Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-27
SHAPING A KINGS FACE.
Rebuke of a Women who Was Irsulted by
Charles XII.
an .lrAnnN MOL

London News
Charles XII of Sweden has been rep
resented naturally Indifferent to wom-
en-. He abjured at very early age all
intercourse with the sex. The Kings of
Sweden, at that period, were of easy
access on the part of their subjects.
They practiced the condescension, but
with proper limitations, of sometimes
even engaging in their cornwall pas
times
Charles XII, on his accession, enjoyed
his jocund prerogative with all the vivac-
ity of his early youth; and one evening.
but little time before he was to leave
Stockholm to open his military renown,
he went to sup with Dalecarian gentle
man residing at the capital.
Charles was then in his 18th year, and
loved to talk with this brave descendant
of the preserVer of his ancestor, Gusta-
vus Vasa, with all the fervor of his own
royal patriotism. But the young k1ug'5
romance does not end there. He had
seen beautiful serving maid from these
very mountains, the widest regions of
his kingdom. He had seen her once or
twice attend in the rooms, while guest
under the ample iroof of his brave sub
ject. He had seen and admired her in
silence.
1t happened that evening that she
opened the door for him. She was alone
anu he was unaccompanied. Ee could
not resist the temptation, for she blush
ed at the sight of him and exhibited
emotion. The king thought that there
was mora than kipgly awe in this, and
gently taking her hand in his, proffered
a kiss. He expected she would gladly
except it. Bnt he was mistaken. She
drew back. He thought she was only
coy and attem pied to force a kiss. She
struggled; then, bursting from him with
words of severe rebuke, in the agitation
of her repulslon, struck him in the face.
At the moment she disappeared the
gentleman of the house, having heard
the scuffle, came out Of his room TO see
what the matter was.
Or. seeing the king and his disorder
the worthy Dalecarian, after a few hasty
words OF resi- ect, inquired if anything
had happened to disturb his majesty.
Chsrles smiled and CON posedly said:
81 confess that l am disturbed, and
dicomsited likewise, and dcseTvedly. 80,
for / am ashamed to say / tried TO force
a kiss from your pretty damsel, and she
made my cheek suffer for il. This little
adventure, however, will give me my
freedom from ali her sex for life.
Il am king and soldier" 2e con-
tinued; my soul's first object is the
glory at5andant upon those titles, and I
know that the greatest men have at times
wrecked both by an undue admirations
of women. They ruined Antony, they
almost ruined Cesar and made fool of
Alexander; but, by heaven, they shall not
ruin or make a fool CT me. / know the
susceptibility of my own nature, and
the power-the hearts-the tyranny of
the sex. Therefore, from this moment,
] swear by the scepter of Sweden and
this sword never TO look on woman again
with an eye TO desire her smile or fear
her frown-in short, to regard her as to
me no more"
1t was even with solemnitY that he kiss
ed his sword on uttering his vows. and
then, turning their discourse Immediately
on the business of his visit, the old Dele
carian saw only the brave and loyal de-
scendant of the great Gustavus before
him