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74 (i
v. social movements.
Mora, and even as far north as Kiruna, in combination with the young people’s
meetings and provincial festivals they have been organized, in all cases with
good results.
A special kind of exhibition is travelling museums, intended to show
ethnographical exhibits, collected on research expeditions. Such a one was collected
in 1908, by Baron Erland Nordenskiöld and has been hired out at centres where
the population is considerable.
By the inception in 1912 of the Stage Association it was intended to supply
the working class with the chance of education by theatratical pieces at a low charge.
The Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm has been taken by the association for a
number of evenings’ every year, and tickets for it sold among workers; in the
provinces special companies have given performances.
Certain associations have come into being to provide young people especially
with improving diversions. The Society for advancing refinement in the
recreations of youth, started in 1902 at Stockholm, operates in this way by
local sections, which arrange gatherings for vocal and other music, lectures,
games etc. Whereas this work is carried on by teachers and stands in close
connection with elementary schools, the "culture movement among young people",
on the other hand, is managed by the young people themselves, and includes
members from every class. Under different names, clubs, such as "the vicar’s
boys", "friends of liberty", "Kungsholm young men’s club", are carrying on work
in Stockholm. Courses are arranged in sloyd, gymnastics, bookkeeping, etc.,
diversions are organized, summer excursions arranged, and so forth. They are
mainly managed by the young people themselves, and exercise an influence in
strengthening character and advancing culture. In Karlskrona and Stockholm,
homes for ships boys have been established, where they can pass their leisure
time.
In this connection something ought also to be said about "the young people’s
movement", which for some years, though apparently with some falling off of låte
has existed in villages. It obtained its impulses from the neighbouring countries,
but, as a rule, it has been carried forward by the people’s high schools, on one
hand, and the temperance movement, on the other. In certain districts it was
above all the summer meetings, which made it famous by assembling large
crowds of people and obtaining the assistance of noted speakers, and sometimes
also poets and artists. Latterly these meetings have assumed very much the
character of rural fëtes. Even more important than these are the local associations
which have come into existence in some districts (e. g., Skåne and Östergötland)
and have been jointly organized by läns. Singing, music, literary recitals,
debates, folk-dances are introduced at these gatherings, the development of which,
however, seems to be threatened by political and social disintegration.
A purpose more clearly studious is evinced by the study-circles formed by the
temperance societies (see p. 744). The young people’s Christian movement is
almost exclusively religious in character; it performs part of the parishwork,
either of a church or a religious community, e. g., "Young peoples associations
of the Swedish missionary Association", "the Guild of young people", attached
to the National Evangelical Union, or else it has the character of
inter-communion as the junior departments of the Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A.
We note, lastly, the social democratic clubs for young people, which assemble
for political purposes but also devote much attention to the acquisition of
knowledge.
A number of associations may be considered to share in the development of
culture, in that they look to the spread of enlightenment in social problems and
to the levelling of class distinctions. We may here cite some instances of
undertakings of this kind. Since 1893, in Stockholm, originally on the initiative of
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