In the New Finland" inland is this year in festive garb. "It is just ten years since she grained her independence, and is now recognized as a prospering Republic. The frst years were hard and seem-almost hopeless, but with wise statesmanship she has pulled throu-ich, Many evils had to be righted, and one of thp first was to break up the tracts of land, owned by the landed proprietors, into small holdings, owned now by the peasants themselves. The ce-operative system is more developed hero. than in any other country. The banke are all ce-operative—that is to say, the farmers, forest owners, Taam: facturers, dairy owners, ete. all have their own banks, from which they draw a yearly per cent. One is amazed at the yearly dividends paid; and this has been effected in the course of ten years, Carving Out Their Own Way Women in Finland have taken a leading part in all political und social battles, They are all cultured to a degree, and have several members in the Cabinet, One can searcely meet a mediocre feminine type {in this new land, and they take no other country as 'a model, but carve out their own way. One of these is the admirable "Lotta" movement —the first thing one notices. on entering Finland. The nonic really "Lotta Svaerd." This is a battalion of 40,000 women from the age of 21 to 60. They are trained soldiers so to speak, but their work is chiefly supplies ' (canteen and marketing. laundry work, ambul-ce, nursing, etc.). They are all rigorously schooled and each one goes througle a course in ski-running.
'The uniform is of a greenish' grey, thoroughly military in all respects. These female patriots are stationed-all along the vast eastern frontier, and so army proper. is Fru Berg Pre de-camp Fra Vas The whole nation is intensely musical. Sibelius, in his home 40 miles from habitation, is the Great Master. One can lose oneself entirely listening to the grandeur of all or anything he has composed. Ebelfelt and Gatien have put their thoughts on canvas, and can show the world what can come out of the land of "The Thousand Lakes.'
Up-to-Date Education The schools are all of a very modern type, and even far up country the education received is thoroughly up to date. A woman is, of course, the Minister for Education, but this is not to be wondered at when one knows that
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.