Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-17
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
/. C.. M.

H1%eCAE OF SWEDEN. Carl HoI-
lendorIf and Adolf Schuck. Stock
holm: c. E. Fritze, Ltd.
In ancient times-say Is years ago
history was one thing Today it Is
quite another thing. In that remote
was satisfied to follow the time table
of his own country's growth. Dis
covery, immigration, settlement, rebel
lion, revolution, spread of Eastern Sea-
board to meet the wide lands of the
West the general industry of home
making.
Even the student, the college man,
did little more than to take up, rather
loosely, Outlines of History" ancient
grip upon this epoch or that one, noted
for the extent of its conquests, for the
character of it's settlements and re-
Observation-Disclosures certain promises
of future unSettlementS and wars.
1914-End of the old order.
The World War, in trench and billet
and open fighting areas, brought to-
gether from the four quarters of the
earth millions of boys. These lads
made the great discovery of life-mod-
ern life and ancient. Nothing less,
this. than that in essential human
stuff they we're all alike-white, black,
brown, yellow. The gray mass across
the tangled wires no different from the
khaki mass on this side.
By virtue of this discovery, hemi-
spheres. continents, countries, assumed
their rightful character-simply prac-
ticaI conveniences for pointing loca-
lions, coming climates, setting travel
routes. Alien races, under this new
insight. we're but different modes OF
getting hold of life-climatic incidents
of raiment and food, of outlook and
custom. And the lords OF life, the
manifold gods of the earth, were pu!
variant ideas of the same Fundamental
need-universal mans god-refuge and
god-deliverance.
It was an astounding discovery, the
one made by the millions OF ngnting
lads-a discovery brought out from the
nakedness of the trenches, from the
other human amalgamations forged IN
the fire of battle. The unity OF man.
The world, a neighborhood:. 1t became
the outstanding triumph OF the WorIo
War, the flaming trophy rescued from
slaughter and destruction. science, IN
dustry. material progress philanthropy
learninp-indeed, every sort OF modern
concern and issue has seized upon the
great war discovery as common point
of departure for the truer, more ulCl-
mate comprehension of human aIIaHS
for the more adequate and equitable 40
ministration of world Shrunk by MOD
ern science and an illuminating vision
to the close contacts Of simple neigh
borhood.
Let us take history out from the sub
iect of general learning. The history
of the United States. Upon the SOIL OF
this vast area Is patterned varied
population drawn from every part OF
the Eastern Hemisphere. These are now
Americans, actual or In the making:
The best Americanism can be realized
In these diverse peoples, however, only
bv a thorough general knowledge OF the
original source from which they nave
come. The old home. the basic blood
strain, modes of growth, the quallty OF
their various urges toward life, the ex-
tent of their powers of adaptation, OF
accommodation to new settings and
wavs. BY such knowledge only can the
hest be offered to them In the New
World, can the best be gained from
them under the new conditions.
4 y
There are in the United States about
600 900 citizens of Swedish extraction.
The first of these to come to America
settled in the Northwestern the Da-
kotas, Minnesota. Wisconsin, Michigan.
The cold and snow Of this quarter, the
Iashing waves of ~ Great Lakes, the
low Laurentian mSuntain range. the
dense pine forestS-all this looked ike
the fiords of Sweden, like its stormy
sea-beaten coast, like its deep forests
looked like home. Even yet the bulk OF
the Swedish population is here. "A
sturdy people, long limbed and strong
their children lusty and numerous. IN
dustrious folks, serious, law-abidins.
tenacious. assertive, competent in every
branch of industry-competent, too. as
political leaders and good citizens.
Gifted, as well, in literature, music,
sculpture, contributing in increasing
distinction to the art of America.
What about these Swedish citizens of
the United States? What about the
old home across the sea that shaped
their plastic years to its own spirit and
pattern? What their history, their
traditions. their native heroes, their
own dreams of adventure? Where did
they get their high order of general
intelligence, their zeal for learning,
their passion for independence?
The History of Sweden" is, by virtue
of it's basic purpose and the distin-
guished fulf1llment of that purpose, a
full and complete summary of the ques-
tions rising in this country concerning
that particular element of the popula-
tion-the Swedish element.
The Immediately useful feature of
the study is embodied in series of
current topics, in appendices that
round to a comprehensive survey OF the
present world status of Sweden in in
dustrial pursuits of magnitude and eff
cheney; in its financial resources, eX-
pressed. in part by way of its banks
and insurance companies; in its mines
and their operation through a high
measure of the engineering art; in its
timber and wood pulp and paper enter
prises; in its shipping and collateral
pursuits: in endoWments for scientific
and humanitarian projects. This di-
vision of the history covers an adj
mirable survey of Swedish literature at
the present time. The closing chapter
of this book is a comprehensive out
look upon the country in it's modern
aspects. Sweden of Today" Leading
up to this is the story of the separation
of Sweden and Norway-notable in
large part by reason of the fact that
this momentouS event took place
through negotiations, not by the gen.
orally prevailing arbitrament of war.
A very inspiring chapter. that one. up
to this point, l read the history from
the back toward the front, since this
course put me in immediate touch
with these contemporaries of our own
Swedish population, explaining them
each to the other, and informing me In
respect to this pressing question. Then,