Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-12-02

NtWS udlIltItu III ln6 fdlntI-
land and Elsewhere.
VERY PROGRESSIVE COUNTRY
Finland Improving Rapidly Along Both
Educational and Industrial Lines.
Interesting Comment on Norway's
Institutions by NorwegIan.AmerIcan
Correspondent.
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j. SWEDEN. +
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Helen Gray, in an article in The
Christian Herald entitled FINLAND,
Her Rise and Danger" says:
Finland, with her three million in
habitants, Is one of the most progress
sive little countries in the world. It
was conquered from Sweden by Rus
STA in 1909, under Gear Alexander l.,
but nix months before the cession took
place, while the people in another part
Of the country were still fighting, tho
GEAR, finding the people amenable and
weary Of fighting, called meeting Of
the diet in the little cathedral church
at Borga and gave to Finland auton-
omy. Geographically, she Is still a
part of the Russian empire. Some
fifty years ago Finland's educational
awakening started, having its genesis
with few young men who founded
the Finnish Literary Society" the
most important member Of which was
Elias Lonrott, who compiled the Ka-
levala, the Finnish epic. from which
Longfellow borrowed the meter for
his Hiawatha. Woman suffrage in
Finland was q matter of happening.
It was the outcome Of the threat Of
Russia in 1899 to destroy the auton-
omy Of the little nation. All over the
land the people began to organize in
defense Of their country, their most
powerful ammunition being education.
Education is the only thing that will
save u.s." said Finnish woman to me.
knowledge will teach the people to
see." So splendidly have the women
of Finland helped in the uplift of
their country, educationally, economic
ally and politically, that when the SUBJ
ject of woman suffrage was preached
about eight years ago their services
were too valuable to be ignored and
they were readily given the vote,
which took effect in 1907. At 4 re-
cent election at Helsingfors twenty
one women were elected to parlia-
ment, the Social Democratic party
having the largest number. thirteen.
While the glory of Russia is her be-
jeweled buildings-there are no
churches in the world so laden with
jewels as Russian churches-the glory
of Finland is her schools. There are
only five illiterates to each 1000 peo-
pie in Finland; there are 789 litter
ates to each 1000 in Russia In manu-
features Finland Is progressing. She
makes linen articles of the finest
quality, tablecloths, napkins, etc. Her
and her paper and pulp mills have a
considerable reputation. Lumber is
her biggest industry. Finland pos
sesses more acres of forest than any
other country in Europe. Agricul-
turally, Finland is a poor country;
but berries grow abundantly, and bar
ley, oats and rye are grown. There
are no orchards. In the warm sea-
son vegetation advances rapidly. The
Finlanders are hoping against hope
that Russia will not absorb them.
They have lost their military within
the last few years; Finnish stamps
may no longer be placed on foreign
letters, and that Russia will raise the
low Finnish tariff to the high level of
her own is expected, when the pur-
chasing power of the Films will be
greatly reduced.
4. + +
Per Ostberg, special messenger OF
the king of Sweden, reached New
York on Nov. "a from Christiansand,
bearing message from King Gustaf
to the Swedish embassy at Washing
ton, which, he said, was too important
to trust either to the mails or the ca
bles. He left at once for Washington.
Vhe messenger disolaimed knowledge
of the contents of the packet he car
ried. He said it had been sealed per-
sonally by the king and was entrusted
to him only a few hours before the
steamer sailed. He had only a few
minutes to spare when he boarded the
vessel at Christiansand. Mr.. Ostberg
thought that the message did not deal
with Sweden's neutrality status. 1.-THE
government has taken extraordinary
precautions to prevent the transporta-
ton through its domains of supplies
intended for Germany" he said. 80
far as know Sweden will remain neu-
trail"
+ + f.
There 10 . movement on foot In