Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1942, Blaðsíða 41

FINNISH EMIGRATION
3i
cially from Finland, because of the general attitude to emigra-
tion mentioned above; but Church circles have greatly fostered
and supported them, among other things by sending out at dif-
ferent times more than 70 clergymen of the Church of Finland.
There is, however, no doubt that the homeland itself would
have benefited from a more extensive support, especially in the
sphere of culture, where the intellectual life of the Finns in
America has already provided a demand for our literature and
a sphere of action for our artists.
Some of our literature found its way to America, especially
through the agency of the “Kansanvalistusseura” (National Edu-
cational Society) and the “Raittiuden Ystavat” (Friends of
Temperance), as early as the end of last century, and according
to our publishers the export of literature was valued at:
about 400,000 marks during the first decade of this century
about 1,040,000 » » » second » » » »
about 4,800,000 » » » third » » » » .
In the 1930’s the figures were at first 580,000 marks annually,
but they then fell considerably, at times even to zero, because
of economic depression and other unfavourable conditions.
Since 1900, and especially since 1918, about 50 artists —
chiefly singers and other musicians — have performed among
the Finns in America, many of them several times. Concerts have
also recently been given by two large male choirs: the “Yliop-
pilaskunnan laulajat” (the Helsinki University Male Chorus) and
the “Finlandia Male Chorus.” These visits have had a stimulating
effect on the intellectual life of our compatriots and have often
resulted in a considerable financial profit to the individual artists.
It has not been generally realized that the Finnish population
in America might be an appreciable factor in our export trade,
and capable of even further exploitation. Yet it must not be
forgotten that for some of the exports listed in our statistics,
e. g. building-stone, cheese, Baltic herring, separators, and hard
rye bread, the Finns in America have been the chief customers,
and the market for these and other Finnish products might no
doubt be greatly increased by the activities of Finnish-American
business men and especially the co-operative movement.
Another way in which information and impressions have
been exchanged, especially with America and Canada, and which
has been very profitable for Finland, has been the visits paid to