! 
- - .. 
[Rntered  according  to  Act  of  Congress.  In  the  year  1376.  by  the  Rural  Riibllshing  Oompnny.  in  the  QlBce  of  the  lilbrarian  of  Congress  at  Washington.] 
CENTENNIAL  CORRESPONDENCE. 
A’n.AH  HOTKI,,  ) 
PHILADELJ‘UIA,  .Iuuc  1976.) 
SWEDEN  AND  HER  DISPLAY. 
The  Scaiidiiiaviana  make  a  very  prai.sowortby 
exhibit  at  the  Centennial.  The  subject  of  the 
^  j  -  >  j  *  _  j  {  supplying  charcoal  and  firewood.  The  common 
vL  Ij  C  vLyCllTClllllcllt  trees,  as  cherries,  apples  and  pears,  grow  as 
_ _ ^ _  far  north  its  C(>^,  hut  the  fruit  seldom  comes  to 
great  perfection  except  in  the  southoru  provin- 
CENTENNIAL  CORRESPONDENCE.  ces;  cranberries  and  otlier  berries  abound  in  all 
parts  of  tho  country. 
A’n.AH  HoTKi,,  ^  )  ji,  bSTO.  tliere  wore  in  Hwedon.  418, 4hi  horses, 
_  „  .  ,  •  ii  and  tl54.30:{  swine. 
The  Scandinavians  make  a  very  prausowor  by  2.549  factorio.s.  with  a  pro- 
exhibit  at  the  Centennial.  rhji  «ubJoc  of  the  ,^^,etion  valued  at  Mfi.8(!9, 000  crowns.  Mines  and 
present  etter~aweden-m  addition  to  tho  space  ^,^0  not  included  in  these 
occupied  in  Uiu  Mum  Huild.ng  has  also  consider-  ,  shipbuilding  forms  an  oxtonsivo  branch 
able  space  in  Machinery  Hall,  and  one  of  tho 
most  attractive  features  of  the  grounds  is  the  ^ 
model  Swedish  Hehool  IToUse.  Ilefore  criticising 
her  display  a  few  facts  concerning  the  Scandi¬ 
navian  peninsular  will  help  to  a  bettor  ap))recia- 
tion  of  the  habits  and  industries  of  tho  people.  * 
Norway  and  Sweden,  although  sejiarato  king¬ 
doms,  are  governed  by  one  ruler ;  and  as  Sweden 
eoutaiiis  about  52  per  cent,  of  all  the  territory,  it 
is  but  natural  that  a  Swedish  king  should  wield 
tho  scepter  over  both  people.  Tho  govormnont 
is  divided  into  Laiis,  which  are  again  subdivided 
into  provinces. 
Tho  total  population  in  1874  was  4,341,559,  the 
major  portion  of  whom  are  engaged  in  agricul¬ 
tural  pursuits,  for  which  the  eonnfry  is  well 
adapted,  iiotwithstaiuling  its  extreme  northern 
bon  idaiy  ]irojoot8  into  the  Arctic  Zone  and  its 
southern  extremity  is  in  tho  latitude  of  (Ireen- 
land.  The  area  is  stated  at  171,749  English 
miles.  Eight  per  cent,  of  tho  land  is  2,000  feet 
above  the  sea  level,  with  gradations  down  to  200 
feet  above  tho  level  of  the  sea,  luid  at  this  olova- 
tiou  agriculture  is  nourishing.  Owing  to  the 
vast  system  of  inland  lakes  and  rivers,  the  laud 
is  splendidly  irrigated,  which  accomits  for  its 
great  fertility  and,  in  conjunction  with  tho  inllu- 
enco  of  tho  Gulf  Stream,  makes  tlie  climate  mild 
and  salubrious.  The  streams  are  not,  as  a  rule, 
navigable,  being  iutorruiitod  in  their  pirogresa  by 
a  series  of  water-falls,  wliich  tlio  people  have 
turned  to  account  in  the  manufacturing  process¬ 
es.  It  is  rare  to  find  any  manufacturing  industry 
prosecuted  by  means  of  steam  iiowcr.  This  fact, 
in  conjunction  with  the  low  price  of  labor  (arti¬ 
sans  receinng  but  §1.50  por  day  aud  unskilled 
labor  about  60  cents),  ouablcs  them  to  mauufac- 
tm’e  at  prices  that  almost  defy  coinpctitioii. 
