New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-25
FINLAND.
A USEFUL BOOK ON AN UNFAMILIAR
SUBJECT.

FINLAND: ITS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EC On
lessor of Political Economy and Finance in the
University Of Copenhasen- octave PIP A. '0'
Longmans, Green d Co.
Since the union of Finland with Russia, for
eien observers have naturally felt keener
curiosity as TO conditions in the former country
Professor Frederiksen gives in this book an &C
count of it which is exceedingly suggestive he
writes with some patriotic fervor. ana We sus-
r,ect vein Of bitterness beneath more than one
massage relating to matters which nave peeh
affected or promise to be affected by Russian
intervention But in the main he conhnes hiiii-
self TO a straightforward narrative OF 1acls
Finland owes much, he informs us, TO the peas
ant farmers, who cultivate great deal OF 'ne
land in small holdings The greater part Of the
country however is not adapted for agriculture
and while this pursuit must always play a sub
s+sntial mart in the history Of the nation there
&c easing activity in the export OF timber
Finland being rich in forests-and under pro-
tective tariff manufacturing industries are De
ing rapidly developed. The author quotes hs
rres TO support his contention, and gives CHAP
Ter and verse likewise for his favorable account
of The growth of Finnish commerce. Navigation
and fisheries The monetary system is firmly
based on the gold standard. and is furtner
strengthened by soundly administered banking
being judiciously extended. In no country IN
Furope " saws Professor Frederiksen, is the
financial situation better than in Finland Inc
country is not burdened by very heavy taxes
all public departments are we'll taken care OIL
and there is a good balance on the puose''
There are also large reserve funds OF dinerehl
kinds and the Finnish State owns considera-
HE extent Of productive properties worth sew
oral times more than the inconsderable public
frplR- rCl
for productive purposes Apart from external
dist1,ES ances the future of the country is as
sure1
The ry in our authors ointment is the pres
sure exerted from ST. Petersburg in military
matters Hitherto the national solidarity OF 'iie
Firms has been fostered by the CONSTITUTIONS
provision that only Finlanders could be flhllishi
officials Now. however, Russian off1cels reoeiNe
commissions in regiments. the ranks OF "hIch
viii be preferably filled up with natives OF III
land - and thereby these interlopers acquire
The rights Of Finnish citizens. Inc duthoA
breads also the compulsory enrolment OF young
Finlanders for military service in Russia Inc
Polish insurrection Of 1863 he observes. be
ran when the Russians tried TO prevent ma
tional movement and ordered that the young
men should be carried off at night for miltaIS
service in Russia. II was then that fhese young
men fed TO the woods and really rebelled' Inc
same result might not come about in flnlanu
but on the other hand. he protests that a very
,,eet number and indeed the best, of Finland's
youth would emigrate to found new fatner-
land rather than serve soldiers in the Rus-
sian arn1v" The author closes on a note Of in
tense feeling expressing keen socitude for the
future Of his country. and addressing Its Rus
sian rulers in words that have the accent OF
something like defiance in them
Justice is necessary for all social and individu-
al life for labor, capital, and for life itself
The people may suffer. but they Will not SUD
nit and II seems impossible that the proceed
ings taken by some OF the rulers IN 81 refers
burg can be continued, and that the Russian
bureaucracy can be allowed to destroy Its weak
rather suppose that the supreme rulers VIII al
last listen the demand of law, 1usice ano
wisdom. since it is evident that nobody, seasl
OF ali the Russian people. would gain pront or
honor BY breaking the law and expressing the
honest Finnish nation.
This book is devoted almost exclusively 20 the
presentation of fundamental matters of indus
try finance and politics. II contains little that
refers to the daily life of a picturesque people
But among the few notes on the more intimate
side Of Finnish civilization we find this one on
an ancient and still familiar custom:
Every Finnish family has its sauna, or bath
house II is the first place built. and the family
live in il until the rest of the house is ready
In this bath house is an oven filled with stones,
and steam is created by throwing water on
these stones. The bathers lie on large berths
under the roof. and improve the effect Of the
bath by whipping themselves with blrch tWlss
Every one takes bath Saturday night: and
during harvest time hayrnaking and forest
burning they take one every night. 1t Is COM
monty said that Englishmen and Hollanoers
are The only clean nations. The people of Fin
land are cleaner than the people of England or
Holland