The advocate., 1897-08-18
Letter from Sweden.

Letter from Sweden,
Prof. Carl SwensOn, president of the
Lindsborg (Kas.) college, native Of
Sweden, has been doing" Europe, and
the following extracts are taken from
his first letter from the country Of his
birth:
"I honestly wondered how dear old
Sweden and its lovely capital would
look after we had first seen London,
Paris, the Rhine and Berlin. We had
enjoyed the sights so hugely; we had
almost raved among the vast treasures
of art, history and archaeology; yes, we
felt thatw had travelled rather too fast,
taken in too much, and seen the great
est things first There are dangers con-
nected with this mode Of tourist life.
II may produce feeling Of safety that
prevents further enjoyment
1--WE riched King Oscars country at
Malmoe and took a limited train at
1:05 p. m. for Stockholm. 1t was a most
pleasant train and trip. The distance,
about 430 miles, was covered in twelve
hours and half including stops for
breakfast and at all important stations.
The fare, seCond-class, was $14. Our
train did not carry third-class coaches,
otherwise we should have bought that
kind OF ticket, which is much
cheaper You ask quite naturally:
What kind Of railroad coaches have
they in Sweden? Answer: All kinds,
nearly. Travel is divided into three
classes. Only fools and Americans
travel flrst-class, that was told to me
in England. II holds good pretty much
all over Europe You may indeed once
in a great while feel willing to pay
something extra for the privilege of
travelling alone, and so take first-Class.
Otherwise, second-class is plenty good
enough for any one, and third-class Is
sufficient for the most of us. Members
Of European Congresses and Parlia-
ments travel third-class. / know It,
because l have made their acquaint-
anCe In third-class coaches,
"Well, we are in second-class car
this time. 1t was called a corridor
coach and had an aisle on one side Of
the car, from which doors led to COM
partments with two broad splendidly
upholstered lounges, racks for baggage,
hooks for coats and cloaks, mirrors,
etc, In each and a door that locked
from the inside The aisle or corridor
led to tOilet-rOoms, and gave us the
usual connection with the balance of
the train. There are, as rule, sufi-
cipnt number of cars to avoid crowd
ing, and so the conductor gave Mrs S,
and myself a room all to ourselves for
the entire trip and without a cent Of
extra charge. Upholstered pillows
were found on the lounges and we had
an unusually comfortable sleeping car,
paying nothing for the privilege AZ
terwards we learned that for 81 cents
extra we woud have been entitled to
room in compartment sleeping car for
the entire distance. What say YOU fell
low Americans at home about such
prices? One dollar and siXty-two cents
for room for two. a compartment in
sleeping car for 430 miles. The Pull
man and Wagner rates ought to be cut
in two. 1t can not be done any too
soon, either A large part Of our pop
ulation at home must constantly travel.
Unless they desire a premature death,
they must seek sleep at night Just
think Of it; you pay for first-class
ticket, and sometimes little extra be-
cause the train is limited, and then SO
for, not q room, but 4 berth in Pull