The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1878-09-13
ARGUING WITH a KING.
HOW AN AMERICAN ABUSED THE SWEDISH
KING WITHOUT KNOWING IT.
Chicago Inter-Ocean.


sojourned in the beautiful Queen of the
Malar, Stockholm, few weeks last Sum-
mer. One day took trip across the
little channel which separates the city from
that splendid place of recreation, Djurgar-
den, place where such lights of genius as
Beliman, Lidner, Eiellgren and others
all clustering around to that dilettant King,
Gustavus ILL.,, 80 to 80 years ago-were
wont to spend their leisure hours in taking
social glass which, by the way, was the
absolute ruin of the, in all respects, immod
crate, tragic poat, Bengt Lidner. Here the
quick-witted Bellman improvised his
words and music to number Of his popu-
lar lays, and here stands his bust. Well, in
company with friend went over to the
Garden of Animals Ojurgarden) in a little
steamboat, took long stroll around the
magnificent place, admiring it's splendid
villas, it's fine roads, its grand trees, its
bracing and fragrant air. A very attract
ive-looking restaurant was too tempting a
scene to pass by on a hot day, SO in we
stepped, ordered some refreshments and
were waited upon by a beautiful and polite
young lady, who conld speak little broken
English. After while two other gentle
men entered one of whom attracted my
attention On account of his great height and
distinguished air. They also ordered re-
freshments, mean while keeping up a very
animated conversation. Suddenly the tall
man turned around and fixed his dark eyes
on me.
care you an Englishman?" he asked
with strong Swedish accent.
"No, sir. I am citizen of the United
States"
"Ah, is that so? heard you speaking
English. Well, SO much the better; have
always admired the United States"
II am very glad to hear you say so," l
replied. "In monarchy like Sweden one
could hardly expect to hear SO much said in
behalf of the great Republic, except it be
from the working classes but even they
seem to be going back on her now on ac-
count of the hard times which have pre-
vailed in the United States for the last few
years."
"Well, sir, 0he six-foot-and-four- inches
tall stranger kept up the conversation in
English, although occasionally with appa-
rent difficulty) that's just what I have al
! ways expected. Human nature is the same
the world over, and working man stands
as good chance and is as much respected
in a monarchy as in republic"
:" In this beg leave to differ with you,"
said T. Here | called for another bottle of
claret, inviting the two strangers to par
take, which they accepted with thanks.
Resuming the conversation, [ expressed my
innate hatred to the monarchial system,
pointing out and vehemently denouncing,
among other things, the enormous salaries
Which the overburdened people had to pay
those parasites of society called Kings,
Queens, Dukes and Princesses how the
system created an absurd, imaginary dis
tinction between the rulers and the ruled,
degrading the people in their own self
esteem, and falsely exalting the royal
family" l also emphasized with consid-
erable vigor the extravaganza and licen-
tiousness SO common among said persona
ges, referring TO the cases of Catharine Ii.
of Russia, Louis XIV. Of France, and
Charles XIV. of Sweden, as instances. The
latter's request of Parliament to grant a
dover of 100000 crowns to his daughter
Louisa, at her marriage to Danish Prince
some nine years ago, while the country saf-
fered from famine, and the poor Swedes in
America were sending relief across the
ocean, I stamped as an act of Internal
shamelessness, reciting stanza from the
scathing satire which Edward Axon, a Swe-
dish writer, had ON that occasion addressed
to Charles XIV.
After listening to my arguments few
moments more, the two strangers bade me
adieu, the tall one remarking:
81 should be glad to see you again and
resume the conversation with you. For the
present my business calls me away
Do you know that tall gentleman s''
I asked of the waiter girl, after they had
left.
The girl smiled. Indeed do, sir. He
is Oscar IL, King of Sweden"