The  farmer’s  worst  enemy  in  Bwoden  is  the 
frost,  which  in  a  single  clear  night,  perhaps  af¬ 
ter  a  waim  summer  day,  will  destroy  his  bright¬ 
est  prospects;  but  it  is  hoped  that  the  increase 
•  of  tillage,  the  drauiing  of  the  bogs,  and  like 
cau-ses,  will  at  least  mitigate  its  severity,  if  not 
altogether  prevent  it.  Such  severe  frosts  are 
very  rare  in  the  ceutral  and  southcru  parts  of 
Ssvedeu, 
Mining  is  one  of  the  most  important  depart¬ 
ments  of  Swedish  industry,  and  tho  working  of 
the  iron  mines  in  particulai'  is  making  constant 
progress  by  the  introdnetiou  of  now  machinery. 
There  were  raised,  in  tho  year  187.3,  19,458,339 
cwt.  of  ii'oii  ore  from  the  mines,  hesidos  120,147 
cwt.  from  lake  aud  bog.  The  pig  iron  produced 
amounted  to  7,987,640  cwt.,  the  cast  goods  to 
601,350  cwt.,  the  liar  iron  to  1,125,915  cwt.,  and 
the  steel  to  1,290,907  cwt.  There  were  also 
raised,  in  the  same  year,  1000  lbs,  of  silver,  26,- 
152  cwt.  of  copper,  and  645,031  cwt.  of  zinc  ore. 
There  are  large  veins  of  coal  in  various  parts  of 
Sweden,  but  no  systematic  working  of  them  has 
as  yet  taken  place. 
The  principal  articles  of  cultivation  arc,  in  ad¬ 
dition  to  tho  various  cereals,  potatoes,  hemp,  flax, 
tobacco  and  hops,  which  are  generally  grown  in 
sufficient  quantitios  forborne  consumption.  The 
forests  are  of  great  extent,  covering  nearly  one- 
fourth  of  the  whole  surface,  and,  in  some  spots, 
rising  to  an  elevation  of  3,000  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  sea.  The  bii’ch,  fir,  pine,  and  beech 
are  of  great  importance,  not  only  for  the  timber, 
tar  and  pitch  which  they  yield,  but  also  for 
figures.  Shipbuilding  forms  an  oxtonsivo  branch 
of  industry.  The  foregoing  ivill  give  a  some- 
wliat  accurate  idea  of  tho  Swcdc.s. 
Tt  la  not.  too  much  to  say  tlmt  what  they  arc 
and  what  they  may  cvoritually  hocorno,  is  duo,  in 
groat  measiiro.  to  the  adinirahlo  system  of  edu¬ 
cation.  Public  iustruoliiiu  is  gratuitous  and 
compulsory  and  c'lildron  not  attoiiding  schools 
under  tho  supervision  of  the  government,  must 
furnish  proof.sof  having  been  privately  edneated. 
Ill  the  year  1871  nearly  97  por  cent,  of  all  the 
chikh'eii  liotwenn  eight  and  fifteen  years  attended 
the  piihlio  Rclioola.  Tho  scheme  of  education  is 
auiply  illustratod  in  tho  model  school  tnonllonod 
above,  which  is  situated  north  of  the  Main  Duild- 
iug  and  adjoining  tho  Japanese  Bazaar.  Object 
teaching,  familiarly  known  as  the  Kindergarten 
sy.item.  fomi.s  l.hti  basis  of  Instrnclion,  and  such 
is  the  thorougli  and  able  manner  in  which  it  is 
managed,  it  would,  indeed,  be  strange  if  tho 
youth  of  tho  country  were  not  perfectly  groimded 
in  the  principles  of  education. 
I  would  especially  call  tho  attention  of  the 
visitor  to  the  way  in  wliich  geography  and  tho 
beauty  of  form  and  color,  so  subtile  and  dclicato 
that  they  may  well  have  attracted  tho  attontion 
of  tho  Pa.  Industrial  School  and  Museum, 
whoso  directors  have  pni’chased  many  examiilos. 
A  couple  of  vases  of  china,  of  a  beautiful  blue, 
and  delicately  nrnamciitod  with  vinos  and  leaves 
in  wliitc  ill  relief,  ai’o  tho  gems  of  the  collection. 
Wliilo  on  tho  subject  of  ceramics  I  desire  to 
allude  to  tho  fantastio  stoves  or  ovens  that  arc 
constructed  of  tiles,  wiUi  polished  brass  doors. 
