The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-21
Sweden and the swsdes.


We have had histories OF Sweden. md we
are nil familiar with the poet Lonyte!lows de-
scriDtion. published halt century ago. OF the
manners and customs OF the Swedish peas
ants in n single province. Whit we have
lacked was a minute and comprehensive &C.
count OF the country and its people as they are
now. This want Is now made good in n quarto
volume Of more than 700 pages. entitled S,ee-
den and the Stcedes. by WILLIAM WIDDEnY
THOMAS. Jr. Chicago: Rand. MacNally 4 Cor
What one wishes. OF course. to learn about n
book OF this kind Is whether the author has
had adequate opportunities OF observation.
aud whether he was qualified to avail himself
of'tRetn by education.a sound iadkmeat. and
unremittlna industry. It Is satisfactory to
find these conditions answered in the case Of
Mr.. Thomas 1t is now nearly thirty years
since he first sot foot in Sweden. having been
sent as Consul to Goth-nburg by President
Lincoln. Subsequently he conducted col
ony OF Sweles over tie ocean. and
founded a settlement known rs New
Sweden In the forests OF northern Maine His
relations to this colony led him to mako fire..
ausnt visits to the Scandinavian peninsula
and to emplov his leisure In tho study OF the
Swedish language and literature He was
made Minister to Sweden and Norway by
President Arthur. and Is now holding tho
same Office BY the appointment OF President
Harrison. He tells us--and this volume is full
OF proofs OF the assertion-that during his
many and long soiourns in Sweden he always
carried note book in his pocket and iotted
down on the spot whatever struck him as novel
or characteristic. In the revision ana correc-
tion OF his manuscript he has boon assist oil
by his father-in-iaw, n member Of tho upper
House OF the Swedish Riksdag. and by num-
Der .! Swedish scholars aud statistlcans. We
may add that OF the innumerabe illustrations
which enrich the work. many are reproductions
of Scandinavian landscapes. buildings and
conspicuous persons. Taken altogether. tho
book should be welcomed as supplying much
needed Information concerning u country
from which we are annually drawing n largo
and important element Of our population.
l..
Tho Northland Is the largest peninsula In
Europe. and with the execution of Russia Ia |
the largest country on the European continent.
1t is moro than LOO miles long. II is from $50
10 400 miles wide. and it contains nearly BOO |
900 square miles Of territory. 1t Is about II |
third larger than eithor tho republic OF Franco |
orthe miro OF Germany. and moro than three |
times the sizo Of the peninsula Of Italy. II we |
compare 1t with the Statcs OF tho American |
Union. We lind that the Scandinavian penin- |
territory of all New England. and that II we |
could transport 1t over the sea and moor il |
our own Atlantic coast. It would ex-
tend from Maine1to Florida We scarcely need |,
remind the render that the whole peninsula is |;
not politically unified. for although tho two
sections are governed by tho same King
and have q common Minister Of Foreign Al.
airs. the western part. Norway. Is locally In
dependent. and It 10 therefore tho eastern
and larger part which Is the subject Of this
volume.
In travelling in Sweden the author WAS con.
finually reminded OF his native State OF Maine.
In both countries the coasts are dotted with
Islands and cleft by rivers running into the
sea. while clusters or ranges OF mountains rise
IN the interior. The same forests also
,lothc the hillsides; In Sweden. as In the back
woods OF Maine. may be seen the maple. beech,
md birch, the oak and ash, the spruce. pine,
md fir. The wild flowers too. are nearly tho
'ame and rs for berries. one may pick wild
raspberrIes. blackberrles. and
zooseberrIes. as In tho pastures ana uplands
II Maine. The birds likewise that migrate
llong the Swedish coast are tho same az those
hat frequent the American shores OF the At
sntic. Among those may be mentioned the
blower and the curlew. the older duck and
nallard. the snipe and white winged coot.
The reindeer. moreover. is almost Identical
With the caribou. and nsturAlists ind It din
ult to detect any substantial difference be-
ween the Swedish elk and the American moose
n spite. however. OF these iikeness between
he nors and fauna. one 10 never suffered to |
orRet the signal difference In respect Of latI-
ude and climate. In travelling through Scan
inavta the fact that you arc ID high ATTITUDES
necessarily brought home The snow-cov- {
red fields. the chill that comes over You whom
yer you stop into the shade. and the north |
tar twinkling almost over your head by night.