Evening star., 1896-11-28
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Institution that stands in no need of being
protected against vulgar depreciation by
retiring and formal stiffness in its bear
ers. The subjects, now as always from
the Saga ages downward, like to see the
king moving among them as man amonl,
men. forfeiting no whit the respect due 10
his person and office, only saving fit re-
serve Tor rare state occasions where royal
majesty ought to shine with some degree
Of pomp, especially in view of keeping
up the dignity Of the country in foreign
eyes.
King Oscar has proved himself equal to
all reasonable requirements In both Of
the aforementioned respects. In receiv-
ing visiting royalty with digntfied cour-
tesy and at great court festivals he is ac-
knowledged to be a master adept at cere-
monious display, tempered with artistic
sense of judicial delicacy. But in every
day life the fetters of court etiquette are
with the persons daily around him bear the
character of friendly intercourse.
A Democratic King.
The kings audience rooms are open for
several hours each week to men and
women Of all sorts and conditions, who are
introduced into the royal presence merely
after having entered their names in a book
laid out for the purpose in the ante-cham-
Der. without previous examination Of their
qualifications or business by any court
functionaries. Besides these regular re-
ceptions the king is wont on many other
occasions to converse privately with per-
sons outside the official circles. He spends
a considerable time every year travelling
about by sea or by rail within his domin-
ions. He is then accessible i'm an informal
manner to large numbers of people. There
Is scarcely town in the united Kingdoms
which he has not visited once or oftener
and where he does not know the leading
men by sight.
1t would be quite Impossible for him to
make an assumed incognito really effective
and so to conceal his whereabouts. because
his fine face and figure would be imme-
diately recognized, Since they have been
met with in almost every part OF the tive
countries. He is almost daily to be seen
walking about in ordinary gen;leman's at
tire in the public promenades or in the
streets. alone or accompanied by bur ona
or two attendants. There is no reason
embarrassed by any futile precautions.
Attempts on the leaders of the state are. il
may be confidently asserted, not likely TO
be heard of i'm the north.
Like all public men In countries gov
erned mainly by the influence of public
opinion. the king has met with the ordinary
fluctuations of popular acclamation and
dissatisfaction. But his personal pepu-
larity has withstood the pcrtinacious and
sometimes bitter attacks to which the poll
icy of his government has of course been
subjected by the opposition parties in thu
parliaments and the press. 1t has with
meant, attempts that certain somewhat Of
ficious authorities have made now and then
to employ some obsolete statues of tha
law against the Insignificant abuse that
obscure and vulgar scribblers stump
orators may give vent 10. In most cases
such action has been nullified by the re-
spectiye tribunals or juries, and no DIM
mutton of the royal prestige, as conceived
i'm harmony with truly national ideas. has
been felt to ensue upon such exercise OF
lenity based upon contempt.