They  stand  8  and  10  feet  liigh,  and  arc  oriianieii- 
ted  most  elaborately  in  colors.  GandcUabra  uf 
groat  size,  miido  of  china  are  also  to  bo  seen. 
Tho  finest  example  being  a  pair  with  8  branches 
standing  aliout  7  feet  higli.  The  bases  are  siip- 
Iiortod  liy  griffins  and  tlio  colors,  cream  and  blue, 
arc  mo.st  beautifully  laid  on.  Tlieso  were  piiv- 
cliascd  by  Mrs.  Wit.  Astou  of  New  Vork  for  ®  120. 
Tlioy  were  niado  at  tho  llorslrand  factory  which 
has  been  in  successful  operation  sineo  1726. 
The  geological  exhibit  is  perfeot.  T-argo  col¬ 
ored  rnajis  are  suH])ended  from  tho  walls,  and 
directly  beneath  thorn  are  eahinots  containing 
speoimens  corresponding  to  the  markings  on  tlio 
maps.  Ono  can  take  in  at  a  glance  tho  surfiuio 
and  suli-Hurface  foniialion  of  the  land,  and  liini* 
ing  to  trophies  that  Hank  tlio  display,  in  tlio 
Hh.apo  of  coluiiiiis  composed,  each,  of  33  block.s, 
obson'ij  th'*.  various  marbles,  granites,  congloin- 
eratos  and  porphryry  ivith  whicii  tho  country 
abounds.  Noticeablo  among  I  hoso  are  tlio  vari¬ 
ous  lined  marhloB  and  a  soetion  of  limo- 
stfine,  something  unusual,  1  hclicvo,  Tlio  finest 
spoeimons  are  from  Dalsland.  In  the  alluvial 
deposits  is  found  lake  and  bog  iron  ore,  in  quan¬ 
tities  Butticient  to  pay,  and  being  exceptionally 
“TllJE  OX..OCIV 
A  Geoup  in  the  Swedish  Depaetment,  in  3Iain  Bcildino,  Centennul. 
use  of  tho  globes  is  taught.  In  the  Main  build-  | 
lag  a  large  iqiace  is  given  to  specimens  of  pupils 
work  in  drawing  from  life,  oast,  &c.  1  was  as¬ 
sured  that  these  examples  were  taken  hap-hazard 
with  no  special  reference  to  tho  beat  of  its  kind. 
I  can  well  believe  this  after  an  examination  of 
the  artistic  pottery  displayed  in  another  part  of 
the  transept,  which  is  entirely  tho  work  of  native 
artists.  In  this  collection  there  are  vases  of  a 
free  from  sulphur,  it  may  bo  soon  that  a  very 
fine  product  is  tho  result. 
A  table  made  of  porphyry,  serpentine  and  mar¬ 
ble,  with  a  center  of  conglomerate,  is  a  beautiful 
work  of  art  which  may  be  secured  by  tho  picker- 
up  of  unconsidered  trifles  for  S7,500,  not  includ- 
,  ing  the  duty. 
Among  the  curiosities  are  a  meerschaum  pipe, 
^  carved  and  jeweled,  which  was  presented  to 
Emanitet,  SwEDENnoEo  by  his  English  followers  ; 
a  chair  made  of  oak  taken  from  tlio  sunken  war¬ 
ship  Applet,”  which  foundered  in  1676.  It  is 
200  years  old  aud  almost  us  heavy  as  tho  same 
bulk  of  iron.  This  chair  is  carved  uniquely  with 
signs  of  the  ZoiUac  and  is,  t.ir  rather  was.  sur¬ 
mounted  by  two  ravens.  A  lady  luimiror  of  Poe 
liappenod  along  and  thinkiug,  perhaps,  that  a 
Swedish  raven  woukl  do  as  well  as  any  other  or- 
uitJiological  specuiion  to  illustrate  her  favorite 
poet,  gracefully  dotoched  tho  iiniOMlsUng  bud 
from  its  perch  and  moved  on,  omitting  as  snper- 
lluoiis,  any  liLtIo  inquiries  customary  under  such 
cireu instances.  Eoaring  that  more  admirers  of 
tho  poet  might  bo  in  the  vicinity,  the  Gommis- 
sionors  took  tho  precaution  to  remove  tho  re¬ 
maining  hu'd  to  safer  quarters. 
Much  tho  same  fate  might  hefall  a  set  of  chess¬ 
men  were  they  not  Heoiired  under  glass.  Those 
are  tlio  first  chossmoii  I  have  ever  soon  that  em¬ 
body  the  idea  of  a  great  religions  movement. 
