Huntsville gazette., 1886-03-27
THE SWEDISH DIET.
Opening It With Impressive Royal
Ceremonies.

The Diet answers to the American
Congress, being composed of two
Chambers. The second Chamber has
two hundred and fifty members, elected
every two years, while the first Cham
Der has one hundred and fifty, elected
every four years. In appearance they
resemble very much any deliberative
body selected from the mass of the
people. Many of them have the air Of
well-to-do business men or farmers,
while here and there you can pick out
professional man from the greater
ease inahis. bearing and his readiness
in debate. Altogether, however, they
are a solid, substantial and worthy
looking body of men. The opening of
the Diet, or Riksdag, as it is called in
Swedish, is always an important event,
and is attended with great ceremony,
as it is the one occasion of the year in
which the King assumes the crown
and scepter, and, clad in his kingly
robes, ascends the silver throne and
personally delivers the opening ad-
dress. One also sees, provided he be
fortunate enough to be invited to be
present, all that is ceremonial and inn
pressive in a royal court. In addition
to the King and his family, the open
ing ceremonies are attended by the
state Ministers, all the principal Off
GERS of the palace, the leading officers
of the army and navy, the chamber
lains, attendants, gentlemen-in-wait-
ing and the diplomatic corps. Each
individual man is in uniform, gay in
brilliant colors and trappings, and
many of them having their. breasts
covered with decorations earned for
meritorions services in their country's
interest. The ceremony always takes
place in the grand hall of the palace, a
room built expressly for the purpose,
which, upon the occasion of yesterday,
was filled with as brilliant gathering
of ladies and gentlemen as most
formal and ceremonious court could
bring together. There was nothing
simple about it, but, upon the con-
trary, it was as imposing and impress
i've as human display could make it,
presentingsa spectacle at once novel
and interesting.
At eleven clock in the morning the
two Chambers attended church in
body. and upon the conclusion of di-
vine service repaired to the hall, where
they awaited the coming of the King
My invitation required me to be pres
ent at twelve O'clock, and knowing
that an invitation from a King means
command, was prompt in my attend
ance, although it was a full half hour
before the trumpets sounded the ap-
proach of his Majesty, and we re-
paired to the gallery in the hall re-
served for our accommodation. The
evidences of the coming event were to
be seen by the great crowds of people
on the streets leading to the palace,
and in and about the court. l have
often been impressed with the orderly
conduct of Swedish crowd. They
are quiet, well-behaved and orderly
people, making no sign Of approval or
disapproval, but quietly satisfying
their inordinate curiosity by silently
standing and looking at what may be
seen. If there is any enthusiasm it is
all pent up and never permitted to I'M
cork itself after the fashion of Ameri-
cans. ...a d ... ,-sr.a
The stairway leading from the court
to the room in which I was received is
broad, winding one, and on this oc-
casion contained two rows of uni
formed guards, with crested helmets,
at present arms. Through this line
of soldiery the visitors passed to.
spacious reception room adjoining the
great hall. In this room were sta
toned the gentlemen-in-waiting, in
brilliant colored uniforms, vino waited
the approach of the royal procession,
and preceded it to the hall. Every or
der is by rank and precedent, and as
every one knows his or her place there
is no confusion or scrambling for van
tagn places The hall is about sixty
by two olhundred feet, with a small gal
lery on either side. It displays very
commentaries economy in its in
terror. i is severely plain and
unpretentious Aside from two
heroic statutes in marble-one of Gus
tavus Adolphus and one of Gustavus
uI.-there are no works of art to re-
ieve the barrenness Of its white walls,
without it lis the frieze, which is in
plaster bas relief. The throne stands
at one end on q dais raised four steps
from the level Of the floor. and above
is suspended canopy Of faded green
velvet, plentifully adorned with crowns
IN gold. The floor and steps Of the
dajs were covered with black tapestry,
also besprinkled with crowns in yellow.
An open space aeme forty feet square,
immedistely IN front of the throne,
was enclosed yassunall rdiling, and
this mace Nnaa cnYared with a rioh