New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-17
SWEDEN AND THE SWEDES.
HOW THE DESCENDANTS OF THE VIKINGS
LIVE.

SWEDEN AND THE swEDEs. BY Wiem widge aS
Thomas IT, Illustrated. Imperial ovo' PIP 'i''
Rand, McNally a Co.
The first impression made by this huge Dook Is
that il ought TO Nave been two volumes. Inc con-
veniencc of the reading public has certainly not
been consulted in making it, Tor nothing more ui-
handy could be conceived. This is, one wouio
think n rather serious blundcr from a comfnerclai
noint of view but that is the affair OF author ana
publishers Apart from this mechanical DEFECT MT
Thomas's book on Sweden and the Swedes IS ue-
serving Of considerable praise though redundancy
and carelessneSs of arrangement characterize III i'll
an unusual degree The author has, however, hao
snecial opportunities of acquiring information con
corning his subject. and does not write with the
Ainpant superGciality and hasty judgment of the
tourist who after two or three weeks ecraihpie
through country thinks himself competent 10
tell the world all about it, In the first place, Mr.
Thomas has resided many years III sweden lie
was Consul in Gothenburg in the Administration OF
Abraham Lincoln lie was Minister TO Sweden
and Norway under President Arthur ana ne holds
tbe same office under President Harrison. In the
second place. he is married to a daughter OF the
vikings, and this in itself gives him vantage
ground Of no little importance IN such an enter
prise as he has undertaken. But Mr. Thomas Is
a man of independent and original views IN regard
10 bookmaking lie makes no attempt to write
p consecutive history or closely connected WORK
Of any kind and the interest OF his DOCK rests
LARGELY upon it's desultory character. The reader
finds scraps Of history nterspersed with chapters
on Swedish social habits and customs, chronicles
of fishing and hunting expeditions, accounts OF
Court functions bits of travel, archaeological dis
QUESTIONS, etc.
Mr. Thomas is an enthusiastic sportsman, and
, nd fcbi arr
surprising enough in many instances 10 satisfy the
cynical tradition respecting snch narratives Not
that this tradition is really entitled to much con-
sideration for it is obviously based upon that
unlovciy quality of poor human nature wnicn
has caused travellers tales 10 he gibbeted as
typical examples of uncomfortable Imagination
though modern research has shown that the tales
of travellers most coptemned in their day were
substantially true. No doubt Sir John Maunde-
vile is accountable for much of this scepticism,
but IL is hardly just 10 coll him traveller. Tor
il was his specially TO describe countries ne had
never visited As for lis, we frankly accept Mr..
Thomas's most opulent fish stories and particu-
larly do we delight in his account of the Swedish
reporter ; not in this a species of the genus
newspaper but marvellous kind of SET
ter dog who has the faculty Of notifying the
sportsman who is shooting over him when he has
found game. Mr. Thomas is uncertain himself
whether the reporter is peculiar breed or merely
perfected pointer. lie is inclined 10 prefer the
latter theory and 10 consider that the special GIT
Of the reporter comes from the development of
more commonplace faculties But he is certainly
right in thinking that American sportsmcn would
receive with open arms kind Of dog so highly
trained as first 10 give his mastrr notice OF the
presence Of game, and then lead him up to Ii;
The illustrations here given OF the reporters
nj fiec s,tni
vince the most soeptical that DC is not myth
nor practical Joke
Mr. Thomas is full Of all kinds OF information
about the Swedes. whom IL is perhaps scarcely
necessary To say he almircS very heartily, and
with good reason. lie is indeed never tired OF
cXpatating upon the good qualities of the Scan
dinavian peoples, and Of descanting upon their
courtesy, honesty, thrift, hospitality and sincerity
Much Of this has been heard before, and much
thanks 10 immigration, can DC freely tested in most
plrts o. the United States But when Mr.. Thomas
begins TO talk about the way the Swedes live, es-
pccially in Stockholm and the cities generally, he
has matter to impart which may well cause
pangs Of envy 10 arise in the breasts Of all
city-lwellcIs who inhabi: the land OF the free aud
tie home OF the brave. The beginning Of his
description of IIousckc keeping in Stockholm" is
indeed rather discouragng on the surface, for lie
writes that 1.-THE Swedcs in the cities live in
fats. You will find few families in Stockholm
occupying whole house. But wait little.
There are flats and flats, and the flats OF Stock
holm are not the fats of Ncw-Yorl; and
Brooklyn. in the first place all Swedish houses
nearly as possible freproof, and this the
law eXacts, requiring the most rigorous fulflment
of the prescribed conditions conditions which
would drive to despair and out of the business any
American buildcr Tor example: Houses must
lie built Of stone or brick. The stairs of every
house must be of stone Airon, laid in stone
walls at least foot thick from cellar TO attic
The cellar must he built of massive arches of
stone laid in mortar or cement. and supporting
the ground floor This floor generally has beams
81 iron, with the spaces between filled in with
broken brick gravel clay and mortar thus making
IL practically fireprOof. The attic floor must
hc o! ircproof masonry, not only filed in between
the beams but the upper surface must be OF
brick or tiles laid in mortar or cement. and form
continuous solid floor on top OF the beams.
Iron doors set i'll stone doorways must be used
to close both attic and cellar, and these doors are
kept shut and locked at night and whenever not
in usc. Where there are elevators tie elevator
shaft must be built of solid masonry, and all
doors out of it must be of iron. The roof
must be covered with tiles, slate or sheets OF
metal. There must DC ireproof walls Of foot or
foot and half in thickness on each side of the
house. The height of houses is restricted 10
siXty-eight feet, or a trfe beyond the width of
the street, whatever that may he. All nucs must
be wide and often cleaned, and the kitchen fues
must be swept once O month. or course these
arc severe regulations, but the result of them is
that in the Swedish cities fire insurance is a
basntclle. In Stockholm Mr.. Thomas paid a
premium Of one-twentietb Of per cent Think
of that, American insurers, Stockholm has an
excellent fire dcpnrtment and system Of wafer-
works but 80 have most American cities The
difference lies in the methods Of building, and
herein consists q frst-class object lesson. Mr.
fra 4lais In