Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-03-16
GOSSIP FROM:
SCANDINAVIA

j~ensuhetta, on the Finnish Swedish
frontier, to Kokklimuodja. on the
boundary line between Sweden and
Norway, and thence thru Lapland to
the market place of Skibotten, on the
Lyngen ford, Il broad and deep arm
of the sea twenty-five miles long,
protected by high mountains and
clear from ice all the year round.
Finnish Sherit1s are in charge Of the
work. They scour the country on
skis and press every Lapp they find
into the service. offering high wages.
Russian men-of-War are patrOlling
the mouth Of the ford to discourage
the Norwegians in the neighborhood
from organizing a protest. This Rus
sian movement is Of immense politi-
cal and military importance. having
regard to no remote future. Thought
full men in the north are uneasy.
They believe the matter cannot be
ignored by the government OF the
Scandinavian Kingdoms.
The west-bound steerage rate war,
predicted recently because of the es-
adjustment Of Il new German line be-
tween New York and Scandinavian
ports. is now practically in effect and
a minimum rate of SIS has been an
nounced by the German company. \
further reduction Of s. can be OBJ
tanned by passengers willing to take
passage by Way Of Hamburg. The
rate maintained by the English com
panies has been $3.50, Four COM
panies, are directly interested in the
matter, and sharp retaliation is look
ed for.
FINLAND.
The people in the northern part
of Finland receive the news of the
defeats of the Russians in the far
East with un,lisyuised satisfaction.
Occasionally Il pious family will go
to the extent Of falling upon their
knees and thanking God for the
drubbing to which the Russians are
treated. In cases where the people
are less religiouSly inclined they
will procure the best eatableS and
drinkables that the house can afford,
and celebrate the events by 4 feast.
According to our latest advices the
Finnish troops have not yet been Or
dered out to leave for the East and
the runorS are conflicting as to the
future course of the Russian govern
ment in this respect.
\ story about the ''confiscation" of
the picture of King Oscar by the po-
lice of Helsingfors at a Scandinavian
celebration Of the birthday of the
king, needs Il slight revision. In the
first place the society that arranged
for the celebration failed to comply
with the ordinances, which provides
that the authorities shall be petition
ed for permission to decorate public
halls; and in the second place the
decorations We're left on the walls
for two days. until the police finally
took them down. The police did not
interfere at all during the festival.
1t must be added that the celebration
took place in the public hall of the
fire department.
SWEDEN.
When the steamer Xenia was
grounded near Trelleborg. four men
who were supposed to be Russian
dock laborerS were found slowed
away in a coal-bunker. Nobody could
account for them. and nobody took
pains to find ont where they went
after they landed. Later on, how
ever, one Of them acted in such Il
peculiar manner that he was sus-
pected Of being spy.
The Svalof seed company has sent
a choice collection of so different
kinds of seed to the botanical mu-
scum Of the university of Norway.
Among the samples was package of
grain produced by the crossing of
wheat and rye.
The Swedish public seems to have
been laboring under the impression
that rails break more frequently on
the Swedish railways than else
where, but recent Investigations have
demonstrated that the breaking of
rails is much more frequent in Ger
many and Denmark than in Sweden,
While in the latter country and Eng
land the percentage is about the
same.
King Oscar left Stockholm for Alb
azzia, on the Adriatic sea, Feb. 21.
The queen had gone there before,
and on the above date she took her
first carriage ride through the coun-
try around Abazzia.
Mr.. Pellerin of Gothenburg has
donated SG,75O to the Swedish soce-
ty for the combating of tuberculo-
sis.
Col. Claes Bratt has written book
in which he argues at length in favor
of Matchmaking the national re-
sources of Sweden. No abrupt
change is necessary. he says. The
government of Sweden already owns
vast tracts Of land, and gradual
extension Of the present system will
lead to the result advocated by Col.
Brat. The press is devoting much
space to the new book.
King Oscar has donated $3.50. to
oscar lis Chair" ut Augustana Col
lege, Rock Island, Ill.,
The Kville parsonage, Bohus Ian,
was destroyed by fire. The old
archives were lost, but the records of
later years were saved.
A professor and physician have
published pamphlet exposing the
worthless, and sometimes injurious,
qualities of quack medicines sold in
Sweden.
If the new translation of the Bible
is authorized as the Bible of the
church of Sweden it may be called
Oscar lis Bible, as the versions of
1871 and 1903 were called 'Gustaf rs
Bible" and "Charles Mis- Bible" re-
spectively.