The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1901-10-18
WOMEN OF SWDEN.

William E. Curtis, the Record
Heralds correspondent who has
been in Sweden recently, pays a
glowing tri bute to the women of
that country as follows:
cannot close this series of letters
without offering an humble offering
and sincere tribute of respect and
admiration to the women of Sweden
wherever you find them-iq the
kitchen, the factory, the harvest
field, the hospital the school-house,
the drawing room, OF the palace.
They are good mothers, good daugh
ters and good wives, and while their
devotions to their SONS, husbands
and fathers is not surpassed by their
sister in any land, they are at the
same time independent, Selfreliant
and progressive to Il degree that
offers a striking contrast to the re-
representatives. Of their sex in the
other countries Of Europe. They
give their best talents, affections
and strength; they ask the same III
return.
There is no country, not even the
United States, where women eNer-
else a wider influence, both direct
and indirect, in the home, the
school, the church, upon the plat
form and in the press. Their is no
other country in which the profess
siOns, trades are SO free to them. or
in which their opportunities ire
utilized with greater zeal, ability
and success. They work side by side
with men upon the farms, in the
factories, in mercantile establish
ments, counting houses, government
Offices and in art science and lItrra-
trl'e, and are equally capable, al
though, as in other lands, their pay
for the same labor and equal !: Tits
is less.
From the time that Margct Lars
sen saved G11tavNs Nas;l from capt
ure l,y tie Dani~7. soldiers by h":ing
him in the cellar, the wulr il Of
Sweden have exercised a powerful
influence in politics, although il has
been indirect, and the ablcSt Ind
most progressive today refer that
thivrs present policies, political ron-
ditOns shall remain unchanged.
They do not think it wise to rNrend
the franchise any farther for fear
that universal suffrage will result
in the corruption Of national j'rtitics,
which is now comparatively pure
They prefer the present restriction,
which give the ballot only to women
who pay taxes, because it deprives
ignorant and incompetent Of a voice
in the government and avoids the
dangers that often attend the parti-
icipation 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 as men for the
same work, and hope to accomplish
practical results by educating public
sentiment and bringing moral pres
sure to bear on employers.
Speaking on this subject an emil
nent Swedish writer says: In the
energetic campaign for the better
ment of the condition of women the
Swedes have taken first place among
the European nations. If one seeks
the cause Of it it is found in part in
the fact that in Sweden, since the
remotest time, women have 0joyed
a respect greater than most of the
countries, but with out doubt that
it is also due to the superiority Of
the intellect judgement and wisdom
Of Swedish women, and in late1
years to tho numerical excess Of
women in our population. This hss