Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-17

ests Reasts of prey-the bear and the
wolf-still persist, and in the far north the
reindeer is still an important factor IN
human life. The winter is long and the sum
mer is short. The sun will not ripen wheat
maize or any cereal save rye bafies ana
oats or any fruit save apples. Much OF
the territory is wet and Swampy, but de-
snite all these things, the Finlanders of
today are entitled to high place among
the nations of the earth. They have de-
yeloped agriculture to a remarkapie de-
gree They raise an abundance of such
grains as will ripen, both for home use and
for export. and they have transformed their
damp marshes into dairy LANDS mat VIM
compare favorable with any In the whole
world They are better supplied with rail-
roads and canals than any port of Russia
proper All through Europe, except in the
far south, Finnish butter and cheese are
well known, and the industries Of the dairy
fairly divide the honorS with numbering
and fishing.
Literature and the arts, moreover, are
held in high esteem, and there Is very little
illiteracy in the Grand Duchy of Finland
those under fifty who cannot read and
write being less than one-tenth of one per
cent of the whole population. There is an
elementary school in every neighborhood
and all the children must attend it. not
because of a compulsory law, but because
os universal sentiment which is stronger
than law. This sentiment is cGmplemented
by the universal custom of beginning the
children's education at home and not al
can pass rigid examinations in reading and
writing.
The country is Lutheran to the core, and
the pastor is the leading parsonage in
many ways in every community. He 1t is
who examines the children for admittance
TO the schools; his tour of examination
every spring and fall is an event eagerly
looked forward to by all the people. and
the pride of the boy or girl who has just
read successfully before him and written
to his satisfaction Is only matched by the
shame of one who has failed
Remarkable Educational Movement.
The Firms believe the Russian govern
ment would be quite we'll satisfied We're
the people of Finland less well informed,
on the theory that then they would be
more amenable to restrictive Russian rule.
This belief has brought about one of the
most remarkable educational movements
on record. The Firms believe in the higher
education quite as firmly as in the element
airy: the little country has many acade-
mics and special schools. and the ancient
university at Helsngfors, the capital, has
a very large student body. When the inn
pending restrictions first seemed imminent
there was a general agreement that tne
further extension of learning among the
people would help them more than any
thing else to resist Russian Entertainments.
Accordingly it was arranged that special
opportunities for special study should be
offered free of expense to all who desired
them.
The plan adopted to this end was novel
and effective. Instead of establishing free
scholarships at the higher schools and the
university educated men and women in
every part of the grand duchy volunteered
to give their services as teachers without
compensation. And since many who want
ed the training were unable to go to the
teachers the teachers decided to go to
them. In furtherance of this plan the en-
tire territory of Finland was unofficially
cut up into districts, and the voluntary
teachers now make regular trips over their
districts in carrying out the scheme, while
many among the rich who cannot help by
personal effort contribute money freely
to defray the expenses of those who teach.
The Lighter Side.
The Firms have been made a serious peo-
pie by reason of the rigors Of their climate
and through other causes but they are by
no means without a lighter side.