Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-05-21
SCANDINAVIAN NEWS
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT HAP.
PENINGs IN FAR OFF
NORTHWEST.
ITEMS FROM THE OLD HOME

Resume Of the Most Important Events
In Sweden, Norway and Denmark
OF Interest to the scandlnavIans
In America.
SWEDEN.
Prof. Sigurd Agrell, Instructor in
Russian at the University Of Lund,
has written newspaper article on the
spy system of Russia. He devotes
much space to the Russian saw-filers,
who have been so common in Sweden
for several years past 1t is found
that these men are almost invariably
between twenty-one and twenty-six
years Of age. Their passports always
state that they have Just completed
their regular military service. This
is significant But 1t is often found
he has completed his military service
earlier in life than the average young
man in Russia. This and other cir
cumstances conspire to establish as
a fact that the military service of
young man is reduced when he makes
a trip abroad. 1t is not necessary that
he should be sent out and equipped
as a regular spy. When young man
makes q tour of certain country the
information thus gained will be of
vast benefit in case he serves in an
army invading such country. Among
the great number of such men it is
only natural that there should be a
fair sprinkling of officers, who are
able to Judge the character Of the
bridges, the location of forts, etc. BY
comparing the notes of this swarm of
saw-filers the military authorities Of
Russia can make out reliable de-
scription of the country. Henning Won
Melstad, who had to make a thorough
study of this matter in connection
with the trial of some spies in Stock
holm, came to the inevitable conclu-
sion that the Russian government has
marked out the entire kingdom of
Sweden as completely as a trained
butcher marks off the different parts
of carcass before cutting it up into
so many different kinds of meat for
the table. The saw-filers, no doubt,
pay the closest attention to the
chances for foraging. When they ar
rive in locality they take note of
the number of farms and villages, the
number OF domestic animals, the
amount of fodder obtainable, ETC., SO
that an invading army does not need
to be cropping In the dark, but feel
at home. Among the really dangerous
saw-hlers there are many perfectly
harmless ones, who are sent out for
the purpose of shielding the others.
A doctor at Eslof was ordered to
visit patient In the neighborhood. A
man was waiting with a horse and
buggy at the little railway station
where the doctor left the train. He
asked no useless questions, but seated
himself in the buggy. After a while
the driver stopped at a farmhouse. But
the premises were gaily decorated,
and many people were talking and
laughing in the house. The doctor
thought this was little strange, and
he turned to the driver to reproach
him for stopping at the wrong place
The driver was equally surprised, and
said: Are you not the fiddler who
was asked to play at the dancer"
The United States senate has passed
a bill presented by Senator Clapp Of
Minnesota providing for the erection
of a memorial in Washington for John
Ericsson, inventor and constructor OF
the Monitor. The memorial Is to cost
SIS 5000, and its erection is to be SUI
pervised by board composed Of the
chairmen OF the committees on the
library of the senate and house and
the secretary of the navy.
Prof. Edwin osterberg has donated
the Smaryd estate to the Fredrika
Bremen association on condition that
a horticultural school be established
at the place. The farm is located
near Bastad, and comprises about
fifty acres OF land, which slopes gently
towards the sea. Several hundred
fruit trees are growing on 1t and the
soil is highly suitable for fruit grow
ing.
A young man In Norkoping who
was drafted for the army last fall sur
prised everybody by stealing suit of
clothes and pawning it. When pressed
for an explanation he admitted that
he took this step as a means OF being
dismissed from the army, with which
he was thoroughly Disguised.
The committee on salaries has pro-
posed to employ women as clerks in
the Riksbank Irrational bank and all
its branches.
Grand Duke Dmitri, a brother OF
Princess Maria Paylona of Russia,
who was divorced from Prince VIII
helm OF Sweden--has been engaged to
q beautiful American girl. The father
OF Duke Dmitri Is highly displeased
with the proposed union.
The Arnold & Englind theatrical
troupe is going to make tour of Nor
way next summer. They offer only
one single number, the famous Var
mlandingarne." and the performances
will be given in the open air.
The present military excitement has
started some strange stories, one Of
which is. that immense amounts Of
money are being raised by private