Middletown transcript., 1918-04-20

the manifesto. Bells were tolled in
the churches. and places of amuse-
ment were closed. Many thousands
emigrated to the United States.
Long Summer Days.
During the long winters daylight
lasts only three or four hours. On
the shortest days it is even less. Then
it is indeed. as most people think, a
land of snow and ice. For three
months it is so hot that the wealthy
residents seek summer resorts for
comfort. During that time it is prac-
tically one long day. Not star is to
be seen, and the appearance of time Of
autumn frosts has arrived.
During my visit. the evening twf-
light had scarcely disappeared before
the morning twilight chased the gloom
of night away. One could read out
Of doors until after eleven o'clock.
These long days, with scarcely any
night. force vegetation to grow at a
dollhouse pace. Land and water have
no time to cool. Summer comes in
this strange land with a sudden burst
Of flowers, sunlight and birds.
Finland is a land of pine and fir
clad hills, for only comparatively
small portion seems to be cleared.
The most of the country is fairly level,
so that it has not the grandeur Of the
Scandinavian kingdom. In the cleared
portions stand neat little wooden cot
tages, which are usually kept freshly
painted, red being the favorite color.
Surface drain bitches are made in the
cultivated fields every few rods, and
all seems most carefully titled.
Helsingfors, the capital of Finland,
is one of the interesting towns Of
Europe. 7 alter seems to surround it
on every side. It dates back to 1850,
when it was founded by the Swedish
king Gustavus Vasa, and the liberties
of a town were Immediately conferred
upon the little hamlet as special IA
vOr. From the water side it Is pro-
tected by the great fortress of Svea-
borg. which is called the "Gibraltar of
the Baltic" and of which one OCCASION
ally reads in the news dispatches. The
highest point in Helsingfors is crown
ed by great and imposing Lutheran
church. and the majority of the Firms
are adherents Of this faith.
Scenes In HeIsingfors.
Through the center of HelsingfOrs
runs a great boulevard, known as the
Esplanade-G atan, and this is the center
Of life in summer. The schools close
for these months and everybody en-
joys one long holiday so far as pos
sible. One day seems almost to melt
into another. The young women one
sees in Helsingfors are Of the blue
eyed, flaxen-haired type, for the Swed-
ish type seems to prevail here. Young
girls, almost to the end Of their teens,
wear their hair in two flaxen braids
that hang down the back. They have
the same social freedom as their sis
tiers on this side Of the Atlantic.
The market of HelsingforS is an ex-
cellent place to study the Films and
their characteristics. From all over
the surrounding country the peasants
drive into the towns with their pro-
duce, and sell it direct to the townfo1k.
A small farmer may have killed a
sheep or pig, and may be observed
driving keen bargain for the best |
cuts. Another has few tiny kegs of |
butter covered with layer of grass to |
keep it cool. Under old cotton umbrel. |
las sit the market women with highly |
colored waists and black or white |
handkerchiefs tied over their heads. |
In a small basin are the boats Of the |
fishermen just in from their catch. |
The housewives or maids pass from |
one stall or boat to another. inspecting |
their wares. A little after noon the |
fishermen and market merchants, who |
have come by sea. set sail, the cotton
come down, the wagons roll
away, and the entire market disap-
pears as by magic.