The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-06-14
Scandinavian Journalists, Each
Famous in His Country and
Europe, Taken on Tour
by Uncle Sam.
FORGERS OF HAPPINESS
Carried Souvenirs from Here
Back Home to Europe and
the Day Here Was Most
Interesting.

That Keokuk is the best city In
the United States, in the opinion OF
the party of noted Scandinavian
and Denmark, all famous men al
home, is indicated by the following
article written by one Of them for
the Des Moines Register. 1t Is dated
at New York, Immediately after the
close Of the western tour of the
| editors, given them by the United
States government, and is as fol
lows:
THAT the most interesting part
of their trip was the day spent in
Keokuk, Iowa, was the consensus OF
opinion of the twelve Scandinavian
Journalists who have been touring
this country for a month as guests
Of the United States government,
and who sailed for home today on
the Scandinavian American liner
United States.
"The journalists arrived in New
York from Europe in the early part
OF December at the invitation Of the
committee on public information, and
in charge OF Edwin Bjorkman, direc-
tor of the Scandinavian bureau, the
party visited several eastern cities,
and also Chicago. st. Louis, Keokuk.
Minneapolis and st. Paul in the
middle west.
Dam Not Only Thing.
1.-THE stop at Keokuk had been
planned particularly to let the Wis
itors see the big Mississippi dam,
but when they arrived there they
found so much Of interest that the
stay was prolonged several hours
beyond the time set for departure
in their travelling schedule. The
journalists were here taken into the
country to see an Iowa farm, which
interested them nightly. Among
other things, they were shown a
herd OF 1876 Duroc-Jersey hogs. 1t
was the first time they had seen red
hogs, and the sight so impressed
them with It's novelty that they were
still talking about it upon their re-
turn to New York. At this place also
they saw their first corn, of which
product the party brought back with
them several ears as souvenirs.
vi COuTSc, luCy lhSpcCIcO lhS Dl5
dam, but this did not interest them
SO much as the people of Keokuk. 1t
was their first contact with Ameri-
cans of the middle western type, and
the latter produced an impression
upon the minds of the visitors most
flattering to the Keokukians.
As a Noted Dane Sees Us.
"De ser I'D som folk der smeder
sin egen lykke," said Anders Vigen,
of Copenhagen, Denmark, editor of
Berlingske Tidende of that city;
which, translated, means They look
like people who forge their own hap
piness.' This was Mr.. Vigen's way
of expressing his impression Of the
apparent independence and self
reliance Of Keokuk people. He also
spoke OF the middle western brand
OF the American boosting spirit. as
revealed in the city of the big dam.
we had been told that Keokuk had
about 10000 Inhabitants said Mr..
Vigen, but when we asked resi-
dent what the population was we
were promptly informed that it was
10000, while by other native sons 1t
was placed at $4,000
"This tendency of the middle west
erner to boost anything connected
with his city or section of the coun-
try somewhat amazed the Scandi-
navians, but did not mar their favor