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
portunity to see the beautiful scenery of northern Sweden,
the fine, quiet bays, the magnificent lakes, the pleasant valleys,
the green hills, the mountains dark with pine forests, all of
which contribute to make the scenery of Norrland so varied
and attractive.
In the fall I returned to southern Sweden, and had an
opportunity to witness the field maneuvers of the largest
portion of the Swedish army, and also to meet the popular king
Charles XV. The maneuvers were very fine, but, in my
opinion, the troops could not have endured a long campaign,
with its exhaustive marches and hardships. The soldiers
complained loudly of fatigue, and quite a number of them
were taken sick after the march of only fourteen to eighteen
miles, although the weather wras fine, cool, and bracing.
Compared with our American army duringthe late war, when
marches of twice that distance were quite frequent, the
Swedish army was inferior; but these weak points would
probably soon be remedied by practice in actual warfare.
After having seen King Charles I was no longer astonished
at his great popularity among the people. There was
something about him which seemed to electrify and charm
everyone who came within the circle of his personal influence. I
saw him again the following winter at the opening of
parliament in Stockholm. With all due respect for old Swedish
customs and manners, I cannot but compare this pageant to
a great American circus — minus the menagerie, of course.
I would like to describe this serio-comical demonstration
for the benefit of my American readers; but I am sorry to
say that I can no longer remember the titles of the different
officers, heralds, guards, lackeys, pages, etc.,—all of them
dressed in the most gorgeous costumes, some of them
preceding, others following the king and the royal princes, who
were adorned with all the mediaeval clap-trap insignia of
royalty, and wrapped in huge mantles of gay colors, and
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