Morris tribune., 1908-12-12
1IDINGS FROM
SCANDINAVIA
News Of General Interest
from Three Countries.
SWEDEN, NORWAY, DENMARK

Renewal of Efforts to Induce Swedes
to Return to the Mother Country
What an Be Done to Preserve SWed-
ish Culture in America? ?-king and
Queen Of Norway to Finance the
Amundsen North Polar Expedition.
SWEDEN.
Says Washington dispatch bearing
date of Nov. 80: Renewal of the dis.
cussion about inducing Swedes to re.
turn to their native country was made
here few days by Nils Lundgren.
prominent Swedish manufacturer OF
Stockholm. He claims that the states.
men and political leaders in Sweden
are not discouraged by the failure OF
Minister Lagerkrantz, but are starting
out on new lines to prevent the alb
sorption of the Swedish by this coun
try. The central idea of the plan is
to induce the Swedes to remain
SWedes when they arrive in America
and thus they will be inclined to re,
turn to the mother country of theil
own accord. The first step to pro
mote the. plan has been taken by the
press said Mr.. Lundgren. The Stock
holm papers, especially the Stockholm
Dagblad, sent the inquiry to large
number of Swedish-Americans, asking
what could be done to preserve Swed.
ish culture in America, and how the
bonds between the Swedes in Ameri
Ca and the mother country could be
strengthened Three of the most in
teresting answers were sent by Swed
ish-Americans of national reputation.
including former Governor John Lind,
of Minnesota; A. 0. Eberhardt, pres
ent lieutenant governor of Minnesota,
and DR.. Eric Norelius, president of the
Augustana synod. Mr.. Lind wrote
that he regarded the effort suggested
as ideal, but that he did not expect
any permanent result of work OF
that character. Lieutenant Governor
Eberhardt recommended the recogni,
ton and use of the Swedish language
and literature in the American high
schools, a better understanding and
encouragement of the Swedish-Ameri,
can press, an effort to stimulate inter
est in Swedish folk and national songs
among Swedish-Americans in the po
litical development Of America. The
Rev. DR.. Norelius wrote that he COM
mended in America Swedish.
American culture, not Swedish, not
American, but blending of both" So
far for the Washington dispatch.
While determined efforts are still be.
ing made in Sweden to induce Swed,
ish-Amricans to return, it is noticeable
that Swedish holiday excursions are
growing larger from America every
year. But few if any of them remain
over there. They merely go there to
visit and as rule not only return to
their homes and avocations in Ameri.
ca, but induce others to go with them,
who in their turn make the same holi-
day trip to Sweden some years after
their arrival here to visit some good
old father or mother or sweetheart,
who was left behind. The fact that
Swedish-American holiday excursions
are growing larger year from year
only goes to show that Swedish-Amer
leans in this country, are getting more
prosperous and more in love with
American institutions. else they
would not visit the old homeland to
tell about it and return again to their
land of adoption. The attempt of
Swedish leaders to induce Swedish.
Americans to return to their mother
land has proven distinct failure and
even taxes the pride among patriotic
Swedes, who dwell in land that they
have learned to love as much as their
own.
Queen Victoria entertained the blind
children of Stockholm at the palace
prior to her departure to England. The
unfortunate little ones all came away
from their genial hostess with well
filled stomachs and purses. The pres.
ent queen. like her royal mother-in-
law, Queen Sofia, is very charitably in
clined and whenever she finds time
she will visit the poor in all sections
of the city and has donated large
sums of money to charity institutions
all over the country.
The commercial connections be,
tween Swden and the Argentine Re.
public are the very best at present
and the outlook for the future is very
encouraging. There is good market
for Swedish lumber, paper, safety
matches and various other commodi-
ties in Argentine. Swedish exports to
that country have been on steady in.
crease during the past few years.
thanks to the johnson Steamship com
pany. whose steamers ply between
Swedish and Argentine ports.
Fifty years ago there were 100000
tenant farmers in Sweden. and at the
close of the nineteenth century there
were only $4,000, which goes to show
that the number is constantly de-
creasing, and at the present rate this
riocr IF fory,orc will pacc ourox, ~, 49,,