The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-01-04
A TOUR OF FINLAND.
Interesting Observations on the Man.
 nerS of the People.

Interesting Observations on the Man.
 ners of the People.
 Those who may still be under the de-
 fusion that Finland Is a sort of swamp
 of tar and timber, pervaded with an
 odor of fish oil, should read Harry de
 Windt's Finland as It Is," just pub-
 lished by MT. Murray. The Grand 1 Duchy--as everybody who has travelled
 in it can testify-is one of the most at
 tractive and advanced countries in Flu
 rope. Much of it's scenery is lovely in
 the extreme. The country is a sports
 mans paradise. It is within easy reach
 and its railway fares are the cheapest | in the world Says our author: You may obtain a circular ticket over the whole Finnish railway system for
 about 30 shillings. and thus travel sev- enteen hundred miles for the prices of
 return ticket between London and Hastings" It is an instance of the irony of history that the Grand Duchy of Finland, robbed of its Home Rule in
 dependence in February, 1899, should at
 this time, in respect of education, in- telligence, industry, character, the arts and the graces of civilized life, be far
 ahead of the Empire into which it has
 been absorbed. Finland prospered
 greatly under the Home Rule system
 granted to it in perpetu'ty by Alexan-
 der I. in 1899, the year of it's annexation
 to the Russian Empire. Nicholas I. as
 sailed the liberties guaranteed to the
 Films, and retrogresson set in. Re
 viyal followed the restoration of old
 rights by Alexander II. and his success sors. Nicholas II. has completed the
 work begun by the first of his name. And one of the results has been an in- creased volume of emigration to Amer ica. It is a sad story this trampling upon the liberties of little nation of between two and three millions, who have been the most loyal of the Czar's subjects. Race hatred is now seen to be one of the fruits of the manifesto of 1899. Russians in Helsingfors are rig orousIy excluded from social functions, or from any entertainments organized by Finlanders." MT. De Windt repeats a story, which we have heard before. to the effect that "at a ball recently given by the Governor of Finland. General Bobrikoff, on the occasion of his daughters birthday, that young lady was compelled to sit out the whole eve hing, and eventually retired in tears from the ballroom.' Helsingfors, the capital of Finland, is one of the most fascinating places in Europe. The au- thor Is enthusiastic in his praises of the beauty. enterprise, and culture of this slunlles Finnish city. Helsingfors has its university, with a thousand students including women. Many of these wo- men students have graduated in sci ence, art and medicine.
 Tt seemed strange at first to see young girls walking about in white vel vet caps, like those worn by the stu dents at Bonn and Heidelberg, but the women of Finland have reached a stage of emancipation as yet unknown in any other country. They have, it Is true, no political rights. but are frequently em- ployed Government service, while as regards mental and even physical em- ployn1ent there Is very little difference here between the sexes. The women here are certainly as well, if not bet ter, educated than those of any other | European country. They are well-read, | musical and artistic, generally ac- ! luainted with two or three languages, | and thoroughly posted In the home and l foreign topics of the day.
 However, the case with which divorce | nay be procured in Finland is worthy | If the most "advanced' of American | States. If the husband disappears for year the wife has simply to advertise Or him thrice In the papers, whereaf- er, if there be no response, she is free o remarry. The same law holds good n the case of a deserted husband. Our iuthor who is benevolently desirous of health and pleasure seekers o play ground that is all but un- rodden, supplies an appendix contain ng references to hotels, as well as to ,laces of business and depots for sport ng equipments. It will astonish most ,eople to learn how variously and com- ,leteIy the smaller Finnish towns are provided with the requisites and even he luxuries of the civilized West. Hell ingfors is sort of miniature Paris. In he little town of Vasa the shops are good, far better than those sually found in an English town of the anne size and importance. Tn the prin ipal streets you may purchase any, hing from an automobile down to a elluloid collar as easily as in London r New York, and at much the same rice.'' The touring agencies of England have ot established themselves in Finland, ut in Helsingfors there is a native ody known as the Finnish Tourist ssociation," especially organized for ne guidance of foreign travelers-Lon- on News.