Evening star., 1918-02-17

the ground OF relationship. they have
laid claim to the Swedish throne, and
the common people have been forced to
fight for their freedom.
I'm the whole history not one war
has been fought between Sweden and
France, and not one conflict has been
credited between England and Sweden.
When Rolf the Viking. in 500 brought
his first Swedish settlers to Rouen, they
were well received and Rolf was made
Duke of Normandy. which province
later became entirely settled by people
from Sweden and Norway.
are fighting in the present war is drawn
from the old Scandinavians. and there is
svery bond of friendliness throughout
many centuries and mutual interests to
gether. Stockholm Is called Little Paris,
30 much has it borrowed from the city
on the Seine. The thirty-year war IN
which the Swedish king. Gustavus Adolf
phus. took such prominent part. has been
called religious war, but in reality it
was a war against oppression of German
princes. The Teutonfc civilization was be-
gun by wars of aggression. ard the whole
history OF Christian Europe is red with
such wars and the efforts of other nations
to keep Themselves unslaved by Some Ger
man power More Swedish blood has been
shed in keeping Sweden FIRE froni German
sovereignty than in any other cause.
THE Swedish king. Gustavus. IS a most
democratic man. He and his line have
Hohenzollerns. As an illustration % his
Democratic spirit I might tell Of his ac-
tion in the great strike in the copper mines
of Daiecarlia in 1909 He dressed hiinsf i
tave Oscarson. secured employment in the
mines, working with pick and shovel
shoulder to shoulder with the men for two
weeks. Then he returned to Stockhoim
and the strike soon became settled in
favor of the men.
seThe whole house of Bernadotte. as the
present royal dynasty of Sweden is called,
has been democratic King Oscar. the
father of the present sovereign. used to
occupy his Tuesdays in seeing the people
On these days the poorest people in the
country were as welcome as any of the
aristocracy if they had any errand they
wanted to present to him personally. His
brother Carl. who was king before him,
used to dress himself as farmer and
travel about the country. stopping at
farms and talking to the people about their
affairs and interests. Then, when he re-
turned to Stockholm, he knew what meas
ures to approve in the rihsdag. the
worst and storfniest of the autumns
used to be called kings weather be-
cause no weather was too severe Tor
them to be out in.
oscar Bernadotte, brother Of King
Gustavus. who married ore of the
women OF the chamber Of the queen,
lives the life of simple, we'll to do
farmer He drives his wife to church in
& one-seated carriage useu by the coun-
try people of Sweden When Prince
Eugen studied art III Paris he was
known to his fellow students as Eugen
Oscarson, and it was said that he lived
in the same democratic fashion as oio
the other students"
Returning to The subject of the pres
ent movement, which is growing In seri-
BUSINESS as its possibilities for influence
both in the United States and Europe
are concerned, Mrs. Sloane continued to
outline her plans for awakening her
lsinsfolk here to their opportunities Tor
service She points out the fact that
Swedish Americans stand first In IN
telligence. education and physical Mt
ness with all other foreigners in the
United States. They have the good will
of all. she said, and it is their DUTY TO
keep it. She says that it Is her expert
ence to hear Swedish people In America
hide their love for this country, beliey-
ing 1t to be an evidence OF disioyaity 70
Sweden. but she says that II they leave
these shores to return to their birth
place they nearly always come back, for