The Grand Duchy of Finland is the most northerly European area in the Russian Empire. It is still largely covered with forests. Beasts of prey—the bear and the wolf—still exist, and in the far north the reindeer is still an important factor in human life. The winter is long and the summer is short. The sun will not ripen wheat, or any cereal save rye, barley and oats, or any fruit save apples. Much of the territory is wet and swampy, but despite all these things the Finlanders of to-day are entitled to a high place among the nations of the earth. They have developed agricul ture to a remarkable degree. They raise an abundance of such grains as will ripen, both for home use and export, and thay have transformed their damp marshes into dairy lands that will compare favourably with any in the whole world. They are better supplied with railroads and canals than any part of Russia proper. All through Europe, except in the far south, Finnish butter and cheese are well known, and the industries of the dairy fairly divide the honours with -lumbering,and fishing.
LIQUOR TRADE IN CHICAGO.
Some Strange Drink Figures.
