FINLAND: Old Man Pehr

Every year on the President's birthday thousands of Finns march merrily past his yellow Palace in Helsingfors roaring, "Maamme! Maamme! Our Land! Our Land!" To buy the President a "birthday present" money was raised this year by nation-wide subscription—on the distinct understanding that the President will donate his present to help fight tuberculosis (Finns being especially susceptible to this disease). Last week came the 70th birthday of a National Hero elected last February: President Pehr Evind Svinhufvud whom 4,000,000 Finns call Ukko Pekka ("Old Man Pehr''). Outside the little yellow Palace with...