The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-24
Celebration Of
Runeberg S Birthday
at Hezsingfors.

a lady in HelSingforS writes TO a
friend in Richmond the following &C
count of the celebration. on the 9TH inst,
at Helsinefors, Finland, of the birthday
of the Poet RuneDerS:
Il wish you could have seen our lit
tie Helsingfors yesterday-February 9TH
The day was one of our greatest days
the birthday OF John Ludwig Runeberg.
the beloved poet, and as such It is kept
in great honor. All of our schools all
over the country have a holiday, most
of the shops are shut a noon and thous-
ands of people assemble round his statue
in the esplanade TO listen to the national
songs. The students sing, in remem-
brance of what he has done for our dear
Finland.
Zone of my cousins accompanied me
down at o'clock, so 1 heard and saw
the whole ceremony at the statue.
Beautiful flowers. with colored silk
banners had been placed at the poets
feet. and through the dense masses or
people the long procession OF the stu
dents came. slowly marching along,
headed by their respective banners. AT
the statue they stopped. The tune OF
our beloved Suomi Song" rose on the
still air. After this song two others
followed the last being .'Nart!and. sung
by everybody. the men taking off their
caps, standing bareheaded. 1t was
very pleasant to hear these voices all
mingled in one refrain and with one
heart animated by love for and reVer-
ence for our poet and our country. NO
wonder my heart beat quicker
.At night the illumination was Simply
perfect In every window with very few
axceptions) lights burned in rows one
firm had distributed lights free to the
very poor, so that even in the poorest
homes one could see the lights burning
in honor of the loved poet. The shop
windows were decorated with a picture,
or a bust of him, with flowers around
him. over colors draped in peaceful
folds around the crest of Finland. and
over and around. above ana neio". eiec-
trio lights twinkled.
s.It was indeed. a pretty sight as we
drove along about p NJ. 10 see all
these beautiful. silent demonstrations III
memory of him who gave US Vartland.
The masses We're silent now 40 music
no bands. no Gisturoance. the soit'
white snow falling on the streets nd
king the traffic noiseless. That is the
uay Finland mournS its fast-golnS IN
dependence, its laureate, its rights.
EJohn Ludwig Runeberg was born at
Iakobstad Finland. February 5th. 1904,
and died at Borga. May 9Th. 1871
He was brought up at Uleabors aHo
educated at the University of Aho. from
which he received the degree OF Doctor
of Philosophy in 1927. After the destruc-
ton by fire OF this University 1t was
removed to Helsingfors;. and Runeoers
went with it.
He was a profuse writer OF poetry
and romance and in 1913 won his great
renown by his poems about the war OF
independence III 1903. His memory Is
deeply revered by the Fins and his ma
tfonal anthem is accepted by them as
the best expression of their national as
pirations. especially since the rights and
charters of Finland kave seen recently
overthrown by Russia. and that province
which he's hitherto enjoyed a large meas
IRE of local self-government mas been
fully absorbed as part of the Russian
Empire and is governed from ST. Peters
b,lre-Editor.l