Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-09-26
SWEDISH FARM LIFE IN SUMMER.
It Suggests that q the Old Time South
ern Planter.


We were met at the station and
drove in an open carriage to the house
All the surroundings are very attrac-
tive, much like England. The house
is only two rooms deep, but over loo
feet long, surrounded by large gar.
den, carefully kept, and grove OF
horse chestnuts, now in splendid
bloom. The lake is in full view. a half
mile across, large sheet of water,
fully as large as Saratoga lake or the
sea of Galilee, but more broken in its
outline. 1t is about ten miles long and
several broad. The house is probably
100 years old, only two stories, with a
high, steep roof Ceilings are low,
and all the large furniture is of the old
style so much sought for with us. But
the sofas and chairs are luxuriously
comfortable, and the whole interior
being arranged for cold climate. with
much taste as well as comfort The
farm or estate is about LOCO acres
and extends half mile to the lake,
where there is a large boat and boat
house, and all the conveniences for
sailing and fishing. This afternoon we
have been an hour or two on the water
in the yawl, an excellent boat, entire
ly safe even in rough squall do not
see how it could turn over.
Our June weather is ideal summer,
warm in sun, cool in shade. We
breakfast at half past eight, drive at
half past twelve, lunch at five, supper
at eight. All the food is well cooked
and edible; nothing like the variety of
vegetables and fruits we have, but the
only difficulty is in avoiding surfeit.
This morning | walked through an
avenue OF naples, to a neighboring
place with an attractive house and
fine grounds. In the rear is a piece of
woods, splendid beeches and other ia
miliar trees, and through it are we'll
kept walks, seats and fine views of the
lake and the surrounding country. AL
ready have list of dozen birds
| know from their relatives in America
or England Skylarks and nighting-
gales are numerous, as also crows,
swallows, flycatchers, sparrows, black
birds, magpies and several / do not
know by their names. Cuckoos are
heard throughout the day wherever
there are trees; the bird chorus is
fine, for this is the month of all others
for song.
All the farm work is conducted away
from the house, not even in sight.
Across the road are large barns, in one
Of which are several horses. Yester-
day afternoon / had my first drive in
Sweden. | sat IN the drivers seat
behind fine team of bays; the road
vas excellent, views fine all the way
rich farming country with resi-
dances at long intervals, in the midst
of large trees and towering shrub
berry; here and there all along, the
humble cottages of the laborers. We
stayed an hour at a town, walked
about the clean, attractive streets
visited the new hotel and drove home
to supper at eight o'clock in broad day
light. l can write by daylight at nine
There is but little society here
among the neighbors. Three of the
largest adjacent farms have been
bought by a syndicate, and are in the
hands of managers. On the other side
of the lake, in plain view, is very
large Castle" as they call all the
grander residences. My host leads the
life Of a southern planter in the old
days of slavery. He is on his horse
after breakfast, and rides over the
place to look after work. His "over-
seer" is in the field. where a dozen
women on their hands and knees are
wedding vast field of sugar beets,
standing behind them to observe their
industry and give encouragement per-
haps. Indoors his wife is just what a
southern lady was in Virginia before
the war. She directs the whole house
and the large and beautiful garden;
drives out in her phaeton in the after
noon, with coachman holding the
reins behind, sitting in a rumble. My
host, in neighborhood affairs, is Just
like the country gentleman In story
books. My Swedish friend is anxious
that should have a good time daily.
His mother died when he was quite
small, and he was brought up by his
aunt, who seems tenderly attached to
him and also to her sister. Indeed,
family affection, hearty and demon
strative, is characteristic of this peo-
pie. They talk and laugh incessant-
ly at table, and | wonder what it can
all be, to last so long and so jovially.
My first Sunday was lovely, cool.
sunny day. nearly all day out OIL doors,
sermons in stones, ETC." All the men
went fishing in the morning, and
brought home seven fine fish, enough
for supper. In the afternoon all the
family went out for long drive.
This gave me day of real rest, which
is to me the greatest of all consola-
tons in the absence of real work.
| see that Augustus" has been max
ing hay. Our hay harvest here is at
its height. They cut and rake with
American machines, but women and
men with pitchforks pile it into cocks
and then pile 1t on to wagons and then
pile it into the great barns. put the
women first, for they are the most