Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - II. The Swedish People - 3. National Character and Social Conditions. Introd. by [G. Sundbärg] J. Asproth - Dwellings. By [G. Sundbärg] Carl G. Bergsten - 4. The Lapps of Sweden. By F. Svenonius
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182
II. THE SWEDISH PEOPLE.
garden city at Djurgårdsbrunnsviken; in both cases the houses are built
for the well-to-do. For people of smaller means, there is the suburb of
Enskede, in which both systems have been applied; experience seems to
show the open system to be most popular. In other towns the latter
is mainly employed.
In the large and moderately large towns the big blocks of houses still
seem to be the prevalent type in the more central parts; hence all that
can be done there is to improve the courtyard areas. The enactments
of the Buildings Statute of 1874 respecting the area of the courtyard have
proved very unsatisfactory. The houses facing these courts are often
badly off for sun and air: moreover, these courtyards often present a very
dingy appearence, with their recesses, alleys, and many flights of stairs
all leading out of the court. Accordingly, when new building ground is,
distributed, one endeavours to arrange in such a manner that the
centre of the block is occupied by a large free courtyard, to be planted.
The chief rooms of the different flats are then made to face this quiet,
idyllic court, and the court itself is invested with a pleasing architectural
character.
4. THE LAPPS OF SWEDEN.
We shall give below an account in some detail of the Lapps in
Sweden, also including, for completeness’ sake, some facts of a not strictly
demographic character.
Scarcely a sixth percent (V6 %) of the population of Sweden consists of Lapps,
although there is probably a somewhat larger number who have Lapp blood in
their veins. Even in the province of Lappland they now constitute only about 7’6 %
of the total population. Although as Swedish in spirit as the rest of Sweden,
the Lapps ethnologically, linguistically, and culturally, form a people apart,
They are accounted to belong to the Mongol (or Mongoloid) race, are
brachyche-phalic, and rather small in stature, having an average height of somewhat over
150 centimeters in the case of men, and 145 centimeters in the case of women;
there are a fairly large number, however, who exceed this average. The face
is broad, the cheek-bones very prominent, the teeth usually strong and in good
condition; the complexion is brownish, the eyes frequently brown, and not
oblique. They have usually rather lank, dark hair, and thin beards. Their
muscles, particularly those of the legs, are well developed. Children and young
Lapps often have a prepossessing appearance; but they alter very rapidly, and
as they get older, become — according to our notions — rather ugly. The Lapps
are generally acknowledged to be an intelligent, teachable, and good-natured
people, though, in consequence of sad experience, suspicious of foreigners. They
are tough and hardy, and cheerfully undergo hardships. They have a distinctly
religious cast of mind. They are at least as temperate as their Swedish and
Finnish neighbours.
The Lapps reached the Scandinavian countries from the East. The language,
which belongs to the Finno-LTgrian class, shows that, before they came to
Scandinavia, they had been so long in contact with Finns, that their original
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