The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-09-11
STOCKHOLM is CALLED
VENICE OF THE NORTH
BY PAUL PRY.

Stockholm, August 1--WE finished our
visit to Norway and Sweden at Stock
holm thereby saving the best until the
last, for Sweden's capital is one of the
most attractive of European cities. and
old travellers say that its situation is the
most beautiful in Europe after Constanti-
nople. 1t is called the Venice of the
North as it's situation on seven islands
dn Lake Molar and the Baltic sea. Joined
as they are by handsome bridges. gives
idt the same appearance.
A view of the entire city from a tower
lift afforded splendid idea Of the beauty
and extent of the city. 1t has a popula-
ton of 2Io,0OO and is an up-to-date city
iMevery way. While the Norwegian lam
guage is spoken here also German is
mere readily understood, and many of
the words here have closer resemblance
to the German language.
There are more tourists here than we
have met elsewhere in Scandinavia, as
unany take the trip from here direct to
Russia.
1t is something remarkable how thor
oughly Americans enjoy visiting royal
palaces abroad. No doubt, it is because
I'VE are denied such experiences at home
and the novelty of the thing is appealing
So to the Kings palace we went first
in our round of the sights. 1t is just
across an arm of the lake from our ho-
tel and is one of the largest as well as
the most elaborate royal residences in
Europe. The terrace along the junction
of lake and sea is very beautiful being
similar to the terraces of the houses of
parliament in London. We not only saw
The state apartments, but the private
apartments of King Oscar. his Queen
and also of the Crown Prince 1t seems
that Crown Prince Gustav has royal res
idence of his own but 1t is occupied by
his two sons and he lives most sumpt-
ousy in the left wing of the kings pal
ace.
1t is said that the Norwegians like
England and drink tea; the Swedes like
France. and drink coffee, and this affin-
.ty with the French is noticeable In many
ways. M doubt though, ii is largely due
to the personality of Bernadotte one of
Napoleon's marshals, who was adopted
as Crown Prince by old Charles XIII OF
Sweden. who subsequently became Charles
XIV of Sweden in 1918, and so became
THE founder Of the present dynasty. As
crown prince he did not hesitate to turn
his arms against his native. land and in
Joining the allies gave invaluable assist
ance on account of his previous know
ledge of Napoleon's methods. His son.
Oscar the First married the granddaugh-
ter of Josephine, so that the portraits Of
the royal family Of France as well as
many rich gifts adorn the rooms of the
palace
/ believe though that our greatest In
terest centered around the liberty loving
warrior Gustavus Adolphus and his tomb
In the Ridderholm's kirche-the Knight
church--is, most impressive. 1t is sur
rounded by hundreds of flags and col
ors taken by his soldiers during the
memorable 30 years war in Germany
popularity known as the war between
the protestants and catholic but which
stood for liberty.
At the library we saw an interesting
relic of this war called THE Devils BIZ
ble" 1t was brought here by the sol
Giers Of Gustavus Adolpus from Prague,
but the volume is over a thousand years
old story runs that monk of old
claimed that he could make copy of
this big bible in one night and another
monk wagered that he could not. So
the devil helped the monk to make the
copy as he boosted he could do and in