Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-10
A Beautiful and Interesting but
Little Known Country.
SIMPLE IN THEIR MODE OF LIFE
The Finnish Lover Never Pops the
Question Himself.
THEIR FOOD AND DRIN K


some statue erected to the memory OF Alex
ander II, the emperor TO whom Finlanders
owe a notable enlargement and official con-
firmation Of their cherished rights. Nearly
all the towns and villages were represented
by special delegates. the parliament ut.
tended en- masse. and among the thousands
Of spectators were about eight hundred uni
versty students, conspicuous IN their white
caps. The statue represents Alexander
standing with the charter Of Finnish rights
in his hand. and on the sides Of the base
are representations of peace, art, science
and industry, admirably scuiptured by Mr..
w. Runeberg, son Of the late national poet.
No better place could have been found for
the monument than in the square where 1t
stands, surrounded by the senate house, the
university and other stately public build
ings. For some months past the par1ia-
ment of Finland has been holding its TIA
ennial sessions, and the fact That II flnds
little or no record in the British press IL,
perhaps, the most conclusive evidence OF
the general tranquility of It's proceedings
Nevertheless 1T Is noteworthy that in that
remote northern region agitations are in
progress concerning not a few Of the queS-
lions that have come to the front In Eng
land. The legislature of Finland consists
or four separate chambers, representing the
land owners, the clergy the townspeepie
and the peasants. These are exposed to
arrive at substantial agreement upon new
constitutional projects before legislative
changes can be submitted to the car, as
grand duke. for his assent. Among the
questions which have been under debate
are better system of national education,
the diminutien of multiple votes, largely
exercised by the richer classes, and eqsal-
ity Of Political rights of both sexes. But
English readers may be more Interested In
some account Of the country itself, few
parts Of Europe being little known.
Some Quaint Customs.
Suomi, as natives fondly call IT, possesses
many features and customs of peculiar In
terest, besides the fact that it can fairly
boast of being the freest and est-governed
portion of the Russian empire. Greatly
mistaken are any who assume that 1t Is
covered with snow and ice during most of
the year, that 1t remains inaccessible to
culture or is inhabited by a people imper-
fectly civilized. Finla nd Is no doubt q Sc
we're and parsimonious mother to her chill
dren, not prodigal of gifts Ike more ia
vored southern lands. The fact that they
have had to fight a hard battle. with grim
drawbacks of climate and geographical po-
sftion, has made them a robust persever-
Ing race, simple In their mode Of life, but
much more advanced in IDEAS than might
be expected from these remotely situated
subjects of the car.
The strife of centuries gave fresh point to
native ballads and epics. which, before the
printed book era, were handed down orally
from genera tiDn to generation. Sometimes
these took the form of magic chants and
lamentations, for the descendants Of the old
sorceries had been dignified to the rank of
poets. Although composed In different Pc
RODS between the eighth and the fourteenth
centuries, these were not gathered In writ
ing until early In the present century. In
1885 they were published in one volume
a a uh has hoo
translated into English, Swedish, French,
Russian, German and Hungarian. This ma
tional epic, which consists of no fewer than
%, 1913 verses, Is much admired for its
grandeur of conception, profound senti-
ment and delicacy of thought; indeed, many
scholars consider that II rivals the lad
and Odyssey. 1t abounds in natural SYM
bolism and mythical stories In some of
these. 1nanimate things supposed to be
tmbued with life and brought int closer re-
lation with the singer.
Marriage fetets in Finland. as In Norway,
are often prolonged for several days. even
among folk of humble rank. One peculiar
ity, which may excite more surprise than
approval among eligible suitors in our coun-
try. is that the Finish lover never himself
pops the question to the girl Of his choice
The momentous proposal Is made through
third person, called the "talman," to
whom the happy couple give a present
when his delicate mediation proves success
full and ends in a wedding. Not uncom-
monty their gift to the talman takes the
urromantic form of a shirt. In like man
ner the clergyman who preSides over the
nuptial service receives a simple and mex
pensive present, often a handkerchief and
a pair of warm hair gloves A similar gift
IS bestowed upon the officiating priest at
funerals. Upon these mournful occasions
the service is exceedingly simple-more 50
than would satisfy the views of British I'M
dertakers; but the burial Is, as a rule, fol-
lowed by large hospitality on the part Of
the bereaved family. One favorite occupa-
ton for home leisure In Finland, in addi-
ton to their characteristic music, is the
proposing and solving Of enigmas.
Their Food and Drink.
But It is in poesy and song that the Fin
nish people most excel. Their language ad-
mirably lends itself to these purposes alike
from its sonorous character and the rich
ness of its vocabulary.
The Finlander smokes much tobacco, but
Of inferior quality. and the favorite bsver-
age Of the people is coffee. largely mixed
with chicory; indeed, the coffee pot Is al
ways kept In readiness on hob at the
corner of the fire. Another drink in COM
mon use is an calculated small beer called
kalja; but on special occasions. as at mar
riageS or funerals, a stronger beer Is con-
sumed. In the country districts snl at the
meat; butter Is not much used, and still less
cheese, although large quantity OF good
cheese is exported from the country to
other markets. The most important food
plant in the country Is rye, and next in
order come potatoes. Barley and oats are
less common. Wheat Is considered a deli
cacy and wheaton bread Is used chiefly by
the better classes, with tea or coffee The
country does not produce enough cereals
for Its own consumption.
Politically, the position of the Finlanders
is peculiar. Their country enjoys a large
measure Of freedom and internal indepen-
dence, and yet 1t is under the ultimate su-
preme control of Russia. Most natives de-
muir to the idea that 1t has been absorbed
in the Russian empire and they point to
the present century, on assuming office as
Grand Duke of Finland, has entered into a
solemn pledge to maintain unaltered the
original rights and constitutional laws of
the grand duchy. A copy of the first impe-
rial warrant to this effect, granted In 1909,
is hung up on view In all the churches of
Finland. The administration Of the country
is presided over by a governor general, who
is appointed by the car, and with that
functonary there Is associated a secretary
of state, who must be native of Finland.
The four legislative orders are convolxed
every three years, and each sits separately,
but they may deliberate In common II this
is asked by one of the orders and supported
by another Of them.
The Women Vote.
The privileges of the nobility have been