Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-12-04
The King of Sweden.

King Oscar of Sweden, who is destined
to take such an important part in the set
Element of the Venezuelan question, is an
interesting personality in every way. His
father, King Oscar L, was the son of Mar
shall Bernadotte, one of Napoleon's great
est generals, and the history of the reign
ing family of Sweden proves that truth is
indeed stranger than fiction. The first
Bernadotte was born in Pau, in Southern
France, of a simple provincial family. In
the upheavals of the French revolution he
became a soldier, then Marshal under Ma
poleon, was offered the throne of Sweden,
an offer he did not decline, and for three
quarters of a century he and his descend
ants have been rulers of the land. The
mother of the present king was the Prin-
cess Josephine of Leuchtenburg, daughter
of Eugene de Beauharnals, son of the
Empress Josephine by her fret marriage
and stepson OF Napoleon. Today no de-
scendants of Napoleon, kingmaker though
he tried to be, sits on throne, but the
great grandson of the divorced empress
reigns over the dual kingdom of Scandi-
navia.
As the fourth son Oscars chances of be-
coming king seemed so small he felt he
could follow more or less his own inclina-
tions as regards career, and, like many
another boy, a sea life seemed most attrac-
tive. At the age of IL he entered the Swed-
ish navy, and passed through all the grades
until he became lieutenant. After his first
voyage, when he visited England and the
Mediterranean, he entered the University
of Upsala, where he made a specially Of
mathematics, still devoting himself to ma
val pursuits. On leaving the University
he passed his military examination, and
again resumed his naval life. The death of
his brother, Gustav l, made the world re-
gard him in the light Of possible ruler of
Sweden, as his brother Charles had no
children. The time had also come when
it was thought best for him to marry, and
he set out in quest of a wife, whom he found
in the princess Sophia of Nassau, to whom
he was married in 1857. On the death of
his father, in 1859, his brother became
King, and Oscar became Crown Prince.
Until he assembled the throne, in 1872, o.
car devoted great deal of time TO literary
work, and list of his works would be no
small one. He is poet as well as prose
writer, historian as well as scientist, and
even now, with all the duties which de-
volve upon him, he still finds time for his
favorite pursuits. Four sons have grown
up around him.
The King of Sweden, who is now in his
65th year, carries his feet inches with
grace and activity, and from his lofty stat
ure is known as the "Giant King" He
and his family lead simple life, with as
little ceremony as it were possible to have
and be king.
One of the most conspicuous buildings
in Stockholm is the palace, the home Of
the royal family when in the capital. 1t is
great rectangular building in the Italian
renaissance style, commanding a magnif-
cent view of the harbor and city. The pri-
vate apartments of the King anr Queen,
the Crown Prince and Crown Princess are
shown TO visitors when the family is alb
sent. They are cozy, comfortable rooms,
looking as If they we're really used. The
state apartments have an air of magnih-
cenee, which comes from spacious areas,
rich tapestries and pictures, great vases of
malachite and Sevres and other royal por-
celains, and TO be seen to advantage there
should be some court function going on.
Some of the finest tapestries in Europe,
from the most famous looms, belong TO the
Swedish crown.
Save for the strangeness of the language,
the pretty girls in their peasant dress, and
the wonderful cleanness of the streets,
around the docks as well as in the better
portions of the town, the capital of Sweden
is very much like any other city in its size
at first glance, and wears very modern air.