
they are just thrown out on TO the quay,
where they frequently remain half the day
without being claimed. Ii never seems to
occur to anyone that they could possibly
be taken by anyone but their rightful owner.
On trip Of any length, as, for instance.
to Gothenberg by canal, a little book lies
in the saloon of the steamer in which each
passenger keeps his own account of the
number of meals, cafes. cognacs, etc., he
may take during the journey. But, indeed,
1t is impossible to talk to Swede for
any length OF time and not see how in
capable OF any meannesS or dishonesty
he must be. There is nearly always a SIM
plicity and straightforwardness of manner.
ek.r.wr Il l<fr t.As-
certainly very pleasing attribute, and
which can scarcely fail to convince the
least observant person that he has before
him man who thoroughly respects him
self. and who walks very steadfastly on the
straight line. The Swedes, you feel, are q
nation of gentlemen down to the coal -heav-
ers and the wharfmen.
Not to appear prejudiced in their favor,
however, will confess that they are in
tensely obstinate. 1t is the trait in their
character. l believe. that has made the
application of trial by jury, at any rate, in
the usual accepttation of the term impos-
sible in Sweden. There is certain Scotch
housewife to be met with in the classic
pages of Punch who wakes sarcastic abeut
the Jolly OF having summoned her "gude
man" to serve on jury, and the absurdity
OF expecting him to agree with eleven per-
feet strangers, when he had never even
been known TO be of one mind with his
own beloved WIFE, 1t was, of course. a
most unreasonable thing to ask of the poor
man.
The Swede being of very similar men,
tai texture with the Scotchman, il is not at
tempted in this country to get twelve men
to agree together. A Jury is certainly i'm
paneled, and its members are invited to
listen to the evidence and form opinions.
but shey are not consulted as to the YER
dict, except in the event OF their unani-
mously disagreeing with the judges sem
tenee. In this case the jury's decision
prevails and the judge is constrained to
take back seat. There must be several
advantages in this method of procedure
particularly in the prevention of dead
lecks. Why should it not be fayorablv
considered by our new law refOrmers, who.
II Is said, are beginning to susprct our Old
tlme-honored system OF being somewhat
cumbersome and oat OF touch with the
times?
A curlons point in Swedish Criminal law
is that confession is necessary before can't
tai sentence can be carried out If, how
ever, the cuiprit persists in protesting his
innocence IN the face OF overwhelming evil
dence, the prison discipline is made ex-
tremely strict and severe until the desired
confession Is obtained. This would GER
fanny seem strange way Of tempering
justice with mercy, but. as q matter OF fact
executions are very rare in Sweden, not so
much from any weakness in the law as
from failure in the supply OF raw ma
terial: "Messieurs les assaesins ont COM
mence. in fact, for the gentle and inno-
cent Swede thinks three times before he
kills man. and consequently such n muir
der as entails the death penalty in civilized
countries Is OF very lnfreouent occurrence