The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-19
THE POLITICS
OF FINLAND.
Impressions ola R'chmonder at the
Opening ofthe Landtag'
LOSS or THE ARMY THREATENED
The Car Makes q Proposition To Al
NIT Russians ia the Finnish Army.
Impress. ons of a Visit 90 the
skating Clubs.
LOSS OF THE ARMY THREATENED

ur-rsr\crDrS. FINLAND Jan. 4'.--
n, r-r,,-v sffh was tho formal open
ing OF the LQudtag. The i'rmt"..' JOSS
81 about an hour and quar- l.l' ''i'
took place in 60 church li' l''.""."a
composed of 80 mobiles wlo receive n'
pay. eighty clergy. who receive ~ MAJ 80
por day. sixty city Representative a ~
overv 6eoO. who receive I'D marks per
de,. eichtv country representatives. IL ''
everv 5000. who receive I'D 10 l- MARKS
per day. and any primary law '' ".
changed or enacted has to obtain c'Ns'"'
of three OF the four bodies and me sane
tion Of the Gar
Tho church is O. very large one. anu
in the shape OF a cross. and Boy IL % eIocA
a. was filled. except the reserved seats
nv the ueople holding admission cards
Promptly az l1 the doors swung open
the nobility filed i1 headed hy iher
leader. then came the others. most or
whom carried in their hands their olo-
fashioned hats. The senators, numbering
frf. who nrono-r the laws io INC
Iandtac. an wear these hats ana "n.'o
brooches. with gold cord along the SIDE.
All the ushcrs were ion gorgeous golden
military uniform.
THE SERVICE.
Finally when they were ali in' from
the SIDE door came the head of tne cleI tf'
who was Joined by The heads OF lne
nobility ANA elected representatives. Inc
,bree marched down t0 the door. and the
Aforementioned appeared WITH more
srfer-. crosses insignia, etc, than ms
little breast could accommodate. lie Us
about hye-feet siX;. gray b'ld ana
fierce. The chief clergyman as spoNes-
man. read him. as the cars rcprcse1-
tative. an address of welcome. Nearly
al The f0rmaltIes were carried on III
FINNISH.
He bowed al the conclusion and as
they started up the aisle the oreah burst
forth. and De was conducted TO seat
on raised da.s. which with us. would
be the chancei Tho rest of ihe services
were wholly religious and lasted about
an hour They had "a CHOIR oi t9pat -''
voices. which was trained especially TOY
This and b. they had ONLY sung some ~
mniar tuuc 60 would have been grand
After q was am over the people again
nfed out into the open air. Do degrees bee
low zero (Which IS l6 degrees above zero
according CO. the American thermomeiei'
the Iandtsg going 90 the Cars house 10
take dinner. together with their wives
and dauehtors This is ono of The moss
important handbags .u tho history OF
FINLAND. Russia wants % bind FINLAND
closer 20 her. and Finland wants to
preserve the liberty She now enjoys.
TER CONSTITUTION
TIE Gar has given Finland "a constitu-
ton. or rather she was given ono when
she was taken from Sweden, and INC
car 40 his corona on. sWore 10 uphold
80. ana by this Constitution 10 takes the
majority in three branches and the con-
sent Of the Car Go change any primary
law
THE Car has proposed 90 the Landiag
that the term of military service be th-
creased from three 20 i've years. 10 cor
resrond io the Russian system. and thal
Russian privates DO admitted INTO the
liunish army and Vice versa. Ainon7
others these are tie most important me
result az which would boz 90 destroy the
Finnish army as such, and the sugges-
tions vf1 probably be rejected What
then9 VIII Finland suffer the fate OF
Rueeian Folandg Who knows? The loss
Of tho army OF such means more THAN
tho surrender ~ pride. The constitution
says that tinlands soldiers cannot oe
called into foreign wars. can Only pc USED
70 repeal invasion az Finland ana 10 pro
fect ths ufc of the car II they lose
their identity. goodbye 20 that Clause
HOW THEY SKATE.
Last night 7 went out 10 one of tho
reservations az one of tAe skating CLUBS
here II is about 1i5 yards long and
about . Yards wide. Down the centre
are set electric lights with little houses
FOR refreshments. keeping of wraps etc.
An around thc ecge course about ten
feet wide ls staked 90 for the fast
skaters and iu the middle the fancy
and plain skaters cut their figures.
There were girl and young man there.
and really they were the poetry OF
motion The enclosure is made by placing
small fr trees about ten fect high. close
together and on the outside Of this
stretching Ions. course cloth, about SIX
feet wide. AN around the enclosure to
Keen out The wind. Admlttance is o fruit
Der season OF - pr per time. Along
side OF this there arc two structures
about % feet high and placed 40 disc
lance of ahaut l15 yards apart They
have stairs 60 the top and an inclined way
down facing the other structure one
takes a sled and getting on u on this
inclined way, whizzes down and slides