The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-09-06

picturesque air. The interior, how
ever. Is very bare of decorations.
Although Sweden is, above all, an
agricultural country, she IS not repre-
sented at the fair by the products Of
her soil. not even by her forestry. The
reason for that, il is stated by the COM
missioner. Arthur Letter. Is because
Sweden does not export any of her
raw products to tSis country. in the
one industry, though. in which Sweden
has shone for centuries, viz; the pro-
duetion OF fine iron and steel. she has
made an unusually fine display. The
great iron works Of Dannemora,
worked since 1865, have come to the
front. Though hampered by the lack
Of indigenous coal. which necessitates
either the use of charcoal or the i'm
portation of coal from neighboring
countries, the quality of this Swedish
iron ore-the finest in the world, being
some 20 to 81 per cent. pure iron and
almost wholly free from Phosphorus-
is so excellent that the best Swedish
steel and iron find market, too, in
this country, wherever the highest
grade 9f the metal is needed in Ameri-
can industry.
The display comprises the best speci-
mems OF Bessemer steel. Of steel ingots
and bars. of pig iron, etc, rs well as
of finished products, notably saw
blades, horseshoe nails (the best in the
world. Sweden shows, too, by her ex-
hibits that she is. so far, the only Eu-
ropean country which has adopted the
cut and style of our American tools, so
much more handy and appropriate
than the clumsier European tools.
Her array Of files. too. is great, and a
steel band, marked ''the largest ever
made" )" and being II feet wide, ESQ feet
long and weighing only 52s pounds,
attracts universal attention as a proof
of the skill of Swedish artisans. The
same remark applies to the fine exhib-
it OF steel projectiles, next TO Krupp's
and those of the United States govern
ment the best showing in this line.
In fact, the steel and iron industry is
so extensively and magnificently illus
trated in the Swedish building that It
gives its peculiar stamp to their whole
exhibit.
OF interest, too, is the display Of ar
tificial stone. This is so closely imitat-
ed as to deceive the eye and touch,
and a score OF different stones-gran-
ties and marbles, porphyry and basalt,
etc.-are represented in this. The
stairs leading up to the main door of
the building, apparently choice porphy-
~. are made of this artificial material
1e1h hn
Portland. is also in evidence In
chinawaTe and pottery there is quite
deal and while il cannot be truthfully
said that this is as fine in material or
design as the similar wares from Meis-
sen, Sevres or Berlin, they at least are
very low in price. and hence within
the reach of the poorer classes of the
population. The style affected by the
Swedish makers of china and pottery
pertains about in even proportion TO
the French and German schools.
In furniture Sweden does better,
some interiors on exhibition, with
their harmonious color effects in green
and gold, their silk draperies and
tapestries, being decidedly pretty ano
tasteful. The same is true of a mum
Der of mantelpieces. Then there is
large display of native furs-rugs and
cloalSs, caps and capes-and here again
the low prices startle US, for pretty
fox rugs are marked s. in some
instances. and the bearskins. the
beaver and seal and wolves hides are
correspondingly low. Besides a small
display of chemicals, Of Swedish
matches, of rifles and guns for the
chase, and of sewing machines (some
very pretty in eirappoiztments), there
is to be seen on this main floor dis
play of Swedish folk types-peasants
and huntsmen, skating, sleighing, rae
ing on snO~shoes. reindeer vehicles
and Lapps, interiors of farm houses.
etc, and also interesting photographs
and panoramic views of land and
people.
Upstairs on the gallery the Swedish
government and some private societies
have made an attempt to show us
their systems of physical culture, of
manual training lsloyd), OF running a
school for weaving. one for sewing. etc.
There is a model OF q gymnasium,
showing all the apparatus, also a col
lection of fencing weapons, and other
things, but this exhibit as a whole is
inferior TO that sent by other European
countries. A collection of boOizs and
Autographs, sent by Swedish so
ciety for the promotion of artistic
bookmalSing. shows that Sweden
turns out excellent work in some
speeialties. for instance expensive
works on natural history. with col