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Show ISGANDINMH NEWS SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT HAP-PENINGS HAP-PENINGS IN FAR OFF NORTHLAND. ITEMS FROM THE OLD HOME Resume of the Most Important Events in Sweden, Norway and Denmark Of Interest to the Scandinavians in America. DENMARK. A number of organizations In Jylland Invited Consul Stouslaud of Sklen, Norway, to lecture on a proposition propo-sition to start a line of car ferries between be-tween Fredrikshavu, Denmark, and Brevik, Norway. The lecture was given at Aarhus In a large hall, which was packed to Its utmost capacity, Mr. Stousland explained the advantages advan-tages to be derived from such a line to both countries, and the vigorous applause ap-plause at the close of the lecture proved that his words had fallen on favorable ground. Only one vote was cast against a resolution urging the Punish and Norwegian committee to continue their work for the establishment establish-ment of such a line. The adoption of the resolution was greeted with animated ani-mated applause. Indignation was expressed by Danish Dan-ish newspapers following official denial de-nial issued by the foreign office that it was threat of German seizure of a base in Denmark to counterbalance an alleged grant of a similar base in Norway Nor-way to the allies that caused the conference con-ference of Scandinavian monarchs and premiers at Christlania. "We can assure the American press," the Politiken asserted, "that Germany's alleged al-leged threat against Denmark was a pure invention. It would be agreeable If the American press would not make Denmark the subject of such fantasies, fantas-ies, but give better understanding in Denmark's actual and real difficulties." difficul-ties." The number of marriages has Increased In-creased in the Danish capital during the war. There was a slight decrease de-crease In 1915, but that loss has been made up. Even In 1915 there was an Increase of marriages In one parish, par-ish, "garrison parish." This was due to the fact that a large number of soldiers sol-diers entered marriage because the state . offered extra pecuniary aid to married soldiers. The budget for the coming year puts the receipts of the government at about $52,000,000. The expenditures are put at about $35,000,000, which would give a surplus of about $17,-000,000. $17,-000,000. But as about $4,000,000 of. this amount ls to be used for the acquisition ac-quisition of property, the real surplus will be only about $13,000,000 Several cases of night blindness have been discovered among the children chil-dren of the training school at Himmel-bjerggaard, Himmel-bjerggaard, Jylland. The ailment has also been noticed elsewhere. It is said to be due to a lack of fats in the food used by the patients. Night blindness in children is apt to develop devel-op Into complete blindness In the course of time. The government has put an embargo on the exportation of all kinds of goat skins. SWEDEN. A Christmas armistice Is urged in a message to all belligerent countries by the Swedish Peace Arbitration society. so-ciety. The war trade board's terms on which exports of food would be permitted per-mitted to go to the Scandinavian countries coun-tries are said by diplomats in Washington Wash-ington cognizant of their nature to be so strict that they expect those nations na-tions to refuse them. Norway, Sweden Swe-den and Denmark are snld to' feel that to curtail exports to Germany to the point asked by the board would force them Into the war. The board's terms have been cabled abroad, but no answer an-swer hns been received. The announcement an-nouncement that the three kings of Scandinavia had agreed in conference to mutual aid during the war was taken as forecasting a rejection of the terms laid down by the war board. Sweden was first asked to shut off entirely the shipment of Iron ore to Germany. When she- explained her situation the demand was modified, but only to a degree, which Sweden felt would mean violation of her treaty and contract. That Sweden declined to do, fearing Germany would make It a cause for war. It was said that Scandinavian countries felt that It was better for them to give each other oth-er what relief they can rather than run the risk of being drawn into the war. The Swedish Academy of Antiquities has decided to take t lie steps suggested suggest-ed by the national antiquarian for the preservation of the remains of the famous castle and astronomical observatory ob-servatory '.milt on the island of Ilveen by Tycho ISnihe, the great astronomer. astrono-mer. The buildings were put up during dur-ing the years 1 570-1 5S0. They were badly neglected, and in less than a hundred years wore reduced to mere ruins. The excavations are expected to bring to light Interesting objects 'xom past ages. The offer of Sweden to mediate between be-tween Russia and Germany may properly prop-erly be regarded as an unfriendly act, according to authorities in International Interna-tional law In Washington, who declared de-clared that the recognition by Sweden of the bolshevikl government was of Itself prejudicial to the interests of t the allies and might be regarded as deliberate de-liberate hostile. Sweden, it was charged, had "gone out of her way" to befriend the