The  artist  has  carved  ono  side,  the  white  men, 
we  will  say,  to  represent  tho  party  of  which  King 
William  and  Bismark  aro  tlio  heads,  aud  tho 
snlKii'dinate  men  aro  the  army  and  others  in  tho 
prohistaiit  interest,  and  tho  Pope,  cardinals, 
priests  and  friars,  fight  on  the  ultramontane  side. 
The  various  expressions  depicted  on  tho  faces 
of  the  latter  worthies  could  have  alone  been  due 
to  a  stroke  of  inspiration.  The  sot  is  an  epitome 
of  tho  prevailing  Euiopoau  sentiment  on  tliis 
mucli-voxod  subject — price,  §302. 
A  feature  of  no  special  atti’activoness,  except 
perhaps  to  matchmakers,  (male  aud  female)  is 
tho  groat  quantity  of  lucifors.  Sweden  is  a 
match-making  counti’y,  and  a  gi'oat  point  to  be 
considered  is  that  they  are  safety -matches. 
Whether  the  prevalence  of  Lhhf  industry  has  any 
effect  on  the  moral  perceptions  of  her  jioople,  I 
am,  of  course,  unable  to  detemine,  but  I  am  as¬ 
sured  that  marriages  aro  prosjierous,  and  divorce 
a  rare  exception. 
The  subject  of  our  illustration  is  one  of  a  group 
of  five  which  are  placed  at  various  salient  points 
ill  the  nave,  and  are  interesting  from  the  fact 
I  that  tlicy  are  lifo-size  and  realistic  representa¬ 
tions  of  the  people  and  manners  of  tlio  countiy. 
Their  realism  is  such  lliat  many  are  at  fii'st 
quite  puzzled  to  decitle  if  thoy  aro  animato  or 
inanimate.  The  groups  aru  the  work  of  Mr. 
SoDEimAN,  artist,  and  member  of  the  Stockholm 
Academy  of  Arts.  The  easts  arc  from  life,  mod¬ 
eled  in  gypsiuii,  paiutod  and  embellished,  with 
an  art  so  coiisiinunate  that,  as  above  stated,  thoy 
are  the  wonder  of  beholders. 
The  two  figures  are  husband  and  wife,  nar 
tives  of  the  Province  of  Mora,  which  is  situated 
in  the  ceutral  part  of  the  kingdom,  about  70 
miles  from  StAickhohn.  Glock  inaldng  is  a  leading 
iiidiistiy  of  that  .section.  The  figinos  are  dressed 
in  tlie  national  costume,  tlie  man’s  coat  being 
composed  of  sheep-.skin,  the  wool  lioiug  worn 
next  tho  body.  Sliocs  arc  very  coarse  and  the 
ribbed  woolen  stocldugs  aro  fastened  just  below 
the  knee,  mtU  vciy  pictorial  gariers.  Tho  cap 
aud  neckerchief  of  tho  woman  aro  decorated  iu 
colors,  and  beads  of  uncouth  size  are  tho  finish¬ 
ing  touch  to  tho  daily  toilet.  On  a  side  aisle  is  a 
groiij)  from  the  Province  of  Balecarlie.  The 
grandfather,  son  and  wife  ai'e  mourning  the  loss 
of  an  infant  whicli  lies  in  the  stillness  of  death 
in  a  cradle  over  which  the  distracted  mother  is 
bending.  Tlio  post;  and  o.xpression  are  so  true 
to  life  that  many  gazers  are  visibly  affected. 
Tho  remaining  groups  are  from  Lecksand,  Skano 
and  J  lapland.  Wo  havo  a  reprosontation  of  tho  old, 
original  Laplander,  reindeer,  dog,  sledge,  and 
any  quantity  of  snow,  just  as  we  havo  fondly 
1  imagined  the  old  fellow.  Space  forbids  a  further 
description  of  the  groups ;  but  those  visiting  the 
■  Centennial  will  miss  a  most  curious  and  interest¬ 
ing  sight  who  fail  to  examine  the  gyiisum  figures. 
,  As  might  have  been  expected,  tho  display  of 
)  furs  is  fine  aud  to  enumerate  tho  various  kinds 
NEW  YORK  CITY,  JULY  1,  1876. 
VOli.  XXXIV.  No.  1.  I 
WllOLB  No.  13?9.  i 
IMITGE  SX3C  CENTM. 
!8ia.«5  PElt  YEAR. 
