The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-10-09
STOCKHOLM.

Christian Science Monitor; Stockholm.
during recent weeks. has been AZ IRE
quently mentioned M some OF the most
conspicuous European capitals. The
seat OF the Swedish government IN
city OF no little interest. IL has always
been accounted specially beautiful Tor
situation. Built as It IL. on rocky ana
elevated islands and peninsuias' cut
from the mainland by fjords. with prim'
eyal forests extending almost within
the city limits. and great powders of
bare granite rock cropping out between
the houses. II presents a striking APP
pearance. especially from the sea. II
lies at the eastern extremity OF Laka
Malar. where the lake discharges into
an arm Of the Baltic. the old part OF the
town. known as the Stader. being built
on an island. and connected with the
rest of the city, and with the island OF
Riddarholm.
As capital cities go in Europe. Stock
holm is not an old city. The medieval
kings of Sweden made II rather prac'
ticc not TO have any fixed capital. but
70 keep in touch with all their subjects
by visiting them frequently, and max
ing more or less prolonged stays year
by year. in different parts of their king
dom. 1t was not. therefore. until quite
modern times that Stockholm became
the recognized capital OF the country.
For many centuries, however. II was
an important town. and II thriving place
of trade Indeed, IL was with an eye 10
the possibility Of its becoming an i'm
portant commercial city that IL was ori-
ginally founded. about the middle of the
thirteenth century. At that time the
Baltic was passing through a period OF
rest from the depredations OF the IA
nous pirate fleets. which. in early times
had infested these waters. Merchants
began to gain confidence. the govern
ment was anxious to establish CONNER
cial relations with the towns which
were then beginning TO flourish on the
southern coast of the Baltic, and so Bir-
ger Jarl saw his opportunity and found
ed the city about the year 1855.
Originally ii was just fortress on
the island of Stadholm. After the man
ner of those days, great castle was
erected as kind of nucleus. The city
grew up near II, being finally surround
ed by walls, having fortified towers on
the north and south. Then, for no rea
son that anyone has been able to de-
termine. IL came to be called Stock
holm. which. on a literal Interpretation,
means the Isle of the log During
the Middle Ages. the city developed
steadily, and grew to command all the
foreign commerce of the midlands and
north: but, as has been said. IL was not
until quite modern times that ii became
the capital of the country.
To-day il steadily maintains its repu-
tation as a great mart, for, although IL
export trade il is outdistanced by Goth
enburg. in the matter of import trade ii
ranks easily as the first port in the
kingdom. The old town on the Stad
holmen, or city island is a place of
winding, narrow streets, and, although
many of the old houses, for one reason
or another have been swept away. ev.
cry now and again one comes across the
narrow fronts and great gables, so ia
miliar in some of the North German
towns. The moment one crosses the
Norrbro, or North bridge, and walks out
onto the Gustaf-Adolfs-Torg the char
acter OF the city largely chances. The
district is known az Norrmalm, and is
much the finest quarter of Stockholm.
The streets are broad, the buildings
handsome, and here and there are CRATE
full open spaces with gardens. Then,
as might be expected. Stockholm is a
specially favored city in the matter Of
surroundings All that sea and lake
and forest can do. they have done. and
all Stockholm. of a summer day. will
betake itself to Stlasjobaden or Gag
gensfjord. or even travel farther afield
10 Nynashamn, which lies on the coast
some forty miles to the south.