The Bismarck tribune., 1925-12-29
REV. J. TH0RNELL'S ARTICLE
C0RRECTS MISTAKEN IDEA ABOUT
CHRISTMAS IN SWEDEN AND NORWAY
Almon Pastor Replies Through New Salem Journal. TO
Previously Published Story ''Chrstmas Day
in Other Countries"

Christmas to the other, how is i
that they are recognized as civil
izod nation? That they arc regard
ed 50 highly among the leaders o:
| the world? That so many OF the
sons Of those countries are elected
| and reelected to the highest office:
Knutc Nelson, the honor>d senator
and reared and raised in the LAND
Anna Gray).
If it be true that they wash uI
clean from head to foot once a year
Ronld Amundson. the greatest eY-
plorcr Of modern tines. the diScov-
"rcr Of the South Pole. must have
been mighty dirt by the tim" he
reached the pole. UHc was away
from Norway,' believe, one Christ
.maSD or course, these men might
have been taught cleanliness from
others after they left Norway, yet
history shows tha: the fruit falls not
very far from the tree. Well. any
way, Road planted the Norwegian
flag on the south pole. Some day
he might reveal some very bad mis-
takes Of those who make claim on
discovering the North Pole.
Our beloved Ex-Governor of North
Dakota, K. \. NestoS. also happen
ed TO he a native of the land of one
bath. Last summer he visited that
country. On his wav bact ne was
summoned to the White House by
President Coolidge for a conference,
also to take dinner with the highest
executive Of our republic. ! wonder
how he looked when he came back
from that land where the majority
does not take more than one bath a
year. He was not there over Christ
mas, hence. no chance suppose to
get into the Bake House for bath.
My wife and | are both natives Of
Norway. and none of Us have ever
seen a bakchouSe used for the pur-
pose of bathing. From early child
hood we washed up spick and clean
every day and to% bath twice a
week and used the finest ivory cas-
tile soap. These were taken in bath
rooms finished in marble white with
modern water system, lighted by
electricity and heated up with hot
water system. This was more than
a quarter of century ago.
Every city residence has electric
lights as have the smallest cottages
and farms even away up in the
mountains and valleys. This is per-
haps mostly due to the many water
falls which facilitates the produc-
tion Of electricity. There is IL tele-
phone in nearly every home. rs a
complete telephone network is
stretched over the entire continent
OF the Scandinavian countries. An
up-to-date radio receiver set is
found in a very large number Of
homes, equipped with from one to
eight tubes. The road system is de-
clared one Of the finest in the
mobiles traverse the country from
busses take care OF the long dis
tance transportation where railroads
are not preferred. Horses and car
riagcs are hardly seen on the streets.
Big seif-bndcrs behind tractors
cut the grain and huge threshing
machines do the threshing.
In culture and education, in SCI
ences and practical application Of
modern inventions and conveniences
that little land across the sea does
not need to take back seat. In
fact both Norway and Sweden are
leaders in number Of cultural and
scientific enterprises.
mention these facts to correct
the erroneous idea Of some who still
believe that the people over there
are using oxen and wooden ploughs.
1t remains to be said that it is
rather remarkable that the Scandi-
navian people who have kept up with
all these modern accommodations in
culture, science and national de-
velopmcnt still, according to Anna
Gray. keep on taking baths only
every Christmas. Can you believe
it? How ridiculous some peoples
ideas are as to the European coun-
tries.
II is not my intention to boost a
foreign nation. My relation with
the land Of my birth was severed
when became a citizen of the U.
S. A. As lad Of seventeen years
Of age, the glorious stars and stripes
became my flag and the most Won
derful country in the, world, my
adopted country No country on
earth can possibly take its place.
As an American citizen ! wish to
live here and die here and if called
upon to make the supreme sacrifice