New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-21
IN THE NORTH OF EUROPE.
4 REACTION AGAINST SOME MODERN M
SCENES IN COPENHAGEN.


Copenhagen August 5.
All over the North of Europe reaction Is going
on arainst the uniformity which steam Iocomo-
ton and Geographic press agencies have caused
On. ends II most intense in Sweden which is now
anorv with itself and with its last dynastic FAM
iv for having so initiated the French as TO rob
Stockholm of all original character The iapor
ino classes in Denmark were never addicted 10
bright costumes like their brethren OF Norway ana
Sweden But they chiefly enjoy stories dcaHhs
with episodes and incidents in National lie or
Scandinavian legends The painters go IN the
same direction. EXner leads them along TINS pam
IIe is n revivalist Of the patriarchal manners Oh
the country folks in Denmark, as Dir waiter
Scott was of those of feudalism lie always now
oyer claimed to go no further back than his mem
ory took him. His paintings remind one OF
wilkes. They give scenes of rustic life during
Tho LONG winter evenings of the northern ATTITUDES
To Judge from the logs that blaze on the hearth
Denmark was not denuded to the same degree
that II is in cur time Of woods and forests
Eynor. cotters are honest folk worthy Of the SYM
patbv which the public bestow on them. In one
Of his paintings a family group seen in the light
Of wood fire is beautifully rendered tired
rustic laborcr. verging on perhaps forty-hve, IS
coated smoking in an antique high-backed wooden
chair his eyes following the blue smoke that he
nurs from his mouth The mother, faded ma
from with the remains OF rustic prcttincss, teaches
the Youngest child TO read in an old Bible. lhe
grandmother seated the other side OF the hearth
ia telling story TO lot of children. who, seated
on stools listen TO her with open mouths ana DARED
breath. One Of the little folk turns round toward
the window 10 500 whether ghost does not iurh
behind IL. His innocent terror bears witness 10
tlc graphic power of the grandmother as story
teller
Copenhagen used, ere Norway and the
Sound dues went from Denmark, TO be thought
dissipated place Young Norwegians were for
hidden TO 60 there as tourists. Those allowed to
stay were allie 10 prove that they had serious
reasons for making a sojourn. There was Nor
,yccian provcrb. older than Hamlet. 10 the effect
that when a youth went 20 Copenhagen his
mother should think herself happy IL he returned
home with 50 mach as n shirt on his back. Things
are now on another footing in the Danish capital
which is well built in red brick. monotonous, Clean
spacious and lncking life, except just about the
mort where one finds the flush Of busy life and
secs here and there the uniformity Of wide modern
streets. broken by old gable fronted houses hav-
Ing their facadcs strengthened with supports In
forged and openwork iron, taking the form OF
big SIS There are barracks enough TO garrison
the amy corps Of Paris The palaces. like the
house,. are built on the same pattern. in impos-
ing but In q heavy style The hotels are mag
niflcrnt and the one at which put up Is more
palatial than any royal residence, having been
built by the minion OF Danish King. wien the
Court Of Versailles was the model followed by
all the Continental sovereigns on this tide OF
Turkey II still has a gallery OF mirrors almost
ne magnificent M that in which Louis the Grand
saw his august person reflected and the landlord
and walters Meet courtly manners 40 successfully
rs 20 give the illusion OF being courticrs who
have attained the standard Of polite style re-
quircd by Lord Chesterfield OF his
The Scotch would, perhaps. be surprised that
Copenhagen claims TO BE-. not less than Edir burgh
the Athens Of the North. or course the claim
is urged In the name OF culture, for there IL not
in or about il the ghost Of hill on which 10
build an Acropolis. But the Copenhaccners have
drunk deeper than tho Scotch Of classic antiquity
and they have assmilated II in way that no
other modern capital has ever done. Kings OF
Denmark made their palaces treasure hOuses Of art
II Thorwaldsen evolved as he did, it was because
these crowned connosseurs who preceded him We're
liberal enough TO throw open wide the doors
Of their galleries to enable the peasant hoy TO
enter them. T.. c.