Chips Of Foreign Ashlar.

CHIPS OF FOREIGN ASHLAR .

LONDON , SATURDAY , OCTOBER 24 , 1863 .

No . 1 . — AMONG THE SWEDES — MEN AND TURNIPS . What is a Swede ? If you consult an English agricultural labourer , he will without hesitation inform yon that a Swede is " a tarnip sure , " and then laugh at your simplicity iu not knowing the

fact . It may safely be said that " Swedes " are highly honoured by thousands of people Avho never heard of Sweden .

We confess to having ourselves had somewhat dim ideas of Scandinavia . In our school days we had a decided conviction that Scandinavia was chiefly remarkable for the popularity o £ scurvy and kindred diseases—a sad misconception , for which

we humbly apologize . In later years we somehow or other associated that part of the Avorld with arid regions in which winter SDOAY was only relieved by summer sand . However , Ave have been " among the Swedes , " and Ave like both " men and turnips . " .

September was late in the year to go to Sweden , and hacl Ave known the terrible ordeal through O which Ave Avere to pass in our outward voyage , we should certainly have preferred to stay in England rather than have encountered the perils of the sea .

Old travellers say that the voyage to North Europe is as bad as any in fche world , and though we have seen something of rough equinoctial gales in the English and Irish Channels , our sufferings never equalled what we endured in transit by

steamer from Hull to Gottenburg . For four ni ghts and three days we found an habitation in the splendid screw steamer , "Hero , " of Messrs . Wilson , Sons and Co ., aud for three-fourths of

that time our situation can be better imagined than described . Charles Dickens ' s narrative of sea sickness on his outward voyage , for which see the American Notes , may furnish some idea of our horrible state . But we Avere not alone in

affliction , for every passenger but one was similarl y affected , and even the cabin stewards exhibited signs of qualmishness . Still , it was no comfort to knoAV that others shared our troubles , for seasickness is eminently selfish , and will admit of no

attempts at public or private philai ; fchropj T . Louis XIV . of France used to say , " L'Btat c ' est -moi ; " and the sea-sick sufferer feels acutely that Le Monde c ' est moi . He desires only the statesman ' s

Chips Of Foreign Ashlar.

policy "the greatest happiness to the greatest number—one . " We were a pleasant company in the " Hero , " notwithstanding our griefs ; but , singularly enough , the writer was the . " only Freemason on

board . Among others Ave had Avith us the Swedish Consul at Hull , Avith his family , and several merchants trading with Sweden , who proved to be men of the right sort , and whom we hope some clay to meet again . In our OAVU cabin there was

also domiciled a jolly little Frenchman , for whom everybody took an especial liking . Monsieur Avas terribly sick , but he maintained his vivacity throughout . Ever and anon , wheu addressed with the inquiry— " Comment vous parte : ; vous ,

monsieur ? " he replied with an air of profound ! misery and yet irresistible drollery—• " Je suis tres malade—tres malade ! " Monsieur was a professor of designs , AVIIO was leaving the establishment of Campbell , Minton , and Co ., Stoke-upon-Trent , to occupy a post in a china-ware factory in Stockholm . We aftenvards met him in

Stockholm , when he appeared delighted wzfch thafc city and its inhabitants , praising them above England , though he said he liked the English people . The officers of the steamer were indefatigable in attending to the unfortunate passengers , but

on one occasion Ave evoked a hearty burst of laughter , instead of sympathy from the otherwise decorous steward . " How do you feel , sir ? " said he . " Feel , " Ave replied , " Avhy there will be nothing left of us but a telegram when the steamer

gets to Gottenburg . " We have forgiven him . Words cannot express our delight when we reached Gottenburg ; but , alas ! AVO bad not done wifch the old enemy , for our head swam wifch fche motion of the vessel for three or four days

afterwards . The man who could invent an effectual cure for sea-sickness Avould earn the gratitude of the whole human race , but Ave have no hope of such a consummation . In our frequent journeys by salt water we have tried many nostrums , "

antinauseas , " " gastrodynias , " and what not ; but we have always found them good enough in fair weather but useless iu storms . In fact , seasickness , like that other nuisance the boils , wifch Avhich humanity is sometimes afflicted , can only

be palliated by doses of laudanum . The only consolation the sea-sick have is that "ifc will do them good , " and they would gladly forego the possible good to get rid of the actual had . Gottenburg Ave found to be a thriving business