Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1918-04-11

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 1t is so hot that the wealthy
residents seel: summer resorts for
comfort. During that time 1t 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 twi-
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 ut a
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 1t 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. Water seems to surround IL
on every side. 1t dates back to 1850.
when 1t was founded by the Swedish
king Gustavus Vasa. and the liberties
Of a|tOwn We're Immediately conferred
upon the little hamlet as special IA
vOr. From the water side Ii is pro-
tected by the great fortress of Svea-
borg. which is called the Gibraltar Of
the Baltic" and of which one OCCASION
III thC ltNS Ino
highest point in Helsingfors is crown
ed by a great and imposing Lutheran
church, and the majority Of the Firms
are adherents of this faith.
Scenes In HeTsingfors.
Through the center Of HelsingfOrs
runs great boulevard, known as the
EsplanadeGatan. 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 f1axen-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 fiaxen 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 Firms and
their characteristics. From all over
the surrounding country the peasants
uTlNe INTO tHe tOWHS Will tHelT pTO-
duce. and sell 1t direct to the townfOlk.
A small farmer may have killed
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 1t cool. Under old cotton umbrel.
las sit the market women with highly
colOred waists and black or white
handkerchiefs tied over their heads.
In 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
umbrellas come down, the wagons roll
away, and the entire market disap-
pears as by magic.
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