Willmar tribune., 1908-12-30

The dissolution Of the union has had
q peculiar effect upon the Swedish
people. Very many of the leading men
OF the country are more and more
strongly convinced that Sweden made
mistake when she did not put up
a stiff fight against the Norwegians
In 1905, and this sentiment is express
ed again and again in the conservative
press. On the other hand, the COM
mon people are paying less and less
attention to the matter. In labor cir
c1es the feeling between Swedes and
Norwegians is more friendly than ever
before. The Social Democrats are con-
stantly preaching that distinctions be-
tween nationalities have no place in
modern society, and thousands OF
Scandinavian laborers are ready to de-
clare that patriotism should be looked
upon asa sort of superstition.
The Danish United Steamship COM
pany's four vessels were sent last
year eight times to New York, carry
ing 1905 emigrants from Copenhagen,
of whom 7,155 were Danes, $3.50
Swedes and Films and 71O Russians,
while at the Norwegian ports, Kris
t1an1a and Kristiansand, 1910 addi-
tional emigrants were embarked.
Strong forces are at work to estab-
lish a Scandinavian-American steam
ship line, but there is considerable
opposition to the plan, especially in
Sweden. According to reports received
at the state department in Washing
ton, the arrangements for the mutual
cooperation between the Atlantic lines
are that each of the Norwegian and
Swedish companies take over one of
the Danish-American boats, Sweden
taking the Oscar II and Norway the
Hellig Olav, and, in addition, each
company will build a new boat. The
United Steamship company retains the
steamers Tietgen and the United
States. In addition. it is provided that
all three companies in common have
a reserve ship. The three companies
will belong to the North Atlantic pool,
and a uniform passenger and freight
rate has been agreed upon. This plan,
however, may possibly be frustrated
by the one proposed by Captain w. r.
Lundgren of Gothenburg for direct
Swedish American line. His plan is
to build steamers of a modern type
chiefly for passenger traffic, and Ca
pable of making at least eighteen
knots an hour and of carrying the
mails from Sweden more quickly than
at present.
DENMARK.
Many Danish steamers have been
laid off for lack of profitable employ
ment.
There will be a national art and in
dustrial exposition in Copenhagen in
1913.
Prince Harald of Denmark and
Princess Helena of Glucksborg will be
married in the early part of May, next
year.
A number Of big carpenter shops
and the only shipyard in Oddeyris, Ice
land, were destroyed by fire. The loss
is very heavy blow to the town.
A 12-year-old boy received a medal
from the government for saving the
life of smaller boy who fell into the
new harbor. But the rescuer will not
be permitted to wear his badge of
honor until he gets older
An official document issued at the
ministry of justice announces a va
cancy for the post of public execu-
toner. Although capital punishment
was never abolished in Denmark, it
had fallen into disuse, the crown al
ways availing itself of the preroga-
tive of committing a sentence. Within
recent years, however, the increase of
crime has been so remarkable that
the minister CT justice deems it pru-
dent to revive the penalty. The late
hangman, who grew old in the service,
resigned as soon as he was informed
that he might soon be called on to
exercise his profession. The salary
is $500 a year, with a premium of
SO for every execution
SWEDEN.
When the king and queen of Sweden
recently visited Paris they donated
$400 to the Swedish colony of that
city.
The government will propose re.
organization of the whole system of
courts-martial, and a bill will be re-
ported to the riksdag for that purpose
In 1910.
Two strong cons scrvative newspapers
published in Stockholm, Nya Dagligt
Allehanda and Vart Land, have been
consolidated. The change did not
cause much Of a disturbance because
both papers were published at the
same time.
The real estate tax lists of Stock
holm are revised once in five years. A
revision has just been made and the
total value of all real estate in the
city is put at $324,3S6,505. The. in
crease for the past five years was al
most so per cent.
A bronze statue of King Karl XIV
has been completed at Otto Meyers
art foundry in Stockholm. It took
eight months to cast the different
parts, and the whole mass of bronze
weighs 7,400 pounds.
There are tens Of thousands of
Swedes who fail to see why an ordi-
nary German philosopher should be
more entitled than Selma Lagerlof to
the Nobel literary prize.