Putnam patriot., 1929-05-29
PROUD OF THE U. s. A.
 READY TO RETURN
No. crosvenordaie Man In Old Country Sleeps Under Stars
 and Stripes
Winter Cold.-Tells of Customs of
 Country


 Hjalmar Oleson of North Grosve- nordale where his son and daughter a.o reside. has been in Sweden for the winter. Mir. Oleson is proud of being an American citizen and sleeps with the stars and stripes over his bed. He is anxious to get back to America and, perhaps, he is just a bit homesick for his adopted country and North Grosvenordale. Belcw is his interesting letter:
 Hallingsjo, May 6. 1929. Editor Putnam Patriot
 Dear Sir: | hereby ask permis- sion to have the following letter pub lished in your paper. Perhaps 1t would be of interest to many of your readers to know how 1t is In this far away, cold country. 1t has been a very cold, cold winter in Sweden, with lot of snow. In some parts of the eoun- try it has been from fifteen to twenty feet deep. The thermometer has shown from thirty to thirty-five be- low zero. Some days it was impossible to go out doors. and there was so much snow that lot of birds that always stay in the forest came Co the farm houses looking for food Even elks and other wild animals came. The first of May there were eighteen inch es of snow, and there was a severe snow storm. But now, today, the 9th of May, the weather is fine. It looks like spring, but we can never tell
 You Americans would be surprised to see how many American farming tools the farmers use here. They are of every description from a hoe to farm tractor. And every steamer that comes in the harbor always has 8 lot of American goods. When $. s. Kungsholm came in to Gothenburg a few weeks ago 1t had $50 passengers. but the steamer had .000 autos from the states, also a lot of potatoes and fruit. So you can imagine the busi- ness that goes on between the two countries. If you could take a walk on any street in Gothenburg you would be surprised Co see all the American goods in all kinds of stores. In the clothing stores where they sell the ladies' coats made of American furs, you would be surprised to see the prices, but the ladies buy the coats just the same Many a time when have been standing looking at these fur coats ] have wondered how many of the furs came from Windham conn ty.
 Proud of U. s. A.
 Believe me, when you see all this in a foreign country you feel proud to be an American citizen. If you take q walk any time of the day you will hear the American language from peo- pie who pass by you. IL is impossible to get lost. On the principal street is an information bureau. They talk many languages, and they answer all kinds of questions, as far as it is a reasonable question. It Is free of charge; 1t don't cost penny.
 Dear reader. have you ever seen Old Glory high up in the air in for eign country? How did you feel a, the time? What was the matter with the cold shiver that ran down your back2 Were you not proud when you saw the red, white and blue, and wher you took a look at your passport you knew you had protection? l can tel you, dear reader, in the little room and bed where l sleep out here in thu farm country an American flag il right over my head.
 For my part I prefer the countrl in q small town over any city. Theri is too much noise, but here it is quiet All farm houses are painted red. Tn, people, young and old, wear wooder shoes for everyday use. but not oi Sundays. When they make q visit {, neighbor they leave their shoes out doors. and come in in their stocking feet. The young girls here do not usi any powder or powder puifs. The, are red without such paint
 l wish to return to the states a soon as possible, but it is hard thi time of the year 10 get a passage be cause SO many people have had thei applications in for many month ahead 4 lot go Co the states, bu most of the passengers go to Canada l send my regards to the readers o The Putnam Patriot.
 Yours very truly.
 HJALMAR c. OLSON. Rafanda. Hallingsjo, Sweden.