O PASSION FOR FLOWERS. 



remark applies to society in general in Sweden not only 

 from the good feeling, but from the very good manners that 

 universally prevail. The Swedes, like the people of other 

 countries, have their faults ; but this I can say conscientiously, 

 that I do not believe there is a more innately courteous and 

 polite people on earth; and furthermore, that a man must 

 bring it on himself, if an offensive observation be made 

 to him, or in his hearing, when in company. Even when in 

 a somewhat inferior station in life, the easy, good, and un- 

 embarrassed manner of the Swede, so greatly superior to that 

 of the same class in England, has often struck me forcibly. 

 But this matter is easy of explanation, for in Sweden the 

 aristocrat does not consider himself degraded by mixing 

 in society with people much beneath him in station a 

 feeling so contrary to that prevailing in England, where it 

 is somewhat questionable whether the tradesman has an 

 opportunity even once in his life of sitting side by side with 

 the great man ; and the Swede is, in consequence, not only 

 enabled to rub off the rust of his position, but to acquire a 

 certain degree of polish. 



As with us, the Swedish ladies are passionately fond of 

 flowers, and their boudoirs and drawing-rooms are almost 

 universally decorated with various exotics. A pretty parterre 

 is always to be seen near the house ; but the variety of flowers 

 is* not so great, nor do they all possess the same exquisite 

 scent as in England. Some violets, for instance, though in 

 outward appearance nearly the same, are totally void of per- 

 fume. In the early part of the spring, after the inodorous 

 but beautiful snowdrop has drooped its head, several of the 

 forest-flowers amongst the rest the primrose, the white and 

 blue anemone, and the lily of the valley emblem of the 



