HABITS. 121 



entailed, consequently, the title is very often nothing more 

 than an empty sound, and I cannot fancy a more unen- 

 viable position, than that of a nobleman who has nothing 

 but his title to carry him through the world. I do not 

 like the custom of any government indiscriminately granting 

 empty honours. If a man has really done anything to 

 deserve it at the hands of his country, then let that 

 country reward him, not only with honours, but also with 

 something substantial to support them; but when I enter a 

 crowded assembly and see one-half of the men in the room 

 decorated with a ribbon or a cross, and hear them addressed 

 by a dozen high- sounding titles, I am very much tempted 

 to ask myself whether distinctions so easily obtained can be 

 worth the wearing. 



Take them altogether, the Swedes are a very nice nation 

 for a stranger to live among, when he gets used to the 

 country ; but it will be found very trying for an English- 

 man till he gets accustomed to the ways of the people and 

 understands the language. If a man is fond of gaiety, he will 

 be surprised at the number of balls and soirees, which are 

 held in every town of any size during the winter, and if he 

 is fond of his quiet rubber, and can play a good game, this 

 is the country for him. The gentlemen are excellent card 

 players, and passionately fond of the game, and this is not to 

 be wondered at, when we consider the long winters in which 

 they are so much thrown upon their own resources, and that 

 very few of them care for any deep reading. Yet they are all 

 excellently versed in politics and the ordinary topics of the 

 day; and although books appear to sell as well in proportion 

 as in England, and they are much cheaper, yet I scarcely 

 ever saw a really good library in a country gentleman' s 

 house. Both ladies and gentlemen are fond of music, and many 

 have capital voices. A stranger, especially an Englishman, 

 will at first be very apt to break through many little rules of 

 good breeding, of which no Swede is guilty ; for instance, on 

 entering a shop, and, stranger still, a common public house, 

 you are expected to take off your hat and keep it off as long 

 as you are in the shop or room ; and really what with this, and 



