Evening star., 1925-06-26
STEAM BATH SECRET
OF .F|NNS' HEALTH.
Hardy Race of Out Doors
Men-Shun All MeniaI
Occupations.
Correspondence of The star ant ,ue Chicago
Daily News


PARIS, France, May 20.-The
Swedish Firms, who comprise one
tenth of the population of Finland and
from among whom most of the upper
class Is recruited, are probably of
somewhat mixed blood. Physically
they resemble their ancestors, the
Swedes cf Sweden, but in character
they seem to be somewhat harder and
more aggressive
Ihe Finnish Firms, who comprise
the other nine-tenths of the popula-
tlon. are a race apart, related neither
To the Scandinavians of Sweden nor
TO the Slavs of Russia. They have
pink faces and sparse brown or light
hair. but the broad cheeks, the slant
OF the gray eyes, the slight flattening
OF the features betray their far-off
Asiatic origin.
IL iE sometimes difficult to distin-
suisb them by appearance from
SW edish Firms, though in the more
e Areme types it is easy. But their
temperament is distinctly marked and
lends itself to no confusion. They
are stolid, brooding, harsh, unforgiv-
ing. unforgetting, vengefVl They are
slow and set in their ideas. stubborn,
causes" and movements" They
are honest, upright, hospitable and
blunt OF speech. They are individ-
ualistlc. democratic, self confident.
Films Are Good Soldiers.
The men want only "dignified"
work. preferably outdoor work. They
refuse to be servants or to serve In
shops-they leave these occupations
to the "Swedes." They are undisci-
plined and suspicious and some have
ugly tempers, but they accept disci-
pine loyalty provided they have first
been convinced as to the cause. They
fought for centuries in Sweden's con-
querinS armies and are valiant SOL
diers
Hunters originally and woodsmen
and lumberjacks now, the Finn men,
VINO otherwise more or less resemble
other northern peoples in dress and
looks. practically all wear long -bladed
sheath knives at their belts, which in
outdoor life are of service to them in
a variety Of ways, but the carrying of
which Is so natural to the race, SO
characteristic, that even one or two
OF their statesmen have been known
TO attend official receptions with a
puukko knife" slung under the tails
of, their diplomatic dress coats
The Firms drink only periodically,
but when they drink they drink with
1erce energy. This does not mean,
however, that at other times they are
not the calmest and most peaceful of
men.
Country of Small Farms.
Finland is country not of villages
but OF isolated farms and good sized
market towns. The traveller is struck
by the beauty of the ever.present for
est-low hills and overgrown granite
crags and powders. whose mantle of
pine and birch is mirrored in the clear
waters of countless lakes begemmed
with tiny islands. Here and there in
the forest is clearing, with fields
and rail fences and a frame or log
farmhouse snuggled under huge
block of messy granite and a great
red barn near by and a little steam
bathhouSe
The women wear shawls over their
heads, the men wear round fur hats.
Here and there is country town
with it's frame built Lutheran church.
md If 1t is Sunday one may see a
crowd OF country people rowing to
church across a lake in a long boat
with perhaps eight or ten pairs of
oars
Three cities-Abo, Viborg and Ham
merfors-have populations OF more
than $4,000. Near them are the fine
modern factories Of the dominant lum-
ber and paper industries. Helsingfors,
the capital, with 250.000 inhabitants.
is one of the finest modern cities of
northern Europe, with a great busy
port. fine stone buildings, clean. broad
streets, handsome shops well stocked
and a prosperous. Industrious, highly
cultured population, thoroughly
abreast Of the times in every respect
Most foreign visitors are greatly sur
prised to find in this far northern land
a civilization so highly developed, with
theaters, architecture, art, music. lit
erature, education, great industries
orderly, efficient.
Perfectly Capable of Defense.
And when one sees a detachment Of
the regular army swing by-pink-
faced. blond youths in long gray coats.
steady and determined looking. under
the blue-and white banner of the re-
public-or a parade Of the civic guard
on a Saturday afternoon, business
men and boys and sober elderly citi-
zens all carrying rifles and marching
in uniforms with white arm bands in
defense Of their homes and their coun-
try against the peril of Bolshevism
one can feel little doubt as to Fin
lands ability to maintain to the full
it's recently achieved independence.
Now, just a word as to the little
steam bath cabin that stands near
every Finnish farmhouse. The steam
bath is known in parts Of Russia and
in certain other regions of eastern
Europe. but nowhere else does it at.
tain the rank of a national institution
as In Finland. In the center OF the
cabin is an oven Of dark granite
stones. fitted accurately together with
out cement. A great fire is built there
and when the oven is red hot there is
poured over 1t water. which immedi-
ately is converted to steam, filling the
cabin and raising the temperature to
high degree. There the entire fam
lily comes to bathe-mother, father
boys, girls and sometimes visiting rel
atives and neighbors-aI naked
chaste and unconsciously unashamed,
together.
The Firms, indeed, although North
erners and good Christian Lutherans,
are unique in being as free as the
ancient Greeks from the prudishness
or pruriency of nudity. In Summer
men and women swim together, boys
and girls romp along the lake sides.
all innocently nude. The Finnish
bank notes are elegantly engraved
with a group of three men, two
women and a youth, nude. represent
ing the dignity and chastity of civil
lied human society.
Steam Bath a Source of Health.
The steam bath is used throughout
the year, at least once a week, but in
Summer many families bathe every
evening after long, hard days in the
harvest fields. Shelves or platforms
are fixed about the walls. Those who
want more heat lie or sit upon the
upper shelves; those who want less, on
tho ln1uar ffar fhnrn11uh Sf, n,