Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-10-11
Recent Occurrences of Interest
in Sweden, Norway and
Denmark.
BRYAN's VISIT TO KING OsCAE
American Gives His Impressions nj
the Ruler of the Swed-
tsh Nation.
SWEDEN.
Stockholm.

III LIS NtthtH ltlttl w tut thiNoS
Daily News, Mr.. W. j. Bryan gives
the following characterization of King
oscar. "By the courtesy of the Am
erican minister. Colonel Graves, ! had
an opportunity to pay my respects to
King Oscar III. | was glad TO do so
for two reasons; first because SO many
of his former subjects have become
American citizens; and second, he.
cause of the honorable part which he
played in the recent crisis which re.
suited In the separation Of Sweden
and Norway He is of powerful frame,
and though II years old, would pass
for a much younger man. He has a
kindly face and rides about the city
without a guard. A more ambitious
monarch would have met Norway's
demand with armed resistance, but he,
recognizing that the holding Of Nor
way against the will Of the people
would involve his country In perpetual
strife, advocated a peaceful separation
provided the people of Norway asked
for it in unmistakable terms. For thirty
years he had been the sovereign of
both. and in his old age he could not
bear TO see the two countries engaged
In a bloody conflict. He Is just now
criticised by some who did not be-
come sanguinary until all prospect of
war was past, but he has the con-
ISOLATION Of knowing that his critics
are not only alive but have no dead
relatives to mourn. Had he plunged
his country into war, his critics could
remind him of vacant chairs at the
nreside. King Oscar has in a most
practical way proved himself to be a
promoter Of peace and as such de-
serves the prize provided by that
great Swedish chemist, Alfred Nobel.
BY giving conspicuous approval to nis
course. the trustees of the Nobel fund
may be able to encourage other sover,
eigns to initiate him." s
William Jennings Bryan pays the
following tribute to Sweden's educa-
t!onal system: Sweden was a pioneer
In the matter of universal education
and has at Upsala a state university
founded In 1477-ffteen years before
Columbus sailed for America. She has
also had a college OF medicine for
more than a hundred years and her
sons have taken high rank in all the
departments Of science. Her grammar
schools u back to the time Of Gus
tavus Adolphus and her common
school system Is almost as old. She
has given to the world, among other
things, the sloyd system of teaching,
which combines manual training with
mental instruction. Sweden has
shown by her prominence in literature.
science, art and music that the higher
attitudes do not chill the Imagination
or repress genius, and yet the country
Is even more noted for the high aver
age Of intelligence among the people
than for the extraordinary accomplish
ments Of a few. The Swedish lam
guage contains so many words that
resemble the English that the Swedish
newspaper looks much more familiar
than the Greek or the Russian, but
1t is not always safe to rely upon the
similarity in spelling. For instance,
rum means room, and when 1t ap-
pears in a window or on a door, It is
only an innocent nnouncemen that
the travellers can find accommodation
within. The word bad means bath,
and bad rum therefore, Is a familiar
sign In hotels"
On account Of the tone adopted by
certain Swedish newspapers the Cen
trail Athletic club Of Christiania has
withdrawn the appropriations for
travelling expenses Of It's members
who were entered for the international
sports at Stockholm. Stockholm's
Dagblad upon learning that the Nor
wegian athletes had accepted the in
vitation Of Almanna Idrotts- Klubben
advised them to remain at home. as
their appearance in Stockholm might
demonstrations. Much
surprised yer such statements the
N~orwegians made further inquiries
and were assured by the prospective
hosts that IL the invitation was re-
fused 1t would be considered discourte-
Gus. Stockholm's Dagblad thereupon
that the Swedish athletes
naturally would receive their guests
with all due courtesy, but that it
feared that the Swedish chauvinists
would make demonstrations. Having
been advised in advance that they
would not be entirely welcome the ar
raugements for sending a team to
Stockholm has. according to latest re-
ports, been dropped by the Nor
wegians.
The American tobacco trust has
bought all the stock In the Orient
cigarette factory in Stockholm. This
Is the first appearance Of the big trust
in Sweden and the cigarmakers and
~tobacconists are a little apprehensive
over what may happen.
Moeller de Berg has come TO Scandi-
navia from Uruguay as the minister Of
that country to Sweden and Norway.
He will also be consul general at
Christiania, where he will make his
home and Official headquarters.
According to vart Land, the min
lister of agriculture has been empow-
cred by the government to appoint a