Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - XI. In Sweden Again—Reception at My Old Home—Visit to Northern Sweden—Field Maneuvers in Sweden—The Opening of Parliament—In Norway—Visit in Stockholm—Royal Palaces—The Göta Canal—A Trip to Finland and Russia—King Oscar II.—A Trip to Dalarne in the Winter
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Story of an Emigrant.
3 35
Having remained in Stockholm for some time, we directed
our course southward, by way of the Gota canal, past
Motala, Trollhattan, and Gothenburg. How great, how
delightful, how glorious! Dull and coarse must that man or
woman be who can make this trip without being proud of
the sons of Sweden and their peaceful avocations. In school
I had read the history of Sweden, but it treated chiefly of
warfare and of the exploits of the kings, .only
incidentally touching the achievements of peaceful work and the
development of social and moral culture, which, in my
opinion, are of supreme importance, and deserve the
greatest honor. But then, it must be remembered that Swedish
history was at that time written with the assumption that
royalty and a few warriors are the sun and the stars around
which the whole people and the country revolve, and from
which they received their light and value. A better time has
now dawned on Sweden, and even common people are
acknowledged to have a certain inherent worth. Still I am
afraid it will take some time before old prejudices can be
dispelled.
In the fall of the same year I took a trip through Finland
and Russia, having secured a passport issued by Gen. C. C.
Andrews, who was then United States minister in
Stockholm. I went with the steamer Aura from Stockholm to
\bo, Helsingfors, and Cronstadt. The pine-clad islands and
shores of the Bay of Finland afforded a beautiful panorama
from the steamer. The sight of Sveaborg made me feel that
I was still a Swede in soul and heart, for I was overpowered
by a deep sadness when I thought of the heinous treason by
which this impregnable fortress was forced to surrender.
I spent several days in St. Petersburg, during which I took
in the chief sights of this grand city, such as St. Isaacs’ church,
the monument to Peter the Great, the winter palaces, etc.
It happened to be the anniversary of the coronation of the
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