Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-08-22
SCANDINAVIAN NEWS
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT HAP
PENINGS IN FAR OFF
NoRTHLAND.
ITEMS FROM THE OLD HOME
Resume of the Most Important Events
in Sweden, Norway and Denmark
Of Interest to the Seandinavlans
In America.

Scandinavia during the las. year has
been brought to the point where she
faces the prospect of the poor house
If peace does not come within II
months. Short of food, particularly
bread and potatoes, with coal being
sold by the lump, and lacking raw ma
terial such as iron and textile fibers
TO keep her factories running. the cry
of the people for some time past has
been peace and bread!" and down
with the blockades !" In Denmark
where the generation of electricity re-
quires the use of coal, elevator service
has been suspended IN most of the
apartments, hotels and Offices. All
cafes and restaurants are obliged by
the government 10 close at IL p. IN.
In order to save electric light the
number of street lights have been
greatly diminished and all theaters
and movie houses close at 10 p. m.
The cafe hours are particularly OBJ
noxious TO the people as clubs are
practically unknown in Denmark and
the cafe life is therefore an important
social activity. In Sweden and Nor
way. where much of the electricity is
generated by waterpower, the closing
hours are later In Denmark the coal
shortage has forced the government Il
prohibit the serving of hot dishes in
hotels and restaurants after nine at
night. Train service throughout Scan
dinavia has been reduced. During the
latter part of the past winter wood
was burned by many of the household
ers, and all this spring and summer
owners of timber land have been cut
ting and shipping firewood 10 the cities
and towns. Gasoline, tires and lubri-
eating oil are three related products
which the combination of the allied
and German submarine blockades have
made very scarce in Scandinavia.
Taxi fares have risen and the number
of cabs on the streets diminished. In
Copenhagen it is forbidden to hire a
.axi to take one beyond the city lin
its. Among other importatiOns, iron
for manufacturing is extremely scarce
as are textile fbers such as cotton
and linen. Many Of the factories and
mills in Scandinavia have been forced
10 cut down their weekly production
in order TO run full day and In many
cases considerable number of work
men have been discharged. But it is
the food situation which has been
g.
last six months, Bread cards have
long been IN use throughout Scandi-
navia. In Denmark the proportion of
black bread 10 white on the cards is
two TO one and in Sweden there is no
white bread except for invalids and
the sick. Sugar cards are also re-
quired except in hotels and cafes
where the management handles the
pastebOards The allied blockade has
very greatly limited the Importation
into Scandinavia of livestock fodder, of
which most of that used before the
war was imported. In consequence
there has been decrease in the
amount of meat cattle and milk cattle.
the latter decline affecting the supply
of milk, butter and cheese. Potatoes,
the importation of which has practical
ly ceased. have for many weeks been
a veritable luxury. The hotels, cafes
and better class of pensions still have
them daily, principally because they
either have stocks on hand since be
fore the shortage, or are able to out
bid the householders. Among the lat
ter potatoes are a great rarity, many
having them only once week.