Plentywood herald., 1932-11-24
Prepared hy National Geographic Society

Prepared by National Geographic Society.
Washington. H. G--NNI Service
| @ TockHoLM is celebrating. this
year. the one hundredth ami
II verssirF of the opening of the
Gotta canal which connects the
Swedish capital with Gotehorg on the
North sea, ZIG miles across the king
dom
Even without lis party adprnment.
which 1t has donned for the ceIehra
ton. Stockholm is a city that fairly
shines Its quays are the city's front
doors, with steps always freshly
scrubbed. Under brilliant summer
sun, even the cargoes of many of the
harbor's sailing craft. moored in front
OF royal palace. town hall. and house
of parliament, glisten. for they are Ia
den with countless cords Of silver
birch. the eity's fuel.
Every year, in gorgeous midsummer
floral regalia. Stockholm stands fault
lessly groomed to receive only few
score American visitors, while other
continental capitals. included i'm GUS
tomary tourist itineraries. are athrong
with thousands from western shores
The average traveller does not de-
eide casually upon Il trip 10 Stock
holm. nor. unless he comes directly
from New York by ocean route. does
the American always arrive In the
most amiable frame of mind Ii is
long. hard journey from western or
southern Europe TO the historic city
founded seven centuries ago as for
tress to resist the forays of Baltic
pirates.
From Paris, for example, unless one
selects the speedy and celebrating
airplane mode of travel, the major
part OF one day must be spent on the
train to Amsterdam, thence there is
an all-night journey to Hamburg. then
another full day on the train to Co
penhagen, and finally. by train, ferry.
and train again. n second night is re
quired to reach ones destination
Stockholmss prosperity, like thar of
the entire country. is founded in large
measure on forests-the city's name.
Isle OF the Log. suggests it-but there
is no evidence of this in external ap-
pearances- There was time when
the metropolis was built OF wood, and
1t required six disastrous eenaagra-
tons, recurring over a period of two
and half centuries, to convince its
citizens that their safest insurance
against flames lay beneath their feet.
City Built of and on Granite
Stockholm today Is built Of granite.
upon granite foundations A land
owner blasts his building material
from the site of his proposed struc-
fure. and by the same operation makes
his cellar The result is city of som
Der. unad0rned gray stone apartments
and business buildings, conveying the
impression of having been erected for
eternity.
Achitecturally one enters a new
world on reaching Stockholm. No
that classical Greek influence SO CON
spicuous In most of the capitals and
chief cities of southern, central and
western Europe.
For twelve years Stockholm labored
on its town hall. 1t was finished. as
planned, for formal dedication in 1923.
the four hundredth anniversary of the
beginning of the reign Of Gustayus
Vasa. Sweden's first hereditary ruler
The hall, in contrast to the custom
airy granite, is built OF exceptionally
large red bricks. Its interior is as i'm
pressive as its exterior On one side
OF a great inner court Is the famous
blue room. rising from the ground
TO the full height OF the building. This
is used for official banquefs and sim
liar civic affairs
Here, each year on Sunday in Au-
gust, picturesque event is staged.
when awards are made to Stockholms
great army of workmen farmers, one
of the most interesting groups to be
found In Europe
The Swedes are noted for their love
of the soil and all that ii produces.
and this passion for growing things
cannot be stified by the circumstance
Of metropolitan existence: so the city
has set aside countless acres OF sub
urban territory for conversion into
garden plots. and these are rented to
workingmen for the equivalent of S.
for summer season.
Here the iaborer builds a tiny cot
tage-0ne room and porch. usually
He can buy complete house ready
made for 500 and set 1t up like q
jig-saw puzzle. All summer he and
his wife and children live on their
little farm He continues his work
In shipyard or factory. but early in
the morning. before he goes to bis
job IN the city. and when he returns
In the afternoon. ne Joins his wife in
hOeing the vegetables. training the
r>ses ever the doorway. cultivating