at some time or other, it would be very difficult to make an exhaustive listing of them all here. For example, the files of the Helsinki University Library show so many books that have come from Duluth that a simple checklist of them would come to more than 20 pages. Several have already been mentioned in these pages, or appear in the footnotes. Some offered their readers "a share in that wealth which is not prey to moths, or rust, and which thieves cannot steal"18 or claimed to present "a summary of well-known currents of thought given with realistic truthfulness."19 They have ranged from "A Dirge for the Dreadful Destruction of the Titanic" to "The Responsibilities of FinnishAmericans in the Nationality Question;" they have ranged from popular books on the interpretation of dreams to excellent dictionaries.

   The Boardinghouses and the Growth of Business: The first Finnish business ventures of the Finns in Duluth were the Lake Avenue boardinghouses. The name poikatalot which is what the Finns came to call them is perhaps a more graphic description `Youth homes.' With hundreds of young Finns streaming into the city and very limited in their knowledge of the English language, it was natural that these boardinghouses became their homes. Nothing but Finnish was spoken, familiar foods were served, crude manners were condoned, and immediate expulsion did not threaten if one could not always pay one's bill on time.

These boardinghouses meant much more than a place to eat and sleep: they were home, where one lived sometimes for years on end, where one rejoiced with the rest, shared another's problems and trials in finding work, or where one even fell in love. At first these houses were run by individuals, but they soon developed into communal undertakings. The Duluth `Toverila' home, for example, was started in 1909, was incorporated in 1912 and joined the Central Cooperative organization in 1930. It was organized with a board of directors, and on the original board Gust Kallio served as president; Edwin Leino, vice-president, Charles Sanden, treasurer; and Oscar Helenius, Jonas Hill and Charles Nyman. It was located originally on Lake Avenue but moved in 1917 to 108 East First Street. It continued to offer meals until 1934, and the home as such did not close its doors until 1942. During the long period of its existence, and particularly during the brisk early years, Toverila and other similar homes

18. Harju, Andrew A., Rikkaudet. Duluth, 1938. Preface.

19. Risto, William, Kaivannosta hautaan. Duluth, 1914. (Brochure)

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