SWEDEN 



431 



In the Norwegians, who are nearly all members of the Established Lutheran Church, the 

 religious sentiment is deep and sincere, without fanaticism or bigotry. 



SWEDEN. 



THE Swedes, who occupy by far the larger portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, numbered 

 m 1898 nearly 5,063,000, and are steadily increasing. They are of Teutonic origin. 



The Swedes are physically a fine race, and are said to have the highest average height of 

 any European nation. The typical "good old English gentleman" has been described as a fair 

 representative of the Swede in face and figure. The Swedes have not taken much part in the 

 military and commercial activity of the great European Powers during the present century. 

 Their comparative isolation has probably tended to develop the national character and preserve 

 their physical characteristics unchanged through successive generations. 



Their dress is in essentials like that which is common throughout Europe between the 

 forty-fifth and the sixty-fifth degrees of latitude. The costume of the women, however, has an 

 individuality of its own. Until recently hat or bonnet was unknown to the ladies of the 

 interior. Even now at a country church on Sunday one may fail to see a single hat or 

 bonnet among the women of the congregation. A black silk handkerchief is the favourite 

 wear for ordinary use. In winter this may be replaced by a knitted three-cornered woollen 

 tippet. Black, indeed, is the hue gen- 

 erally adopted for church dress in the 

 country, and it sets off to advantage the 

 fair hair and skin of the wearer. 



The food of the Swedes is simple 

 and wholesome. Soil and climate are 

 unfavourable to the cultivation of wheat, 

 but rye grows well, and rye-bread is the 

 staff of life for the Swedes. It is found 

 everywhere, on the king's table as well 

 as in the peasant's hut. Sour milk, solid 

 and firm as jelly, is second only to the 

 rye-bread in importance as an article of 

 diet. It is placed in the centre of the 

 table in a large wooden dish. The creamy 

 surface is sprinkled with brown sugar and 

 ginger, and the family and guests, if 

 there are any, mark out with their big 

 wooden spoons in a V-shape what each 

 considers a fair proportion. A few words 

 of grace are said, and the meal begins. 



An interesting institution has been 

 established among the Swedes from remote 

 antiquity, and is still common. It is 

 called " foster-brothering," and in some 

 respects reminds one of the comradeship 

 of the ancient Greeks. Two men, in- 

 spired by ardent mutual esteem, desire 

 to be as brothers to each other. A pro- 

 posal is made by the elder or the more 

 important socially; and when the other 

 assents, the ceremony is performed. Each 

 pours out a glass of drink. They then 

 stand up; vow that from that hour each 



Photo by Valentine & Sons, Ltd.] 



A TEI.LEMARKEN PEASANT. 



[Dundee. 



