Page 37 - To Dragma October 1930

JANUARY, 1930 35

Sweden is very proud of its beautiful scenery, many portions of -which exceed that of Swit-
erland in beauty. Traveling along over smooth railway roadbeds or paved highways one
omes continually upon litt'e villages situated among the pines near a bay or inlet. This

view is of the outskirts of Brunskogs forest near Varmland.

In contrast the long winter night has a short crisp, and sometime
startling bright day. The swish of skiis in the snow; the sound of steel-
shod feet joyously skimming the ice; the howl of the wind in the forest;
the thunder of freezing lakes; swift horses drawing sleighs to the tune
of merry bells, night comes too soon, but there are more such days to
come.

Sweden is such a nice clean land. One can see so far, and the pine
forests look indigo-blue in the distance. The air smells of pine and fir.
Houses are clean; factories are not recognized as such because the
windows are clean and sport geraniums, and the grass is kept nice and
neat on the lawns. Railway stations are models of perfection, flower-
beds, and hanging baskets tend to make them rather more interesting
than one usually expects railroad stations to be.

As for personal cleanliness, I ' l l tell you a personal story. I went
with my nieces to the city natatorium which happens to be one of the
best in Sweden. We were given keys to the dressing room. I donned
a bathing suit. As I stepped out an attendant appeared, looked at me
m quickly veiled astonishment and informed me that bathing suits were
not allowed. When I again emerged properly unclothed, the attendant
bade.me step into a tub (a tile basin sunk in the floor), and she per-
sonally applied soap and water with a brush resembling the one I scrub
the floors with at home. I assure you no part of my anatomy was
neglected. I was then showered, after that put into a Finnsk Bastu
which is a steam room. After I felt pretty near annihilated by the heat,
said exponent of personal cleanliness, took mercy upon me and forth-
with I Was vigorously showered from up and from down. Then at last