The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-04-24
ABOUT SWEDEN.
Mrs. Sina Jacobs Writes of Her
BirthIand.

Mrs. Sina Jacobs Writes of Her
BirthIand.
A while ago when was visiting a
lady friend in Aberdeen, she said to
me: "When you write another time
1 for the ABERDEEN DEMOCRAT, will
you not tell US something about your
native land, Sweden?" And | said:
aWith pleasure, if yc editor is will
ing" Ofcourse, it can be but very
condensed information, and il the
statistical part of it does not tally
with those of later days, please bear
in mind that it is forty years past
since I studied geography.
Sweden is the largest of the three
different Kingdoms that we know
under the collective name Of Scandi-
snAyia. The other two are Norway
and Denmark. Sweden extends about
1000 English miles north and south
4 so when in wintertime the mercury
sometimes freezes in the north, the
southern part is very mild in climate,
/. and when, in the short summer days,
in the north the barley hardly gets
time toSripen, we find grapes, apricots
and mulberry trees outdoors in Stiane
the richest and sunnlest part OF the
kingdom. In the north the border
land is Russia, Finland, with the
esi1e;;is i1e;;is river aiss d boundary line.
Inthe west, it is separated from Nor
way by d mountain ridge enamed Kolen
and then it's shores are washed by bays
formed by the North Sea and named
Cattegat and Skager Rack. The little
strait of Oresund separats Sweden
from Denmark in the southwest and
east and south Sweden is bounded
by the Baltic Sea. But great steamers
cross that sea and thus Sweden is in
daily communication with its neigh
bors east and south, Russia and Ger
many.
Sweden's population is perhaps
about five million people. Thousands
of them migrate yearly tothe United
States, mostly to escape the grinding
taxes and the law that makes every
able bodied man a soldier from the
age Of twentyy-one to the ageof forty
e FIVE in case of war, and in times of
tS9iy IA tisstt pass, SIS three years in
s snecassions ninety dayS in enforced
military drill.
Sweden is very mountainous and
then the greater part is taken up by
lakes and big pine forests; only in the
south are there woodlands of birch
and beech. But it is beautiful.
Twenty years have passed, since the
writer left its rocky shores, but still
my eyes are filed with tears Of long
ing. Once more would / listen to the
song of the wind in the majestic pines
and TO the roar of the mighty torrents
as they dash over the cliffs We have
a miniture Niagara at the Gotta river.
1t is beautiful to stand on the sway
ing bridge below the falls, where the
sprays wet your face. The Swedish
name of these falls is Trollhattan.
But you can understand that in
sucll3a country. farming can not be
the main support for those that live
there. SO there are all kinds of indus
trial enterprises carried on. Fore
mostsare the irenworks in all think
able ways of use besides all that is
exported in its crude state. Tt is the
same with timber. There is also
much weaving done. The Norrland
linensis World-famed for it's fineness.
In one of the cities in the middle
part OF Sweden, Wadatena, still
exists the industry of lace-making.
The nuns taught the women hun
dreds of years ago, when the state
religion was Catholic. Today it is
the Lutheran church that is the state
church, but any religious faith is free
to build it's own church if So desired
andgof late the Catholics have once
more begun to get converts among
! the people.
The national characteristic Of the
s;Swedes is their good nature. They
are also ious They have also,
their traits that are less good.
Many Of their men like whiskey a.
little too much, but have seen that
occur even here. They also admire
everything foreign very much. Thus.
their SWed friends are
made much Of when they sometimes
visit 1.-THE old country. Therefore
many young men go to Sweden from
here to pass the tedious winter Id
peace and plenty. 49,
In the way Of educating It's people,
Sweden stands high. Every child
there about 2 years Ole, can read and
write and the children are compelled
by law to attend the free school until
the age OF IA Then there are private
schools, high schools, and two RoyaI