Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1938-01-13
No Hunger In
Denmark Writer
CONTINUED from Page y

Continued from Page -
endless patience in his little booth
waiting for customers. I have never
seen him outside of that little cubby-
hole-not even in moments of tense
excitement and interest, such as
when the graduating students of
Copenhagen race and dance around
the statue of their patron-king at the
Kings Market place :. he is as i'm
perturbable as the sphinx-and just
as interested.
The thousands of bicycles in Den
mark impressed me even as much as
did the suppressed gaiety of newly
confirmed boys and girls feeling
strange in the new cloaks of dignity,
brand new Tuxedos, and long white
gloves - traditional and touching.
The list of impressions is long and
one would be little disappointed,
am afraid, to note that it is the little
things about Denmark that appeal
most.
Haven of Peace and Plenty.
n, IL SCClllS, lIdS llCd1 al
ways been on the top. When one
stops to consider the difficulties that
the rest of the world has been expert
encing, one simply has to marvel at
the serenity and calmness of the
Danes. They have been through eco
nomic crisis, terrors of approaching
armies, upheavals of many sorts, and
yet one never reads of hysteria or
panic in that little haven of peace and
plenty. Contradicting the statements
of many others, 1 still maintain that
Denmark has plenty. No. one goes
hungry in Denmark. Seldom does
one see hungry face pressed against
the window pane of bakery or char
cuterie shop.
The aged never seem oppressed
or depressed-they are well fed,
comfortably dressed, and happy.
One never hears of price wars
and other business disagreements
in Misunderstanding is set
tied by the government and nearly
everything is run on the coopera-
tive plan insofar as the people
are concerned.
There is not an overabundance in
Denmark, but there is plenty for
everybody and the people unite in
seeing that there is no waste. It
sounds as veritable Utopia.
Denmark is the most highly cult
waited country in Europe. For the
agriculturist it is indeed subject
which affords ample opportunity for
study. Much of the land which to-
day is such an impressive sight for
its well-cultivated fields, market gar
dens and poultry farms was, until re-
Gently, merely unproductive waste
land and still more bleak and arid
sand dunes. The agricultural schools
are equipped with highly specialized
staffs and modern laboratories. Farm
ers wishing to make their land more
productive send in samples of the soil
to these schools; these samples are
analysed, and fertilizers necessary for
use in the case of each individual need
are recommended.
A Four-Day Christmas.
Christmas holidays in Denmark are
never to be forgotten. This is not
merely a day in which to exchange
gifts and feast and go to church; ii
is series of days, four in all, that is
wholly given over to the spirit that
rules at this season. They celebrate
Little Christmas Eve, Christmas Eve
First Christmas Day and Second
Christmas Day, and each day is as i'm
portant to the Christmas season as is
the season to the whole calendar.
Gifts are always exchanged on Christ
mas Eve, after everyone has Toasted
properly and plentifully with the ac-
cent on plentifully), and after the
tree has been admired and danced
around, and songs have been sung.
The giving of gifts seem to be the
minor part of Christmas to the
Danes; it is a great event for the chill
dren, of course, but the grown-ups
seem to enjoy the holiday in gent
Ter, more thoughtful manner.