The Minneapolis journal., 1901-10-05
WOMEN OF SWEDEN
Words in Their Praise by William
E. Curtis.
GREAT POLITICAL INFLUENCE
Position in Striking Contrast With
That of Women of other
European Countries.

William q, Curtis, the Record -Herald's
correspondent who has been in Sweden re-
Gently, pays a glowing tribute to the
women of that country, as follows:
cannot close this series OF letters without
Offering an humble offering and sincere trib-
ute Of respect and admiration to the women
Of Sweden wherever you find them--in the
Etchen, the factory, the harvest field, the
hospital, the schoolhouse, the drawing room
or the palace. They are good mothers, good
daughters and good wives, and while their
devotion to their sons. husbands and fathers
IS not surpassed by their sister in any land.
they are at the same time independent, self
reliant and progressive to degree that orers
g striking contrast to the representatives OF
their sex in the other countries OF Europe.
They give their best talents. affections and
strength they ask the same in return.
There is no country, not even the United
States, where women exercise wider intlu-
ence, both direct and indirect, in the home,
the school, the church, upon the platform and
IN the press. There is no other country in
which the professions, trades and other
occupations are so free to them, or in which
their opportunities are utilized with greater
zeal, ability and success. They work side
by side with men upon the farms, in the .ac-
tories, in mercantile establishments, counting
houses, government offices and in art, science
and literature, and are equally capable, al
though, as in other lands, their pay for the
same labor and equal results is less.
From the time that Marget LARSEN saved
Gustavus Vasa from capture by the Danish
soldiers by hiding him in her cellar, the
women of Sweden have exercised power
full influence in politics, although il has been
indirect and the ablest and most progress
sive to-day prefer that their present polit-
cal condition shall remain unchanged They
do not think it wise to extend the FRANCHISE
any farther for fear that universal suffrage
will result in the corruption Of national
politics, which is now comparatively pure.
They prefer the present restrictions, which
give the ballot only to women who pay taxes,
because it deprives ignorant and incom-
petent of voice in the government and
avoids the dangers that often attend the
participation of the masses in elections. They
prefer to direct their efforts to securing an
increase in women's wages, so that they may
receive the same compensation men for
the same work, and hope to accomplish prac-
teal results BY educating public sentiment
and bringing moral pressure upon the en-
ploying class.
Speaking on this subject an eminent Swed
fish writer says: ''In the energetic cam
paign for the betterment of the condition of
women the Swedes have taken the first place
among European nations. If one seeks the
VI ~ II 10 AOuhQ III pal III tAo AaCb litslt
in Sweden since the remotest time, women
have enjoyed a respect greater than in most
of the other countries, but without doubt it
Is also due to the superiority of the intellect,
Judgment and wisdom Of Swedish women and
in later years to the numerical excess of
women in our population. This has made the
means of existence to single women a prac-
tieal problem. During the present generation
a great change has worked itself out in this
sense, that the field Of activity for women
has been greatly enlarged The activity of
women, who at other times found ample do
main in the multitude of occupations in the
domestic life, has become less important n
that respect and has grown in Importance In
the labor and occupations that in other coun-
tries are left exclusively to men,"
Affairs at Trinity.
Services in the Trinity Norwegian Lutheran
church will be conducted tomorrow by Rev
Rasmus Anderson. of La Crosse, Wis. Like
Rev. G. Rasmussen, who preached at Trinity
last Sunday, Mr.. Anderson is member of the
United Norwegian church.
The future Of the congregation is still much
in doubt. While great many members are
desirous of joining the United church, there
naturally comes from those who more
or less closely identified with Augsburg SEM
mary. That they will oppose any propo-
sition to affiliate with the United church is
accepted by all parties. The decisive test
OF strength Of the two factions will come
when an attempt to call a pastor is made
The majority say. that when a call Is ex-
tended it will be to a clergyman of the
United church. A two-thirds majority is re
quiFed by the constitution in calling a pas
Tor, and there is some doubt if the majority
can muster this strength. II
The Augsburg faction, if it may be SO
called, is employing a waiting policy, with
the hope that with Rev. NJ. Falk Gjertsen
out of the way the differences dividing the
congregation may eventually disappear.
Rev. Mr.. Rasmussen says that he conducted
the services at Trinity last Sunday at the
request of the majority of the members. AS
the congregation is an independent one, and
1s without a pastor, he felt ii his duty TO
comply with the request. Had the congrega-
don been a member of any church organiza-
tion, he would have refused He will serve
the congregation in any way he can, but
cannot with propriety preside at any of the
business meetings nor participate in any of
its affairs outside of conducting religious ser
vices