Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - IX. Visit to Sweden in 1868–1869—The Object of my Journey—Experiences and Observations During the Same—Difference Between American and Swedish Customs—My Birth-place—Arrival and Visit There—Visit to Christianstad—Visit to Stockholm—The Swedish Parliament—My Return to America—Reflections on and Impressions of the Condition of the Bureaucracy of Sweden
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
IS 4.2 Story of an Emigrant.
• 125
while I was dressed only in a plain black dress suit. The
procession marched from the lodge to the chapel, onlv half a
block distant 011 the same street, but a great crowd had
gathered to see the mystic order, and I noticed many
manifestations of satisfaction among the masses at the honor
bestowed upon me, while I have reason to believe that some
of the uniformed brethren silently choked down a grudge
over the plain citizen whom the strict rules of the order, for
that day at least, had placed in a higher position than most
of them could ever hope to attain.
Time passed swiftly, and, as the crowds of intending
emigrants were increasing daily, it was found that it would be
impossible for one steamer to carry them all, so I went early
in April to Helsingborg, where one shipload was started for
Minnesota under the leadership of Capt. Lindberg, a veteran
from the Anglo-Russian and the American war. A few weeks
later I followed across the Atlantic with a party which
numbered eight hundred people, and in due time returned to my
home in my adopted country.
On the whole that first visit to Sweden was exceedingly
pleasant, although there would occasionally come up
disagreeable incidents whenever America wras the subject of
discussion. The laboring and middle ekisses already at that
time had a pretty correct idea of America, and the fate that
awaited emigrants there; but the ignorance, prejudice and
hatred toward America and everything pertaining to it
among the aristocracy, and especially the office holders, was
as unpardonable as it was ridiculous. It was claimed by
them that all was humbug in America, that it was the
paradise of scoundrels, cheats and rascals, and that nothing good
could possibly come out of it. They looked upon emigrants
almost as criminals, and to contradict them was a sure
means of incurring their personal enmity and even insult.
I remember a conversation at an evening party in Nasby
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
