The Portland daily press., 1896-11-18

good seaman, a valiant captain of a
man-of-war, and an able com nlander of
a squadron. He was hard stu dent,
acquired knowledge easily, and had a
habit Of mastering everything he under
took: and the fact that the cares and
responsibilities Of government would
probably never fall upon him gave him
both leisure and inclination for acquire
ment and culture vastly greater than
could have been the case had he been
the Crown Prince And Oscar improved
all his advantages. He grew to be one
of The best educated men of the day-an
extraordinary linguist, speaking fuently
half dozen languages besides his own;
a writer of rare felicity of expression; a
poet whose works are not only widely
read in Sweden, but have been translated
into German and have taken the prize of
the Swedish Royal Academy Of Arts;
and an orator that, for beauty Of
thought terseness of diction and majesty
Of delivery, has, for a score of years,
stood easily and admittedly first in the
kingdom-facile princeps.
In the meanwhile his brother, Prince
Gustaf, the gifted poet and musical COM
poser died in Norway, wept by two
kingdoms. The little Royal Highness
his nephew, passed away soon After in
infancy: and when, in Septemb Der, 1872
his eldest brother, King Carl XIV. the
merry md lover monarch, travellin &
homeward weary and worn, reached his
dear old Sweden only to die at Malmo,
then, in the Providence ofEGod, the royal
mantle fell upon Oscar and he became
King in tho lana at the age of forty
three.
The rule of King Oscar has been wise,
considerate. humane, liberal; and in
oreasing years bring TO him the growing
respect, confidence and loveIof his people.
This afectionate regard has plainly
manifested itself in the brilliant ard en-
January, 1889. the Swedish people
thtougt.sce the kingdom celebrated King
Oscars si4tieth birthday. His subjects
are proud Of him. too, for they know
that, in extent and variety of learning
ana attainments,. he stands at the head
of tne monarohs of the world.
On ascending the throne, he took for
his motto: "Brodrafolkens val',-"The
brother. peoples weal''-and to this motto
he has ever been true in heart in
thought and in deed.
If there is a railroad to he opened, a
masonic hall to be dedicated, an exhibit
tion to bs inaugnrated, or cornerstone
to be laid anywhere in Sweden, the King
is always invited TO be present and make
the speech of the occasion, and he al
ways responds favorably, for he delights
in travelling about and mingling with
his people. l suspect, also, he enjoys
making speeches, for certainly no one
could speak SO well without enjoying it.
His Majesty is much on the move
about his dominions. He saves time by
travelling at night. His private car is
always in readiness, he lies down soon
after entering and sleeps as soundly as
in his own bed-chamber at the palace.
Speaking of his constant iourneyings,
I once told him that we Yankees had
long striven in vain to invent machine
of perpetual motion, but that His
Majesty seemed to have solved the prob
lem in his own person. The King smiled
and then added, seriously that it was a
part of his politics to go among his peo-
pic as much as possible, to mix with
them, to learn their wants aud asplra-
tious, not only among the citizens of 5his
capital, but to travel widely among his
subjects all over the two Kingdoms. to
make their acquaintance personally. and
to take them by the hand.
81 know not, " added the King, "How
it lnay be in rep blios: but in king
dom think there is still left OF at least
thoTe ought to be, something of the
patriarchia1 In government, and it is the
duty of a King to show himself rs the
father of his people. And l make this
not only part of my politics personally,
but my orders to nay Iieutenants III the
provinces-the governors of the clans
arc to 90 likewise: not to remain at