Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-04
SWEDEN ALARMED.
Seeking to Check the Rush Of
Emigrants to America.
America Welcomes Them and They
are Glad to Come.
The Way Stereoptiean Lecturer Shows
Charms Of the New World.


dish government into the subject of
the alarming increase of emigration 20
America has disclosed some interest
ing and amusing facts never before
brought to the attention OF the au-
thorities. Prompt action in the shape
Of bounties to discourage aSriculturists
or other concessions will he taken by
the government in an endeavor to
stem the tide of emigration. The
thousands of abandoned farms in what
was formerly the garden of Sweden
presented n most melancholy spectacle
the past summer. Wayside inns that
formerly tbrived from the trade of the
farming population have closed their
doors by the hundreds. About year
ago the attention of the government
was directed to this deplorable state
of affairs in certain rural districts
which. it was foreseen, could not long
continue without eXerting a harmful
effect upon the entire country, and
a commission was appointed TO deter
mine the causes and report as to the
remedy, if any. The commission found
that the wholesale emigration from
certain districts was the 'esult of the
efforts made by American agents who
have land to sell in the Northwestern
states. An order was issued. accord
ingly. prohibiting them from plying
their business and agents of the gov
eminent were sent into the country to
urge the inhabitants to stay at home
and to bear them assurances of every
official assistance to prosperity.
Notwithstanding these efforts of the
government it was reported to the
minister of the interior that the emf
grafton, instead of diminishing, was
increasing, and that entire villages had
been abandoned. The case of one
hamlet was cited, whose inhabitants,
some 300 in number, had packed ur
their belongings and disappeared in q
single night. Journeying to Liverpool,
England, they all took passage tcgeth-
er on a steamer bound for Boston. In
curing into the reason for this sud-
den and remarkable case of Wholesale
disappearance government inspectors
turned w an odd story Although ev-
cry fence post in the community bore
. great poster announcing in glaring
letters that American emigration
agents would operate there at the risk
of arrest and Imprisonment a smooth
stranger came to town one morning
and calmly went to work with paste
brush and bills to 10 a little addi-
tional landscape decorating. The bills
which were printed in Swedish, OF
course, announced Il free Stereopti-
con lecture" to be given in the Town
Hall that evening. The advertised
| subject of the lecture was The Scenic
Wonders of America" and the lectur-
or was described as a former resident
of Sweden and a native who, having
nothing better to do, his fortune being
| made in the country across the sea
| had come back to the fatherland to
| amuse and instruct his former fellow
| countrymen.
During the day the lecturer circulat-
| ed freely among the villagers. He sat
in the postoffice and general store and
| listened to the conversation OF the lazy
loungers. He asked question now
and then as to the Whereabouts o!
| those few natives OF the place who
had been brave enough to sever home
| ties and emigrate to America. Then
he went to the hall to fix up his Ian
| tern and make necessary arrange
| ments for the lecture.
The lecture was announced 20 begin
at o'clock for folk in this quarter Of
the world to go to bed early. Before :
the little hall was damned. There was
not nearly enough room for all the
people Of the village, but the latecor,
ers. unable to obtain even standing
room, did not so home, but waited out
side under the open windows. where
If they could not see the pictures, they
could catch n word now and then and
feel that they were ut least not miss
ing the entire show. Prompt to the
lappOinted time the lecturer came upon
the stage. behind which was stretched
the customary white sheet for the lam
tern pictures. His assistant i'll the gal
lery operated the stereopticon. while
the lecturer. with the aid OF long
pointer, explained the works of art
thrown upon the screen Views of the
Rocky Mountains. Niagara. the grea,
lakes and other scenic wonders were
first displayed to the astonishment OF
the supplemented villagers.
Then the lecturer flashed a picture
showing a typical farm scene ia Wis
consin. In the foreground was seen a
fine old mansion with gabled roof. bay
windows, broad piaZzas. Everything
about the house was portrayed except
the mortgage. Spacious we'll kept
grounds led down to a macadamiz
roadway. Stretching away in per.
lspective could be seen broad acres
where fat herds and flocks were con.
itentedly grazing. On the ground lay
huge piles of mammoth pumpkins anG
bushels upon bushels of apples anG
POTATOES. Other prize agriculture
products were scattered about in care
less profusion. On the front porch
smoking a meerschaum pipe and read
ing a newspaper. sat stout Jolly
looking old farmer. By his side, busy
with her knitting, sat his buxom wife
Half dozen healthy children We're
having a froiic with a St. Bernard dog
On the front steps. The scene was en-
titled Prosperity of the Farmer ir
America" AS these successive beauties
we're explained for their dull compre-
hension the spectators opened their
eyes and mouths in undisguised won
der. But the climax was yet to come.
''Oh, by the way" remarked the lee
turer. carelessly. do you observe the
| gentleman farmer sitting there in ease