The Indianapolis journal., 1886-02-07
OPENING THE SWEDISH DIET
Impressive Ceremony at the Court Of
the King of Sweden and Norway.
The Two Houses Composing the Riksdag-
The King Addressing His "Good Gen
tIemen and Swedish Men,"

Congress, being composed of two chambers
The second chamber has two hundred and fifty
members, elected every two years, while the
first chamber has one hundred and fifty, elected
every four years. In appearance they resemble
very much any delibsrative body selected from
the mass of the people. Many of them Eave the
air Of well-to-do business men or farmers, while
here and there You can pick out professional
man from the greater ease in his bearing and
his readiness in debate. Altogether, however,
they are 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
address. One also sees, provided he be fortunate
enough to be invited to be present all that is
ceremonial and impressive in royal court. In
addition to the King aud his family, the opening
ceremonies are attended by the state ministers,
all the principal officers of the palace, the leading
officers of the army and navy, the chamberlans.
attendants, gentlemenin- waiting, and the diplo-
matte corps. Each individual man is In uni
form, gay in brilliant colors and trappings, and
many of them having their breasts covered with
decorations earned for meritorious services in
their eountrys interest. The ceremony always
takes place in the grand hall of the palace, room
built expressly for the purpose, which. upon the
occasion of yesterday, was filed with as brilliant
q gathering Of ladies and gentlemen as most
formal and ceremonious court could bring to-
gether There was nothing of Democratic SIM
plicity" about it, out upon the contrary, it was
as imposing and impressive as human display
could make it, presenting spectacle at cnce
novel and interesting.
At IL o'clock in the morning the two chambers
attended church in q body, and upon the conclu-
sion Of divine service repaired to the hall, where
they awaited the coming of the King. My in
vitation required me to be present at II o'clock,
and knowing that an invitation from King
means a command, was prompt in my attend
ance although it was full half hour before the
trumpets sounded the approach of his Majesty,
and we repaired 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 a quiet, we'll
behaved and orderly people. making no sign CT
approva! 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 per-
mitted to uncork itself after the fashion Of
Americans.
The stairway leading from the court to the
room in which was received is a broad, winding
~~.1 90 ant frAdf ftun nf
uniformed guards, with crested helmets, at a
present arms. Through this line of soldiery the
visitors passed to spacious reception room ad-
joining the great hail. In this room were sta
toned the gentlemen-in waiting. in brilliant col
ored uniforms, who waited the approach of the
royal procession, and preceded it to the hail.
Every order is by rank and precedent and as
everyone knows his her place there is no con-
fusion or scrambling for vantage places. The
hall is about sixty by two hundred feet with a
small gallery on either side. 1t displays very
commendable economy in its interior. 1t is Sc
verely plain and unpretentious Aside from two
heroic statues in marble-one of Gustavus
Adolphus and one Of Gustavus III-there are
renness of its white walls without it
is the freize, which is in plaster bass
relief. The throne stands at one end
on dias raised four steps from the level of the
floor, and above is suspended a canopy OF faded
green velvet. plentifully adorned with crowns in
cred with black tapestry, also besprinkled with
crowns in yellow. An open space some forty
feet square, Immediately in front of the throne,
was enclosed by small railing, and this space
was covered with a rich Turkish rug. The mem
bers sat in the auditorium on raised seats, the
first chamber to the right and the second to the
left of the large aisle running from the open
space to the rear OF the room. In the gallery
opposite to the one it was my privilege to occupy
sat the Crown Princess and the ladies of the
a w nj he md
is most gracious and amiable woman, greatly
admired by all classes for the extreme sweet
ness and benignity of her disposition. AS
each member OF the court passed into the hall
and took his appointed place. he paused for a
moment, looked up at the Princess. and saluted
her after the military fashion, which was recog-
nized by a gentle inclination of the head.
After all of the ministers, officers, ETC., had
filed in detachment of guards, known as Charles
XII satalites. marched in and were placed in the
aisle spoken of above. They wore dark blue
frock uniforms, surfaced with yellow, with vel
low-trimmed hats and gauntlet gloves of the
same saffron hue. Following these came the
pages, bare.headed, dressed in green silk uni
forms, with white stockings casped by blue
ribbon at the knee. Two heralds came next
bearing maces, followed by the attendants on
Prince Eugene, the youngest son, who headed
the royal procession. The Prince wore around
his shoulders a long robe of blue velvet, orna-
mented with crowns. and a crown upon his head
His three elder brothers came next in order,
wearing similar mantels, the tails of
which were borne by the chamberlains, the
Crown Prince being distinguished by having two,
while but one performed this Office for the other
princes. They took their seats on either side Of
the throne, and as soon as they were seated the
grand master of ceremonies with his mace, came
in. followed by the King and his attendants
His Majesty wore scarlet velvet robe
trimmed with ermine, with a large ermine
collar about his shoulders; upon
his head was crown set In brilliants, rubies and
saphires, while in his right hand he carried
scepter and in his left a roll Of manuscript.
Three chamberlains bore up his robe while others
accompanied him ON either side. As soon as he
had taken his seat upon the throne the mace
bearer struck the floor once. turned to the King,
made a low bow, when his Majesty without fur
ther formality unfolded his manuscript and
commenced to read his address The King has
a magnificent voice, and brought some little
dramatic effect into his reading, which, from the
opening sentence of "Good Gentlemen and