The Daily News. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1904. RUSSIA AND FINLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 31, 11 February 1904, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1904. RUSSIA AND FINLAND.

In the stress of the great trouble looming in the Far East Russia is apparently inclined to extend a little more compassionate treatment to the <»overnment and people of her I Isthmian depondji-ncy. In certain powers relating to local giovernmenv, such as the exclusive right of discussing political measures, were taken from the Finnish Diet, and this has been a source <W* much resentment amongst the petipie. On Monday we pii'bHs'hed a cable message stating that the Czar had given permission to 'the Finns to celebrate the centenary of their national poet, whose life had Iwn inseparably wrapped up in that of his country. This patriot 'writer, Johan Laid wig: Ktmeberg, the greatest poet who has written in Swedish, and the national poet of Finland, was bom in that country, at JacoKstad, on the (.iulf of Bothnia, on Fob. 5, I8O4!" Ilj.s fiat-hcr, a retiircd st\;v captain, gave him a Tjood education ; from U'ie time he entered (1822) the University of A'hj'o 'Jie supported himself. In after three years c.f private "coaching," Uunoilerg was given a secretary.*, ,'ip iu the univeisity (removed to Hel.-d*&for.s in l.Hi>7) nnd was named readiu* in Fhxjuence (Latin lilemtane), and ill the following year u'd'ded to those duties that of teacher ii\ the lyoeuni. In these years lite commenced to write his poems, the "Flk-hiinters" being perhaps the iMvtf, in jls description of the rural life anil manners of the oldworld people anion# whom lie dwelt. The atmosphere enveloping his poetry was the iinnudiate creation < f his own wholesome, healthy, manly tcmjHTament and genius ; one sterling ingredient -is a tpiaint nauiral humour, deep-seated and pure in (jluality. Kuneberg's poetry if, moreover, the written en.'wdiment of the deepest feelings and sentiments of the dual people of Finland, of the Finns no less than of the Swedish - mid wj.t h his naine all Finlanders associate their passionate devotion to-their country. Kune'bieiig luld other posts in the university, aiKl also edited the llclsinjufors Morning New* of the time. His greatest artistic achievement, if not the greatest in ..Swedish

litei/ature,' was ">King al-t-hongh its fame lias been eclipsed by Ensign Rial's 'glowing stories of Fhilaiwl's 'heroic sti*u:ggk'S ag'ainst lh«* guant Russia in IftOi). The opening ponin of the series. "Our land, our land." • haw been fittingly choson as tlie nal-ional song of Finland. 'l'lif? wvy Ueail of 11k- people throbs in these solids.