Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1902-07-03
Sweden and The Swedes

world; of these five million still
remain in Sweden.
The number of marriages is
diminished in late years, not
because of economic conditions but
because of larger demands socially.
A child in Sweden may look for
ward to a life of so years, while in
England, where health conditions
are next best, a generation attains
the age of 46 years.
Sweden is now the Oldest remain
ing kingdom of the civilized
countries of Europe. 1t has never
been subjected to foreign tyranny.
Casual tyrants it has had for short
periods only.
National property and treasury
deposits are so large, that if an
increase continues as in the past,
Sweden will soon be rich country.
Its constitution is the only one in
Europe, with the possible exception
of England's, that has had it's birth
and development in independence
aud has not been produced because
ofpressure fromforeign innovations.
There is not ahead of any nation
so beloved by its people as Oscar II.
Others live and move surrounded
by police guard, but King Oscar
goes unattended in and out among
his people, in the streets and
market-places or out into the fields
and woods, without the slightest
fear of getting hurt by any one of
his subjects.
The parliament, or riksdag,
consists of two legislative bodies.
To one of these only rich persons,
with an annual income of at least
1000 kronor or eligible. They pay
their own expenses and receive no
pay. The members of the other
division get their travelling expenses
paid and receive pay of 10 kronor
per day. These two bodies make
and modify all laws, which after
wards are submitted to the king
for signature.
Laws are made slowly, but they
tend to protect the interests of the
common people. In judicial
matters. a person, however poor,
has recourse to the courts, the last
being that of the king himself.
Crime and laWlessness is
diminished more and more every
year. The jails are kept in good
condition, but are so little used
that, perhaps, in the future. they
may be used for educational
purposes.
The religious conditions are very
favorable. The transition from
paganism to Christianity and later
Catholicism to Professionalism was
voluntary and conclusive. Conse-
quently Christianity has taken deep
root among the people. Work
along temperance lines is also
progressing. In respect to her
public school system, Sweden is
ahead of the rest of Europe; the
quality of teaching is also univer-
sally acknowledged to be foremost.
Our sloyd is known and taught to
people of many nations. CThe
doctor mentioned a long list of
Spewish philosophers, scientists and
astronomers.
Chemistry knows of seventy-fve
elements; of these, twenty were
discovered by Swedes.
The thermometer that is used in
all countries except England and
America, where Fahrenheit is used,
and which nationally puts the
freezing point at zero and the
boiling point at 100 degrees, was
made by and named after the Swede,
Carl Celsius. Fahrenheit put the
freezing point at 80 degrees and the
boiling point at 212 degrees, but
where he got the 80 | don't
understand.
Sweden harvests annually 434
Kilograms of grain per inhabitant,
Western Europe 276, and America
404. Potatoes yield annually in
Sweden 2S6 kilo, in America rs
and in Western Europe 307. For
one thousand inhabitants there are
in Sweden $50 milch, COWS in
Western Europe $50, in America
210. OF beef cattle for the same
population there are in Sweden 100,
in Western Europe $50, in America
$40.
The mining resources in Sweden
are exceptionally large. In one
place one million tons of ore per
year may be mined for 600 years
before level ground is reached and
shafts need be built. The discovery
of dynamite by q Swede has made
mining easy. An abundance of
nature water power helps the
development of all industries.