EXCURSION TO SVVEBEN. 83 



the waist by a leather belt, and for headwear, a broad soft- 

 brimmed hat. As they entered the mysterious darkness of 

 the mine, each was given a lamp, whilst guides placed here and 

 there bore torches. The descent was not accomplished by an 

 ordinary shaft, but by winding passages hewn out of the rock 

 at an easy gradient. Several archways led to a great central 

 hall or grotto, known as the Cave of Peace. As the foresters 

 approached it, soft strains of music met the ear. These pro- 

 ceeded from a band of musicians secreted in a darksome corner. 

 But much of the cave was lit. Candles and torches, arranged in 

 pyramids and long lines, broke up the Stygian darkness natural 

 to it. Fair attendants, like nymphs of the grotto, appeared in 

 costumes that lent effect to the scene, and generously dispensed 

 " the nectar of the gods." After speeches, in which national 

 courtesies were exchanged, the company proceeded farther into 

 the mine, and emerged upon an open quarry, from which the 

 ascent was made by ladders. On every hand, one heard 

 commendation of the mine-manager's unique entertainment and 

 hospitality. 



The Excursion thus drawing to a close, the party left Falun 

 for the south. A distance of about 250 miles had to be 

 travelled before reaching Trollhattan next morning. But the 

 members were not anxious. The special train provided for 

 their use was eminently comfortable, an excellent view was to be 

 had of the country, and, when darkness fell on the scene, the 

 adjustable "bunks" allowed of a good night's rest. The rail- 

 way journeys were often most instructive. From the vantage 

 ground of the corridor window one could see much of the 

 country's forest growth. It did not impress the travellers 

 favourably. They were too often in the track of the lumberman 

 for that. The lumbermen of former times have left unmistak- 

 able marks upon the land. From the original forests they 

 have taken the best. One regrets they did not take all, for, 

 irregularly scattered over the ground, rise second rate, open- 

 headed, isolated trees — the rejected fragments of the exploiter. 

 Between and around these is an indiscriminate natural growth 

 of birch, pine, spruce, and juniper. The first of these has 

 especially asserted itself. Being hardy and seeding plentifully, 

 birch settles itself on all situations, to the exclusion of more 

 valuable species. Its presence is unfortunate for Sweden, as 

 there it can only be described as a " beautiful weed." 



