Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-05-26
Around European Capitals

Following article is written by
Viggo Justesen who recently re-
turned from a tour of Europe and
is presently visiting his mother
in Askov. Mr.. Justesen con-
tributes frequently to newspapers
as a feature writer and this ar
ticle was written especially for
the American for its Greater
Minnesota" issue.
A year in Europe cannot, OF course,
put one in position to speak author
itatively on conditions there. Every
thing is different. The best one can
get is a general impression and that
is all this article is supposed to be.
A general impression of some Euro
pean capitols as they are today, be-
ginning at the north with Copenhagen
and going through Berlin, Prague,
Vienna, and Paris. Limited space
makes more impossible.
Copenhagen has been called many
things, among them "The Paris of the
North" and the Athens of the North.
1t is called Paris because of its num-
erous cafes and nightlife, though
there is as much difference between
Copenhagen and Paris as there is be-
tween the temperamental southern
brunettes and the melancholy nordic
: blondes. 1t is called Athens because
of it's vast collections of statuary. 1t
might be called almost anything "of
lI1y e.. To
a conglomeration Of characteristics
that can be traced to all cities of the
world. This is due largely to it's
large free port where ships from all
over the world stop to transfer freight
and passengers for Baltic ports.
Among these foreign characteristics
Americanisms, so-called, are not lack
ing The Ford predominates in the
motor traffic though the bicycle is
still the popular mode of transporta-
tion. The city is full of movie houses
featuring American stars and the Co
penhagen flapper is as crazy about
Valentino and Navarro as any Amer
lean girl with her eyes on Hollywood.
In the cafes one sees valient at
tempts to capture the Charleston and
the Black Bottom, but as yet, the
success has not been overwhelming.
But the "smorrebrod" served in the
cafe is typically Danish and a trait
that any country could be proud of.
And every city has its amusements.
There is the Royal Theatre with the
Poulsen brothers leading; Tivoli, Co
penhagen's Coney Island; and if you
are interested in human nature and
dialects, Amager market place and
the Amager fishwomen are one of the
sights. And light summer evenings
when you can read a book at any hour
of the night without artificial lighting
facilities.
But we must go south. Through
long rows of small, neat towns;
through charming pastoral landscapes
dotted with Renaissance manors and
stone churches. Everything is so
clean; every hedge is neatly trimmed;
every garden an enjoyment. The
straw matched houses add comfort.
Perhaps one might even see a stork
sitting lazily on some matched roof,
though the stork is raDidly vanishing
:. from Denmark.
Eight hours from Copenhagen, over
the Wannemunde ferry, and one ar
rives at the Stettiner Banhof in Ber-
lin. Busy Berlin. You can hardly
think of Berlin without simultaneous
ly thinking of beer. The two seem to
go together. Beer is the personifica-
ton of the German capitol. The
foamy, amber stuff that gives GER
tain breath and solidity, without
charm, entirely without beauty. That