Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1907-08-22
FRANK NlKLASON HOME
Arrived Sunday Morning From A
Visit To His Sweden Home

On the eighteenth day of last June
f. o. Niklason left Audubon for his
first visit to his home in the old coun-
try after an absence of twenty-five
years, and he landed here on the eigh-
teenth day of August, having been
away exactly two months. He returns
very much delighted with his trip and
it is worth as much as Chautauqua
lecture to hear him tell his experience.
When he came to this country he was
but boy fifteen years of age and
great changes have happened since
then both in himself and the scenes of
his youth. His visit was surprise
to all his people, even to his sisters
who live in New York City. He had
been away so long that his parents
had but little hope of ever seeing him
again. When he arrived in the little
town he was able to single out one
large store building among the many
changes that had occurred. In short
time he noticed man on lumber
wagon driving up the street and in the
driver recognized his father who fail
ed to recognize his son even after talk
ing to him for awhile until he made
himself known. AT the country home
he was welcomed by an overjoyed
mother who had hoped and prayed for
many years that she might once more
see her first born son who had wan
dered into this far country and mar
ried an American woman. He also had
the pleasure of meeting a sister eigh-
teen years of age and brother twelve
who were born since he left home.
The trip across the Atlantic was ex-
ceedinglypleasant and he got through
without any sickness whatever, but
when he started back he had an attack
that made him doubtful about ever
greeting his family in Audubon again.
One of the incidents by the way was
the jumping overheard of q stoker
from the furnace room below, the stop
ping of the ship and the sending out
of life boat for his rescue. One of
the peculiarities Of the homeland is
the custom of eating six times day.
Rising about six o'clock in the morn
ing they have coffee and cake. About
nine they have breakfast About elev-
en-, coffee and lunch. About two the
regular dinner. About five coffee and
lunch again and along about nine
comes their supper They like coffee
but they have that with their
luncheon and not at regular meals.
When we think oftheir eatingso many
times day we must remember that
their days are pretty long up there
where the sun rises at two inthe morn
ing and sets at ten at night; and they
have twilight between so that at mid
night Mr.. Niklason could see the homes
of all their neighbors in the country
and it is light enough to work in the
Of inht ha
good things to eat he spoke particu-
ious butter and eggs and bacon such
as he has never had in any other
land. He found the country in pros
porous condition, with good crops,
plenty of work and high wages. 1t is
very difficult to get hands to do the
work ever at big wages. They have
lost so many by emigration to Amer
lea; and now many of the young men
who will soon be twenty-one are leav-
ing the country to avoid spending
three years in the army. The prices
of stock and farm products, and
building material, including the lum-
Der are way up.
Mr.. Niklason is keen observer
and returns home with fund of in
formation about places, people and
things. One of the things he eXper-
fenced was getting shaved both in
England and Sweden. When the bar
Der is through with the razor he says
thank you and hands the customer a
towel so that he can wash his face and
come his hair before leaving the shop.
One place he found Jew who did him
up in American style as to the shave
and in Jewish style as to the price
charging fifty cents instead of twelve,
the regular price. He stopped in New
York City both going and coming and
his sister Alma, young lady of
twenty years, came with him for a Wis
it. He enjoyed his trip so much and
his visit among relatives and friends
was such a delight that he is looking
forward to going with his family be-
fore many years.