The Portland daily press., 1897-05-05
DENMARK's LOAN TO GREECE.
An Article as Interes! ing as ii is Timely

tDahiel kilham Dodge In New YORK IN
dependent.)
10 loyal Danes and to foreign visitors
one OF the principal attractions Of Dan
Ism summer is the reunion Of the royal
lamlly, which takes place every year
Win greater or less representation Of the
members living outside of Denmark. In
former times the chief feature of these
reunions was the coming of the Emperor
or Russia, generally every other year. 10
enjoy the quiet and informality of Fred.
ensporg, to the weary Gear in the fullest
| ssDse.a palalcs of peace.
In those days quite Inferior interest
attached 80 the person of the Kings Sec
ond SOIL, George I of Greece. and his
beautiful and stately Queen OLGA. Re-
cent events, however, have given in the
memory OF those soenes an Importance to
| this Danish Greek prince that was not
| suspected at the time. The King OF the
Hellsnes, after having successfully repre-
sented the revival of the ancient Greek
athletic spirit in the Olympian games,
has, now with no less success voiced the
ancient Greak heroic spirit in the at
tempt to settle at lenst section of the
vexed Eastern question.
| When Prince Wilhelm, as he was then
called in Denmark was elected, thirty
four years ago, to the throne OF Greece,
his father was still only Prince Chris.
tian. In giving formal permission, the
event occurring in public only a few
| months before his death. old Frederick,
| the most popular Danish king since the
great Christian Nv called on the prince to
seek his peoples love and therein to find
| his strength. And we'll has King George
| followed this wise advice, his motto,
| taken literally from his former SOW
ereign's. The Peoples Love My
| Strength, being as true indeed as In
| word. On first coming to Greece, the
eight teen year old king was accompanied
| by tho Danish statesman, Count Spon-
neck. But az this foreign councillor was
viewed with distrust by the Greeks. who
had had enough of foreign Interference.
| he was soon sent hack to Denmark. and
since then only native advisers have been
chosen. The Russian Grand Duchess
Olga, on becoming queen, followed the
wise example of her husband, believing
| that when you are in Greece YOU should
| do ms the Greeks do.
| But this unavoidable Hellenizatjon has
not been allowed to make the king forget
| his native land and his former country
men. The royal palace at Athens is said
to be open to all visiting Danes MS to all
Greeks without. regard to rank, and no
opportunity for reviving home essocia-
| tious is neglected. The brilliant Danish
rtist and writer, Fra Jerichau, wife of
| the no less distinguished sculptor of that
name, in her book Of travels, published
ABOUT twenty years ago, gives some very
charming glimpses of the home life of
this admirable royal couple. Among
other things she tells that after dinner
the queen took her into the nursery to
soc the little princes and princesses uH.
dressed and put to led.
The home life of the Greek royal
family is as happy and as sensible as that
of the Danes. There is the most com
plete understanding between all the
members, that happy sympathy and
affection that all sensible parents aim to
produce. 1t is. perhaps. not without
political significance that King George is
tie fayorite brother of the En- press Dow
ager of Russia. ard that his second son
ie the most intimate friend of the pre-
sent czaT. In spite Of Palmerston's cyni-
cal remark, royal alliances may influence
foreign politics, especially when one of
the persons concerned is ap absolute
monarch.
NY first eight of the king and queen of
Greece was abont nine years ago at the
Royal theatre in Copenhagen. The
queen WIS conspicuous for the pearls
with which she was adorned and which
are her faVorites az they are her most
becoming ornament Sic bore and
probably still hears striking resem-
blance to Queen Marguerite of Italy. She
looked very sweet as well as beautiful
and I imagine that not q little of her
husbands popularity is due to her.
Befole leaving Denmark Prince viii,
helm was either cadet or an officer in
the Danish navy, the career SO often
chosen by younger SOD, royal or noble;
and his example was followed by his sec
0nd son, the Prince of Corinth, who still
holds the rank Of captain cut Of the line
in the Danish service. The young prince
lived several years in Denmark. where
he became immensely popular. H is pIo-
tioiency in French. in which be is said TO
surpass all the other members of the
Danish royal family, made him n special
favorite of the Princess Marie. the
French wife of Prince Valdemar. The
Danes have retained much Of the sea skill
Of their Viking ancestors. and the Greek
prince could have had no better training
school.
About ten years ago there was rumor.
which has been repeated recently, TINT
the king intended to a hdioate in favor of
his eldest son, Constantine. Prince of
Sparta. TIE immediate cause of the
rumor was the purchase by his meiekty
Of palace in Copenhagen and villa in
the neighborhooa of the city, both of
which are still owned by him, tho latter
being occupied en- his summer visits to
hin old home. Whatever the truth Of the
rumor, it nevor took active form. the
financial troubles that at that time con
fronted 6 eeGe necessitating the presence
of q man Of experience at the hsad Of
affairs. Now there is still less immme-
diats prospect of IN abdicatiun. But if
the present war should end to the honor
of Greece, there woBld he dramatic fit
ness in having. the able sovereign of the
GreeSs retire to the Athens of the North
20 erjoy his welI-earned otium cum dig
ritata