Evening star., 1939-12-24
Industrious Finnish>Americans
Convert Resources Into Wealth
Approximately $4,000 Carve Living From Rugged
N1ichigan's Upper Peninsula; Small
Minority Is Communistic
By Ed,cin J. Johnson.

~ O""SObs
recognition from the New Dealers. They
feel that they are entitled to more rep
resentation in party councils and on the
party ticket. Realizing that the Firms
constitute larger bloc of votes, both
parties are ardently wooing them in
anticipation Of 1910.
Excel as Athletes.
The Firms are great lovers of the out
doors and whenever one of them has
the means to do so he acquires a bit Of
land on the shore of lake and builds
cottage. Many of the youths in the
Upper Peninsula have achieved fame in
ski jumping, Walter Bietila Of 1shpeming
having been a member of the United
States Olympic team. Last year Ralph
Heikkinen Of Ramsay, Mich, a small
mining village 10 miles east of Ironwood,
was named guard on most of the all
America football teams. He played with
the Michigan varsity. This year another
youth of Finnish descent Esco Sark-
kinen of Ohio State, was named all
America end
The Firms are well represented in the
business life of the communities where
they live. In the Upper Peninsula num-
| bers OF them are merchants bankers, in
surance men, automobile dealers, and in
other lines of business. They are also
we'll represented in law and medicine.
| Ellel Saarinen, noted architect, is resi-
dent of Michigan, living near Detroit. He
has designed many buildings in this
! country and in Finland, his masterpiece
being the railroad station in Helsinki
A considerable number of the Firms
are engaged in cooperative enterprises,
such as grocery stores and creameries.
Here, too there appear signs of cleav-
age between the conservatives and the
radicals. Where store is controlled by
one of the radical groups it is not un-
usual to find rack of Communist ltera-
ture on display.
While the conservative and religious
majority deplores the Russian invasion
and is active in raising funds for relief
in Finland, the radicals take the view
that Finland had it coming for oppos-
ing Soviet aims. This group-a small
minority, it must be emph
that Russia will make quick work of
conquering Finland.
Become Citizens.
Most of the Firms born in Finland have
become naturalized citizens of the
United States. Many of the early arri-
walls. while displaying all the attributes
of good citizenship. often neglected to
take out their citizenship papers, but in
the last few years they have done so,
and there are now, 1t is believed, few
aliens among them.
One of the chief characteristics of the
Firms, and one which makes it hard for
others to become acquainted with them,
is "clannishness" which leads them to
continue to speak Finnish among them
selves even after many years in this
country. Many of the younger genera
ton, particularly in rural communities,
also show this trait. This tendency is
largely explained by the fact that they
are a reserved, retiring people who be-
lieve in minding their own business.
They do not, however, lack in good
neighborliness." for they are quick to
welcome a stranger in their midst and
are usually hospitable.
One of the customs which the Firms
brought with them from Finland is the
sauna" or Finnish steam bath. While
the sauna" has largely disappeared from
the Cities when Finn moves into the
woods to start making farm, he first
builds small cottage for his family,
then bathhouse, and then a shelter for
his livestock. The bathhouse is usually
a small structure often built of logs, con-
tanning two rooms-one dressing room
and the other the sauna" proper. In
this is fireplace constructed so that
the heat of the wood fire passes upward
through deep layer of stones. When
these are heated to high temperature
the fire is removed
Cold Water at Close.
The bathers strip and, seating them
selves on benches built as steps upward
toward the ceiling, throw cold water on
the stones. Perspiring freely in the re-
sulting clouds of steam, they induce
further perspiration by clapping (not
whipping) themselves with clusters of
| AAo6A oAAV SCOo1 ACdVCS. 4lllS Is lOllOWcO
by soaping and finishing with dousing
by a bucket Of cold water. In small
family groups mixed bathing is not con-
sidered immodest, but in larger groups
the women and girls generally bathe
first and then the men and boys.
The foregoing applies to what are
known as the pure Films" There is,
however, another sizable group Of Swed-
ish-speaking people from Finland. This
group has its own churches and lodges,
is less clannish than the Finnish-speak-
ing group and has been more rapidly
assimilated. This group does not, as a
whole, mingle with the Firms, nor with
the Swedes from Sweden. Descended
from the early Swedish conquerors of
Finland, it has largely retained its ident-
ity. This group is proud of its history
and, while outnumbered by the pure
Finns," claims many of Finlands nota-
bles in literature and music as its own.
1t was this stock that produced Baron
Mannerhein, the military leader Of the
Firms.