THE ALUMNI JOURNAL 59 



searches on Prussian blue. . . • The one aim of Scheeie's Hfe— 

 and he never swerved from it — was the experimental discovery of 

 tlic truth in nature.'" 



This was Scheele's aim. Whose aim was hii;her? This is what 

 Scheele did. Who has done better? 



* :;: * * :i< * 



• High are the pointed peaks of Sulitelma, O Sweden, where the 

 cotiling- cataracts rush down the crags of the mountain. In the 

 lialtic is the island of Oland whose rocks of Silurian limestone have 

 Ijattled for centuries with the god of storms. Near the North Cape 

 rises a mighty slab of granite, thousands of feet in height, with 

 every niche containing the nest of an Arctic bird. Calm are the 

 waters of Maelar, and the falls of Motala turn the wheels of many 

 mills- The lake of Vener is large, and Tornea Elf flows down to 

 the sea. Famed is the hill of KinnekuHe, and who" knows not the 

 forest of Kolmorden? Uto is rich in the ores of iron, copper is 

 found in Falu, and silver at Sala. There are mines of magnetite 

 and hyperite, of granulite and dolomite. Among the trees of fir 

 and pine the elk and roe-deer search for browsage. and the fleet- 

 footed hare leaps through the brush. The vain cuckoo calls its 

 name by dav. but the night knows the bat and badger. Droves 

 of leaping salmon crowd the rivers, and the herrings swim from 

 the sea to spawn in the shoals. Over the snowv fields the great- 

 horned reindeer wander, the whooper swan sails in the lakes of 

 Lapland, and high in the frosty air soars the gyrfalcon and tlie 

 golden eagle. Great indeed is the spectacle of the Midnight Sun, 

 and when the Aurora Borealis flashes its dancing columns across 

 the startled skies, the beholder stands with reverent heart and 

 uplifted hand. 



Yet boast not of these things, Sweden. Huge kings have sat 

 on thine ancient throne, and hurled stout armies at the frightened 

 nations. But be not proud of them. Do not sing of the Olafs and 

 Erics, and seek not to perpetuate the memories of the vikings of 

 old. We are sick of the bloody sagas of the skalds, and the fierce 

 l)erserkers who cried Was-hael among the reddish fiords. W^e have 

 heard quite enough of your battle-axes, and we close our ears at 

 tlie sound of the hammer of Thor. Forget that victory at Narva, 

 and scratch out the name of Charles XIL 



Sweden, thou liast a greater glory. Thy name is on the lips of 

 thinkers, and when the spirit of Science calls the roll of nations 

 who have served her, thou canst answer in a triumi)hant voice, for 

 thou hast produced Karl Wilhelm Scheele. 