central powers by offering offer-ing mediation, recognizing the bolshevikl bolshe-vikl as the national government of Russia when such recognition had not previously been extended by either of the belligerent groups, creating t he appearance ap-pearance of acting in a partisan manner man-ner for a selfish interest rather than to promote the cause of peace In the world. Sweden also made the offer and granted recognition of the bol-shevlki bol-shevlki despite the refusal of the Russian Rus-sian legation at Stockholm to recognize recog-nize the authority of the maximalists and the repudiation of the usurping bolshevik! by Russian diplomats throughout the world. This circumstance circum-stance was taken to aggravate the Swedisli offense, hut It was Indicated that there was nothing the allies could do to resent it further than to disclose -their displeasure, which, however, would be of little practical effect on account of the restrictions they already al-ready have placed on Swedish commerce com-merce and communications as a result re-sult of the secret service the Swedish foreign office rendered to Germany under un-der the protection of Swedish diplomatic diplo-matic Immunity. NORWAY. Norway, Sweden and Denmark have entered a new agreement to preserve "the utmost neutrality." An official statement announced this result of the conference of the Scandinavian kings and statesmen which took place in Christlania a few days ago. The conference, con-ference, according to announcement, agreed on "Scandinavian harmony and mutual confidence, regardless of the length of -the war, each nation to observe ob-serve the utmost neutrality and all to assist each other by exchange of merchandise." mer-chandise." An agreement was reached reach-ed on the following points: First By reason of the harmony existing between be-tween the three countries, however long the war may last and whatever form it may take, the cordial relations rela-tions and mutual confidence of the three kingdoms shall be maintained. Second In conformity with the previous pre-vious declarations and policies of the three countries, It is the full intention of their governments each for itself to observe the utmost degree of neutrality neutral-ity toward all belligerent powers. Third The desire is expressed reciprocally recip-rocally to aid one another with merchandise mer-chandise during the present difficulties, difficul-ties, and special representatives are to meet immediately to facilitate the exchange of merchandise. At the meeting there was a discussion in reference ref-erence to legislation dealing with the relations of foreigners and Scandinavian Scandina-vian subjects. An agreement also was reached regarding the cdntlnuation of preparatory measures toward safeguarding safe-guarding the common interests of neutrals neu-trals during and after the war. Arne Bjorndal has been hired by the national government to collect old dancing tunes and other Instrumental music. He has just finished his tour of 'Satesdalen, where he says he made a "rich harvest." Some of the tunes came from Telemnrken, that great storehouse of original Norwegian tunes, but they have been modified to suit the taste of the people of Satesdalen. Sates-dalen. Most of the tunes collected by Mr. Bjorndal, however, are peculiar to Satesdalen, and he was greatly surprised sur-prised to find that so many were the exclusive property of Satesdalen. A large proportion of the tunes are waltzes. It was high time that the tunes were saved from oblivion. There are but few fiddlers left In the valley. Modern revivals have smashed the fiddles fid-dles and muzzled the fiddlers. Arne Bjorndal is the only man doing this kind of work In Norway, making it "quite Impossible to cover the field," he says. The music that he collects is sent to the university library for safe keeping. Future ages may find something very valuable in these simple sim-ple sheets. A terrible scandal was avoided just In the nick of time at the recent unveiling un-veiling of a Greig monument in Bergen. Ber-gen. The statue was wrapped In a large piece of oilcloth which was to be dropped at the appropriate moment. Everything was supposed to be in order. or-der. One of the attendants was too impatient, and he pulled a corner of the oilcloth aside to look Inside. What horror ! There the famous composer seemed to be stnndlng In his night shirt ! The statue had heen covered with white sheeting, and the committee commit-tee of arrangements had forgotten to remove it. Now the sheet was removed re-moved just In time to prevent the counterfeit of Edvard Grieg from being be-ing presented to admiring thousands in what appeared to be a night shirt. The construction of a large part of the heating stoves In use In Christlania Chris-tlania ls of such a character that much of the heat ls wasted. To buy a new stove of a more practical construction con-struction nowadays Is n very serious seri-ous matter on account of the abnormally abnor-mally high price. .Tohan Skatleboe, a young engineer In Christlania. has made a timely Invention which be offers of-fers as a cheap way out of the difficulty. diffi-culty. Ills Invention consists of cast Iron plates which are placed In the stoves In such a manner as to Inn-rose the clrr.'ilatlon of the licit r,nu smrkiv |