36 THE SWEDISH NATIONADCHARACTER 



where he might easily become a power, but he splits his strength and his interest 

 among many things and so becomes »jack»ofsall»trades, master in none», although 

 this must be taken with a certain amount of reservation. 



The Swedes' ready courtesy, hospitality and polite manners are widely known. 

 — »The Frenchmen of the North» — But this quality can be exaggerated 

 and has reverse side too. They love festivity and splendour, which often 

 launches out into luxury, ostentation and theatrical arrangements, scarcely answe* 

 ring to the intrinsic value. »They often clothe themselves in the richest manner, 

 although they live in a poor way.» (Jordanes, in the sixth century). Taking 

 all classes into consideration one can say about the Swedes, even today, that 

 they both dress well and carry themselves well. 



»Honour stands foremost in the Swedish mind.» (Tegner). »The Swedes are 

 distinctly a governing race, with greater desire to rule and lead than to work.» 

 No matter how unpretentious a Swede's place may be in society, he still loves to 

 break loose and play the gentleman. This points to a certain carelessness and 

 tendency to live for the present moment, from which we cannot exonerate him. 

 He likes to pose as being more than he is. »To avoid the least suspicion of 

 seeming mean, the Swede scatters profusely both his own and other people's mo* 

 ney, to the right and the left.» (Are Waerland). »The Swede can both work well 

 and save his money, but for the most part he spends all he has saved. His goal, 

 when he works, is not to improve his position, but to have money to spend; he 

 saves to throw away, and very often without any pleasure or any purpose.* (C. 

 J. L. Almqvist). 



But in spite of this the Swede is rather dull and heavy in society. He has 

 a tendency to settle every thing according to a scheme he has in his own mind, 

 and judges everything in a rather superficial manner. This makes him, even 

 among strangers, feel awkward and absent*minded. »When he is working, the 

 Swede generally has a kind and humane manner, but he is all the more weari^ 

 some when one meets him afterwards in society.* (Carl Laurin). »With us 

 nearly everything is equally tiresome and commonplace. Always the same gene« 

 ral system, never anything that takes the individual into consideration.* (Sund* 

 barg). 



The home«life, taken on the whole exhibits the same features. The Swede 

 has so little to give. His mind is directed to outward things. »The relation, 

 which warmly and sincerely binds father to son, and mother to daughter, under 

 all the changes of life, and makes of them almost one spirit, is not seen very 

 much in Sweden.* (Are Waerland). In regard to a desire for knowledge and 

 interest in education the inhabitants of Sweden probably stand highest in the 

 world. General elementary education in the whole country is, with us, of an 

 older date than anywhere else. The state grants a larger sum, in comparison to 

 the number of its inhabitants, to be spent on elementary education than is the 

 case in any other country. Practically one can say, that there are none who can<^ 

 not read in Sweden, if one excepts idiots and imbeciles, whom it is not possible 

 to educate, and whose percentage in our country is fairly low. Public Librae 

 ries, where books can be borrowed free of charge, are to be found, not only in 

 the towns but in every larger place in the country. The scheme of lectures 



