Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1945-11-01


of memorials that Will serve and
inspire the living while honoring
the nations war heroes. Thus
memorial parks, schools. muse
ums, homes and administrative
buildings will be dedicated in the
next few years - in place of the
often extravagant stone monu-
ments that were raised during the
past decades.
No war memorial, but a type of
tribute beautiful and useful both
to society and to individuals, is
Sweden's Flower Foundation,
known as "Blomsterfonden."
The Flower Foundation move
ment was begun in Sweden in 1918
by Alma Hedin, sister of the
world-famous explorer, Sven He
din. She did not advocate abolish
ing the beautiful custom of send
ing flowers, but she began an en-
deavor to direct the sentiment,
which before had expressed itself
only in giving flowers, into a So
cially useful project, by suggest
ing that people lessen the guam
tity OF flowers sent to funerals.
and instead contribute to a fund
which in time would furnish model
homes with low rents for the aged.
BY May, 1921, Miss Hedin had
enlisted influential sympathizers
to help carry out her idea. An or
sBnization was formed in Stock
holm. officially known as the
Flower Fund" with a member
ship roll signed by the governors
of several provinces, by Archbish-
OPP Nathan Soderblom, and by
prominent political figures, writ
ers and poets, among them Ellen
Key. Such sponsors gave the
Fund immediate standing. Flor
lists opposed its program, with the
result that the Fund was discussed
in the newspapers and received
considerable publicity. Gifts began
coming in, very slowly at first,
then increasing little by little. Old
people sometimes visited the Fund
office and offered their small cap
ital on an annuity basis, provided
they could rent ar apartment I'M
der the Funds plan.
After three and a half years.
l.
first building. The site was donat-
ed by the city of Stockholm. The
house contained SO small, modern,
comfortable apartments. especially
designed to meet the needs of old
people. Announcing the opening
Of this first house for inspection
by the public in August, 1925,
month before it's tenants were to
move in, booklet was published
by the sponsors in which the aims
of the Fund We're set forth.
"All over the world the housing
question is an urgent problem"
the text began ITO the aged. who
have few other pleasures, the need
for security and a good home is
deeply felt. Yet they can seldom
afford to have a small home,
where they can spend the evening
of their life in peace. In order to
help fill this need, the so-called
Flower Fund has been started in
Stockholm. Its a m is to channel
( h e expressions of sympathy
which prompt the sending of flow
ers, into something remaining as
a lasting tribute through service
to the living Instead of sending
flowers to funeral. gift of mon
ey is sent to the office of the
Flower Fund. From there the
family of the deceased receives a
beautifully designed card. with
words expressing the giver's feel
ings of veneration and sympathy"
Even before the old people NOV
ed into the first house. the foun-
dation of a larger building was
laid beside it. This house conta n
ed not only small apartments. but
restaurant for the dodgers: it
also had a few rooms set aside,
with nurse in attendance, for
the oldest and frailest needing
special care.
During the next ten years as
the movement grew, six additional
houses were biilt in another mart