Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-09-28
Three Days in Denmark
Member of Congress, Minnesota
BY EINAR HOIDALE

Flying into Denmark on the wings
of seaplane that makes daily trips
between Oslo and Copenhagen, I
landed in the harbor of the capitol
of Denmark one bright morning in
August. l was stranger in strange
land except for the fact that have a
cousin in that city who is married
to a Dane. This link insured me
hearty welcome and an opportunity
to see and learn about Denmark in a
way that would otherwise have been
difficult and less pleasant.
Copenhagen is by far the largest
city in the Scandinavian countries.
Not only that. but it holds high place
among the most attractive cities in
all Europe. Nature and art have been
combined to make this fine city a de-
i lightful place to visit.
| lost no time in calling upon Mrs.
Ruth Bryan Owen, our minister to
Denmark. l found her very happy
and pleased in her SUI roundings.
From everything l could see and
learn, the Danish people have fall
| len in love with this fine American
woman, and | am sure that their af-
| lection finds response in her heart.
Mrs. Owen will do much to maintain
and foster the spirit of friendship and
good feeling that has so long existed
| between the people of Denmark and
| the United States. 1t will be remem-
| bered that L. S. Swenson of Min
nesota, was for several years minister
to Denmark. In that way, we who
live in the Northwest, have been in
close touch with the smallest of the
three Scandinavian countries.
Only Few Farm Tenants.
| But when we speak of Denmark as
being the smallest" it is true only
in the respect that it covers the small
lest area of land. In other respects,
the land of the Danes is far from
being the smallest. In population,
Denmark has one-fourth more people
than Norway. 1t is very interesting
to note that 1870 of the entire land
area is under a high state of cult1va-
ton, and still more interesting to
know that 92% Of the farmers own
the lands which they cultivate. There
are very few tenants.
This land, famous for its butter and
cheese, has considerable more than
three million cattle. 1t has over five
million hogs and twenty-five million
hens. This is probably higher per-
| centage than is found in any other
country.
The farms are small but very well
titled. Farm houses are large, well
built and we'll kept. The whole pic
ture, as one drives through the coun-
try, is one of prosperity and content
ment. Every nook and corner, looks
fresh and fertile Modern machinery
is used, but none of it is permitted
to stand out in the fields. Order is
seen on all hands. Over there, they
do not permit weeds to sap the fer
tility of their farms. Small country
villages are found only few miles
apart. They are picturesque and in
teresting.
Little Unemployment
I saw little evidence of poverty and
unemployment, and upon looking into
that situation, I found these facts:
In February, 1927, Denmark had g.
900 unemployed. This was the high
point, and represented less than 80
of the population, as against our top
unemployment of over 1910. Six
months later July. 1920 this figure
dropped to $4,000, and in July, 1928,
the unemployed numbered $4,000. The
latest figures place the unemployed
at 36,369 on July 81, 1881. This was
only about 20 of the population
a very small number-not enough to
indicate any serious depression.
l also found that according to the
census taken in 1925, Denmark had
national wealth equal to $500
crowns for every man, woman, and
child. No wonder the Danes are happy
and unwilling to leave their own
land. They live we'll, they are happy,
and at least comparatively speaking,
they are prosperous.
My short visit was extremely pleas
ant, and / shall long remember the
happy days spent in Copenhagen and
Denmark.