New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-06
SWEDISH LIFE.
COUNTRY OF ANCIENT CUSTOMS.
PICTURES OF SWEDISH LEE MIois or lake. Pr
Her Chidr enor ~ f. Randolph & Co


OF sY Il S4s L Wgeas lake, 4 p
r nIr .os Arson D. f. Randolph & CO.
This is not a book Of travels no, d "a and
I, Is the result OF uavei ana oD'o . Suoaiah
uIev,se OF historical study. IL prese"''
ufe I'm many aspects. In summer III .,,o
ho,no ard abroad In town and country III 'oo,'
-, .ast,e and Laplander's tent. Much OF the
dscr,,,ive portion OF the book Is manles,Iy
drawn from personal knowledge. "heh th's i
No, rho case the author Is likely to say so very
frankly Sweden Ia country or ancient GUS
toms What strikes one as most no'e"o''"s ~
Mrs Baker's sketches is the way in when ihdi-
viduai FREEDOM is harmonIzed with an extremely
arlstocratIc instinct in the soca. organism Every
Sv,ede who has the shadow OF a right 10 40 70
wears n uniform some badge OF RANK AS 'o's
fs two persons rot on such terms WIN e"
other az to use the second person singular III au
dressing each other. they must speak OF each
other to each others faces in the third person.
An effort to Introduce the English fashion OF USING
the second person plural has hitherto been ran
IRE. The consequence is that one mus. nu'e
titles OF ones chance acquantances wen III "''".
to avoid accidents In company. The rehiinue'' -
rank re ihu. imperative and constant let '''
poorest and simolesi are unabashed III 'ne po
ence of all these gradat.ons in the social NE VI
,ho ro,on and The feeling OF common brother
mod long ago had the effect OF practically abo-
Ishng rank In politics. When the ola Parha'"e"'
Of four separate chambers was replaced III ''e
sixties by the present b-cameral system t''cs d.
a right and not as courteous cohcess'o" ~
disappeared Bishops and country pastors noo!es
and self rnade men. poets and ironmas'ers e'''''
and manufacturers, workmen and mlIhohdires'
peasants and city nabobs. must and do meet o"
equal ground in the Riksdlg'
This tendency to absolute political equality along
with a prediction for ancient aristocratc socid!
divisions appears to be favored by the comparative
equality Of the great majority OF the people IN 'ne
matter Of property. There are OF course men oil
vas, wealth in the kingdom but money does not
seem - form a basis IN any sense for important
social distinctions. on the other hand. the property
quhlinca ton Is very important element IN pom
tics. since a man must have an estate worth S-"vD
20 be eligible a seat in the First Chamber Oh
the Rlksdag. and eector mus; have an income
Of abou, 500 year. Another thing wh.ch Levels
men 70 an equality Is the fact that every Swede
nlR more less school training. Compulsory edu-
don ana the cheapness Of a course al the uni
verstes provided by the nation have made a popu-
la,lOn in which IL ia easy - find an individual
unable to read and write while the number Of those
who can do far more than read ami write. who are
n.,ed Tor the highest places in state or 'nuren
or the learned professions. IL propor.onally great
Mrs Baker lmaglncs foreigner expressing his as
constituent at the lack Of scholastic architecture
10 tho ancient university town Of Ipsod. and pu;s
IN 'he mouth OF a Sweie the proud answer: We
ID not raise buildings We raise men" That idelI
must be very efficient Instrument for destroying
artificial distinctions. Practical uniformity IN re-
igion. from what the author says must have
tendency u equalize men She indicates that dis
sent In Sweden Is not usually based on differences
In doctrine bu. questions OF practical morals
The recalctrants leave the State Church because
their protests against the evil lie OF their local
clergymcn have no effect. Bui they remain the dis
clpes OF Or Martin Luther. and they teach their
chlllrcn his catechlsm and the Scriptures he
translated them villa he same care after they have
become independents they aid when they
chII chmen.
Even the harsh climate has scrething 10 do with
The relations Of the people to each other They
like a household In lonely mansion on a Storm
beaten coast. They drawn together closely for
the sake OF comfort and safety. Thus Il is not
A mere fantasy that .eafs the author OF this book
- speak continually OF Sweden and the Swedes az
81 mother and children. II is small nation. but II
Is large family The Sweie does not easily forget
his native land even when he has become an exile
often after ne has become prosperous In more
favored land he returns spend the evening OF his
life amid the scenes OF his CHI. God. Sweden does
not part with her children Willingly and she warns
them Mrs. Baker says against the irreligous-
ness OF a country Ike the United states. where
srea; many people seem to be Indifferent all
catechisms. DR.. Martin Luther's not excepted. The
family feeling OF the Swe1es is evinced humorous
~. but effectively. in the name given 10 the egis
ators They are the ''uncles' OF the people JUST
congre ssmen as their uncies. \ man might win
such a title by his 'ccentricy. but hardy as
tribute Of affection. For a whole body Of rgis
ators 10 be thus arectionatey named Is beyond
the power Of the ina gina tion TO conceive.
This family unity Of the swedish nation makes
foyalty necessity ana gives an adequate reason
10 s told e the Sosapy OF its SS Sc kns
the father ~ his peop'e In a sense exceptionally
true When he was man ~ military genius Ike
Gustavus Adolphus Charles XII. he able 10
hur. the whole force Of The nation against It's foes
and 10 make himself for the moment the arbiter OF
Europe. Now that those days OF foreign and
enterprise seem 70 be over ne Is revered "a leader
I'm good works He Is always accessible 10 his peo-
pie. and there few things that interest them
which ne would think undeservns ~ his attention.
Nevertheless. ne can he occasion the most cere-
moni)us OF men. and his crown ana regal robes. and
the princes who attend him would grace the most
powerful court In tho world. The picture which the
author gives of ROYALTY I'm lts public and private
relations i full OF charm. Her book is copous,y
Illustrated and IL altogether kindly tribute to the
nation which lis It's theme.