Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-22

the driver Is a metallic-red hag-shaped de-
vice with the Scandinavian word which
means ''disengaged'' painted on It. When
the cab Is hailed and engaged this nag is
announced the cabrnan states the charge
ana sets dial which shows the amount
70 be paid upon reaching the end Of the
ride This dial is Immediately in front of
the occupant. and cannot be changed ex-
eept by raising the flag. which throws the
index back to zero. AS this would bot be
to the drivers interest, there can be no dis
pute at the end of the trip as to the
amount to be paid.
There Is no Midway at this exposition
Tor the very good reason that any side
show would be Insignificant in comparison
with the famous Skansen which occunies
practically the rest of the island. This in
stitution, which may be called a living
museum, was started several years ago nv
Dr HerzeiiuS, man loved and honored by
every one in Sweden and Norway He be-
gan by collecting articles of historic inter-
est and those primitive utensils and tools
That were being replaced by more modern
forms. Then to give these objects their
appropriate settings he brought down peas
ant houses, with their entire furnishing and
the people who had been their occupants
mus 1t Is that he has gathered together
number of houses and households from
all the characteristic sections, but, instead
OF str1nging them together, as is done in
the Street in Cairo variety. the houses
are separate, so that the oddly of one
does not detract from the uniqueness of
the others. The occupants do not sit
around like lay figures they form the
working force in SkanSen, making roads
Keeping the beautiful grounds in order.
looking after the very complete collection
OF the fauna of Sweden and Norway from
the tiniest bird to the largest bear and
broad-antlered reindeer. Here too, is seen
village of Laps. living in the quaint tent
like huts which they carried down from
their far-away homes in the north.
Morse Life Portrayed.
1t can well be said that in Skansen there
is absolutely nothing theatrical. There is
no need to do more than represent the ac-
tual life and surroundings of the people
who are too rapidly becoming cosmopolized
Nothing can be more interesting than to
see Rattwik household as correct as
could be seen If days journey were made
TO that far-away province. The same is
true Of the families Of Blekinge, Lekrand
Mora, Orsa ard every typical region OF the
Kingdom. When 1t is remembered that it
was the ancestors of these peoples who
protected Gustaf Vasa when fleeing from
the Danes, and that the Dalecariians
were the first to come to the assistance of
their rightful sovereign, one can understand
how Skansen, by recalling their valorous
deeds, can serve as perpetual stimulus to
patriotic principles The Northern Museum
with Its different branches, is the indoor
part OF SkanSen, and in these the noble Ci-
rector has gathered in their entirety col
lections which otherwise would have been
scattered and thus rendered valueless One
OF his most recent acquisitions was the Ii
brary and work room of the great Rydberg
Inc room has been reproduced as to size,
shape and colors, and each article placed in
the very position 1t occupied when the
author breathed his last. The king may
erect statue to this author, but how
much more inspiring it is to the lovers of
MS works to see the very surroundings in
which they were created.
At the centennial we saw some scenes
with wax figures showing some events in
Swedish life. Many of us looked with tears
in our eyes at the panorama representing
the death of the baby. These came from
the Northern Museum as did some others
which were exhibited at Chicago But at
Skansen We see similar scenes; but living
persons take the place Of the lifeless forms
referred to. Every fair day during the
summer at a given hour the young folks of
Skansen meet on the dancing floor, and
then, to the music of the highlands, dance
as they did at home, and give to the on
locker a sight only seen in widely separated
districts. and there only at special festivals
Skansen is a little Sweden framed in by
the beautiful Nordstream and overlooking
the capital of the greater Sweden. Dr.
Herzelius. in his desire to keep his people
true to the honest principles that prevail
In their northern home. prohibits the ac-
ceptance OF any gratuitieS, and in this pro-
hibttion he has made Skansen unique in
another particaiar-tne- only place in Eu-
rope where tips are declined.