New-York tribune., 1901-12-23
PROGRESS IN FINLAND.
4 REMARKABLE LAND WHICH IS NOW
SUFFERING FROM RUSSIAN
OPPRESSION
Helsingfors. Finland. Novemt


land and the that the visitor OF its peo-
pie and their life and public institutions IN both
city and country the is he filed with ad-
niration for the plucky race which could make so
much out Of little.
Every Finnish city on a smaller scale presents
the same pleasing features Helsingfors. the
same signs OF enterprise and progress There could
hardly be a greater contrast than exists between
these places and the cities OF Russia not only IN
regard TO the sum total of modern improvements.
but in the general appearance and the whole char
acter Of the life which they represent II seems
impossible believe that Finland IS under the
same roof as Russia proper. 1t is everywhere most
evident that the Films different race from
either the little or the great Russians This DIFF
ference not only appears in the outward manifesto
tions Of their civilization. IN all their traits Of
character.
The Russians present the anomaly Of a combina-
ton which Belongs to both North and South, with
a dash Of Oriental One finds IN the Russian
volatility and love OF pleasure which are Latin.
fataIisrn ana q cunning which seem 70 conns from
the East and a hardihood and capacity for melan-
choly which belong to the North. With It all. the
Russian Is a good deal OF a mystic, and has q
wonderfully kind heart
NATURE OF THE FINN.
The Firms are purely Northern race-slow.
ploddng industrious. silent. sad and intensely OBJ
stinate Along the southern coast the Finnish
race has been somewhat mixed with that Of
Sweden from its contact Of centuries, and many
who call themselves Firms are probably OF more or
less pure Swedish blood. No has been able to
establish with absolute certainty the origin of the
Finnish race but the comronest theory is that IL
was once a race Of the south OF Tartar Scythian
blood and that It pushed up little by little
until il came to a standstin in the rugged land
which il inhabits to-day.
FinIands prosperity she owes to herself, and not
to the great power which watches over her Ex-
cept that the country has shared the peace Of the
Russian Empire, there is no debt Of gratitude TO be
called mind, that Russia is playing the part
OF tyrant Finland may be said to have prospered
and to have developed herself in spite OF Russia,
not because of her and Russia's attitude toward
Finland at the present day is doubly heartrenofng
Helsingfors might well be called the Athens Of
Russia in this little capital every sort or liter
ary and artistic work is encouraged For the last
forty years the people sought revive and to
develop the national and literature There are
schools supported by the government where ali
the manual industries are taught. including such
things as wood carving and the making OF tap
estry. a place has been established where the
embroidering of Gobeliu IS carried on and taught.
and the beautiful productions. many specimens Of
which went to the Paris Exposition. on sale
Most Of the designs furnished by Finnish
artists who seeking TO replace the designs and
color schemes formerly used by those which are
more artistic and yet national There are certain
designs and a certain synbolisrn-something Ike
that OF the Japanese-which peculiar 70 Fin
elaborc ting and making more beautiful
HIGHER EDUCATION.
The University Of HeIsingfors. which was some
time ago moved here from Abo, good sized city
on the southwest coast. IS one Of the finest edu-
cational institutions in the Russian Empire; ror
though it may not be heavily endowed as some
OF those IN the cities OF Russia proper. there has
been up TO this date none OF the narrowing down
OF certain courses because they were too liberal
or Of the arbitrary selection Of professors by those
who were in no way qualified for such q task; in
fact the statutes formulated IN St Petersburg a
number OF years ago for the government OF the
universities OF Russia have never applied to the
University Of Helsingfors It IS these statutes
which have been largely at the root OF the Russian
student troubles, since they were in many ways
most obnoxious both to the students and the more
liberal professors
The university in this Finnish capital. then. has
developed on lines which both natural and
liberal and the result has been that II Is a real
centre OF progress. and one which creates an at
rnosphere around It, for the professors and IN
structors are well known in Helsingfors society,
and do much toward making the social intercourse
intellectual. The university IS cOedueatioual the
first women students having been matriculated in
1870 and il IS coeducattonaI in the best sense OF
the term There is an absolute equality among all
the students both IN theory and practice. and the
feeling of antagonsm which has shown itself
in certain American universities IS absolutely lack
ing. There is large student clubhouse. which is
used by all IN common, and the pleasant Iee4lns
OF comradeship which has always existed between
the men and women students has led to the best
results .
streets OF Helstngfors by their little Tnlte caps:
worn by both girls and Een Ihs hrsL Day OF Nay Nay
gather a beautiful park just outside the city and
ie in one ne place. and the wedsh speaking students
in another OF course. the instruction @ In the uni
obliged to learn it as II It were a tongue entirely
-O'e'sH OPENINGS FOR AMBITION
1t IS through the university and splendid schools
OF the Grand Duchy that the Firms building up
a middle class In Finland a peasant matter
how poor. may have ambitions for his children.
If the parents can scrape enough money together
send the the university, where he can
study for the ministry. the family may be lifted
10 a higher social station and If the son does
well and makes the most Of his opportunities there
free access to the best social circles OF Finland
Though the country has nobility Of IT'S own, It's
ciples the great essentials being morality and in
does not exaggerate in saying that In certain re-
spects Finland is a Utopian State.
as well fine banks. stores and hotels Three OF
the most interesfins OF the public buildings are
Clergy, Bourgeoise and Peasants The Finnish
are supposed to meet every three years the call
Of the Emperor Il is in The large Senate ate building
been enacted. for here the Senator's were Obliged
should be promulgated. The Senate Is the execu-
tive committee really. Of the four estates. and IS
session all the time to carry out the DEGREES of
Parliament and the laws Of the Grand Duchy.
MODERN IMPROVEMENT
Electric car lines thread the streets OF the Fin
nsh capital ard the little cars are ali or the most
improved type, and Immediately clean If we go
about looking for contrasts between Finland and
Russia, compare these electric trolley cars
with the antiquated and dirty g." buses OF the
Russian capital and the dapper Finnish conductor.
with a clean collar, TO the uncleanly specimen OF
humanity who collects the fares in Russia Every
where we can note these little differences. Go
into a bank in Helsing1ors. and the chances
that you viii receive the most prompt attention.