Evening star., 1896-11-28

academy. sent 1t In anonymously to that
illustrious literary Areopagus. That he
has not enrolled himself I'm the poetic guild
on the western side Of the peninsula also
may be explained by the fact that the re-
vival Of Norwegian literature is of recent
date.
The classical days of Swedish poetry fell
at time when the generation to which
the king belongs was at the proper age
for receiving their first enthusiastic in
spirations. The splendid nterary glory Of
Norway on the contrary comedies with
his maturer years and may he said to be
one OF the ornaments of his own reign
The Norwegian representative men of ge-
MUS are his own contemporaries though
most of them are younger than he, and he
has not been tempted to enter, into any
emulation with them, chiefly. perhaps, be-
cause his own poetical taste and style were
originally trained in a different and 1t may
be more sedate and refined school.
Interested in Science.
OF several branches of scientific and
technical study he has acquired a very
respectable knowledge. In military, and
particularly naval. matters the experts
pronounce him to be a match for any one
among his generals or admirals. He is
well up in Swedish and universal history.
and he has published some essays and
even editions of documents which bear wit
ness not only of the interest he takes in
the past fortunes Of his country, but also
OF the capacity he possesses for original
research. Nobody therefore can say that
he did not merit to the full the exceptional
distinction which he shares with no other
royal person in Sweden, living or dead
the distinction conferred upon him by the
University of Lund in promoting him, Duke
OF East-Gothia, as he was then, to the
degree of doctor of philosophy at their sec
ond centenary In the year 1865.
With able and Intelligent interest he fol-
lows the advances made by modern science
and learning: both at home and abroad.
shown nd y,al,ln h1.
pitality to the International congresses that
have been held from time to time in his
capitals in the furtherance of knowledge,
He proves a liberal and discerning patron
out OF his private purse. when pecuniary
encouragement Is needed for recondite re-
search or costly expeditions. Prize funds
at the home universities and for inter-
national competition have been established
by his endowments. Nordenskiold's voy-
age in the Vega, when he found the long
sought-after northeastern arctic passage,
was equipped to a large extent by the
king. At this moment he is supporting
with considerable grants Of money not
Nnly the adventurous voyage OF Nansea
and the daring balloon enterprise of NJ
Andree In search of the north pole, but
also the travels Of NJ. Hedin In some of
the remote and unexplored regions of CEN
tral Asia.
EurODe's Best Instructed Monarch,
The Seandinavians then may Justly take
pride in claiming to possess the best-in-
structed monarch in the Europe OF today,
a man who. even If he had been born to
private station. would not presumably have
failed to attract public attention and to
achieve something remarkable in more
pursuits of life than one. AS II is, the
king has seen the effect and impression
of his personal gifts reinforced, to say
the least of It, by the frank and uncon-
strained ways Of Intercourse that, In COM
parfson with most other European coun-
tries. prevail between separate classes of
his peoples. The kingshlp itself Is In our
days, as Of old, regarded - . truly national