The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-06-05
THE SCANDINAVIANS.
AN INTERESTING LETTER
Glimpse of Life in Norway and
Sweden-Scandina Babies.
LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN.
Ito New York Voice.)

At the end of Commonwealth
avenue, Boston. stands youthful fig
ure facing the ocean, sweeping with
eagle eyes the wide expanse before
him. It is the discoverer of new
continent, but not the world-famed
Genoese. On the pedestal we read
the name Left Ericsson.
III The Northern soaking and his vik-
ings sleep upon their broken shields,
and in their "ashes grow the mighty
forests But their blood runs in the
veins Of those who tread to-day upon
the forgotten graves in Scandals s soil,
and each year when the birds of pas
sage wing their way northward the
viking nature reasserts itself.
Westward, in the wake made by
Eric's son, almost nine centuries ago,
the children of the sea-kings follow
to-day. BY thousands they come each
spring, these light-haired, blue
eyed strangers. Their arms are
strong and their hearts are true;
they break Columbia's virgin
soil, dig her treasures out
of the dark earth, and help to keep
the wheels of industry going. In the
American homes we meet the rosy
checked stranger maidens, and on the
wide praires or in the crowded cities
we see them at their own hearth
stones. But little do they tell Of the
land they come from. Occasionally
they may mention the midnight sun
or the northern lights, but to the
average American the rich literature
and folklore of Scandinavia, the
wealth of poetry and song hidden
among her mountains is almost wholly
unknown, and OF the quaint Gus toms
and home life Of her people he has no
knowledge. Let us cast a glance
across the Atlantic and through the
mists try to catch some glimpse Of life
in the far North.
In the latitude Of Alaska, far up in
the northwestern corner OF European
continent, lies the Scandinavian pen
insula, comprising Sweden and Nor
way. The Danish Isles, separated
Sound, are also by reason of the near
included in the common name for the
countries peopled by the Morse race.
The familiar name Scandinavian,
therefore, includes three nationali-
ties: Swedes, Norwegians,a and Danes.
The language of the two latter is al
most identical in print; but spoken,
the difference in prOnounciati tiOn
makes two languages. Swedish differs
still more from the sister tongues, yet
the Scandinavians easily understand
each other.
Whence did the Norsemen come?
Through the gray mist, not yet brok-
en- by the dawn Of history, we see a
warlike tribe leave the native soil be-
tween the Black and Caspian Seas.
They were tall and strong Of frame,
with light complexion, blue eyes, and
flaxen hair. Their leader was man
by the name Of Sigge Frid ulfson,
called Odin, and inextricab!y mixed
with the god OF that name, the high
est Of the Morse deities.
The wandering warriors chose the
Scandinavian peninsula for their
homes and subducd the dark, stunted
race by which it was inhabited. To
the Lapps, the dwarfed descendants
| OF the Siberian Ostiaks, were allotted
the regions Of Arctic snow, and there
| they wander yet with their reindeer
and their tents.
The old gods are dead, it is said.
Yes, it may be: but they died hard,
and their ghosts still wander among
the Scandinavian Mountains. More
| than eight centuries passed before
| the shad ow Of the Cross fell over the
| Northland, and the battle between
| AN 1,0 n
gods reached far into the twelfth
century. They were then exiled from
the temples and groves Of sacrifice