Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-10-18
The New King of Sweden.
Ern,n the Nau YnrE Eraninp Post

The New King of Sweden.
From the New York Evening Post.
rhe number of eccentric monarchs in Eu-
rope has been increased by the accession of
King Oscar II , of Sweden and Norway. Like
nearly every member of the house from which
he has sprung the new Scandinavian ruler is a
gifted man. During one of the most impor
tant debates on the reform of the election laws
in the Swedish House of Lords he related with
pride the remarkable answer which his grand
father had given to the French historian,
Ampcre, during visit which the latter had
paid him at the royal palace in Stockholm.
Ampere had expressed bis surprise at the sim
plicty of his reception at the hands Of King
Bernadotte oh, replied the latter, laugh
in. THAT is nothing What am but Re
publican on the throne? p
The history or King Oscar up to the present
time is full of interesting incidents. His fam
er. Oscar, l., was great disciplinarlan, aid
iusisted that his two sons should be treated by
their teachers with the same severity as ordl
nary schuol-boyS. lie himself would examine all
their compositions after school hours; and
when he found that they were not satisfactory
he would administer with his own hands the re-
uuired correction. Having received several
rather painful ctStigationS in this manner, the
Young Oscar, in his twelfth year. ran away
from home, and succeeded in finding his way
10 Copenhagen, where the emissarics of his
parents found him playing in the Street,at mar
bles, with some little raganutfns No Euro
pcan prince ever presented more iudlcrous
aspect than young Oscar when he Was thus
found, barctooted and his clothes soled and
torn. But he asserts to the present day that
he enjoyed himself gloriousy during that brief
absence from home.
In his seventeenth year he was sent to the
University of Upsals, where he took part ln
all the practical jokes Of which the students 10
that ancient seat of learning are so fond. At
Ter remaining there about SIX months he
shocked his royal father by coolly Informing
him that he had fallen desperately iu love with
the daughter of Que of the University protes
sorS, and was determined to marry her.
AS a matter Of course King Oscar would
not permit this and the young man was re-
called to Stockholm, where he was not long
In becoming very popular by his unaffected
lie delighted 10 walking through the streets ot
Stockholm after nighttall in an humble suit Of
clothes, and many an act OF brutality On the
part of the police was prevented by his gallant
and timely intervention. He was also luvarla-
Div present at fires 10 the capital, and nothing
could prevent him from working on such occa-
sions with the utmost vigor at the engines.
la 1852 he and young friend of similar
disposition made an excursion to Chrlstlana,
in Norway They travelled incognlto, and
registered assumed names at second class no.
tells. Strolling after dark through the streets
of the city they unfortunately were attacked
bv gang of robbers, who Knocked them
down and rifed their pockets Without a
cent in their pockets the two distinguished
gentlemen returned to their hotel The next
moruing the landlord presented his bill to
;hem. They confessed that they had no
money, owing to their mishap OF the night
before The landlord utterly refused to be-
leve their story, aud threatened to invoke
the interference Of the police. Nalnly did
they try to dissuade him from his purpose, bnt
rushing from the room he not only locked them
in, but placed at the door stalWart porter,
armed with club. The position 10 which the
future King of Sweden was placed was SO lu-
dicrous thai he could not help bursting INTO
neal of laughter. When the irate landlord
finally reappeard and brought two policemen
with him, the two gentlemen explained VINO
thew were. but they had some difficulty IN estab-
fishing their identity. =,
When the Court of Stockholm selected a
German princess as consort OF the wayWard
Oscar the latter went secretly to Lubbock, and
in disguise travelled with her on the steamer
that conveyed her from that port to Stockholm,
watching his intended bride with the closest
attention What he saw OF her satisfied MN
that she was an excellent young woman ana ne
has ever siucc proved an atfectlonate husband
to her.
amusing stories about the eccentrlclties OF their
Young King: but they know, also, that he
warmly sympathzes with the people, and they
are convinced that his regl" will be prosper
ous and beneficial to the country.
FIRE PROOF BUILDINGS. our ire
proof buildings really fire proof? The question
is now matter Of controversy. ln ChlcaSo'
when the flames swept over that portion OF the
city in which houses had been erected with
special reference to the supposed reslstehce ~
fire. it was found that iron burned aud twisted
and proved totally inadequate to resist neat Il
even added to the work of destruction, tor, IN
giving way, its weight often carried the Whose
strncture with it, in one common rum otone
work disintegrated and crumbled, Brick, well
embedded in cement, stood the best. But this,
i NAV be said. was an exceptional and unex-
,mnIcd conAaqration Take the recent burn
inrs in Paris. then, and we find the same thing
happening. Hollow iron columns, especially,
were weakened aud speedily gave way Gu rlo.h
London. ALSO comes the same testimony: Oap.'
Shaw, chief engineer of the LONDON, hre oe
partment. testi6es that he has never known au
instance of a solid wooden post being burnt
through so as to lose its bearing before nre
could be put out, and timber CONSTRUCTION ~
his opniou, is superior to either iron or stone
ne now amnloved. The best fre-resstlng ma
tcrals are said to be be artificial Plaster, even,
is a good protector, and concrete brick and
Ransome's stone, are all said to be superior, to
ordinary building stone and iron.-Bah Goz.
o1'A LUMP PLASTER!
- c, M,ll;o 1E0 tons