Connecticut western news., 1897-08-26
THE EXPORTED KISS.

To the north of Europe, at the en- trance of the gulf of the Baltic sea, stands city resembling in its site "the queen of the Adriatic." This second Venice is known by the name of Stock holm, where in former days reigned two of the wisest and best of monarchs, by name Gustsvus the Great. The first, be- cause of his patriotism, skill and gen ius, had rescued his country from the subjugation of the Dane, and the sec- ond, by his indomitable energy and military knowledge, had exalted her to the first rank among the nations of the world. The latter dying in 1643, the crown devolved upon his daughter, Christine, then scarcely 15 years of age.
 It was a morning of July, 1645, in Stockholm. The air was resounding with merry ringing of bells, the roaring of artillery and the shouts of the popu- lace, for it was the natal day of the youthful queen. Nobles, squires and the learned of the land had congregated to pay their homage to their youthful sovereign, and the peasant from the most distant regions of Sweden had contrived to make his way to Stockholm to gain glance of the fair creature whose fame sounded throughout the world, and whose learning had been ex- tolled by Descartes aud Samaise.
 The court of the palace was thronged with anxious spectators, and the troops were ranged in due order to greet the appearance of the queen, when suddenly the windows were thrown open and the flower of Sweden-ladies, nobles and officers-appeared in the most gorgeous uniforms. All eyes were directed to one point, and universal cry arose of "She comesr But Christine was not there. It was the young and handsome Count Lagardie, the favorite of the queen, who appeared and, having waited till the enthusiasm of the populace had sub sided, read as follows:
 "A bold and insolent peasant having dared to insult her majesty, it is deemed expedient that he should suffer punish ment, but in consideration of the day, and that no cloud should mar the fes- tivities, the queen ordains him to re ceive 15 blows in the presence of the assembled multitude as a warning to future offenders.
 The chief of the police, with his as- sistants, having conducted the prisoner into the center of the court, executed the sentence. The poor fellow with difficulty refrained from giving vent to his sufferings, and the people looked on with amazement and pity at so sudden and ignominious punishment. It ap- peared that this man was poor young miner who had come from Norberg to Stockholm to share in the sports and pleasures of the birthday of his queen. His crime arose from his ignorance of the laws of etiquette. It had been told him in the province of Westmanland that on this day it was the custom Of the sovereign to be not only accessible to her court and the nobles of the land, but also to the meanest of her subjects; that all had the privilege to approach and kiss the royal hand.
 Kiss the hand of a queen, the hand of Christine-she that was the idol of his life, whose portrait was the only ornament that graced his smoky cabin -lb "do q udppldSSS W HUI uO uCNt tI hoped to enjoy, and the young miner resolved at all hazards, all trouble and fatigue to journey to Stockholm and share in the royal condescension. FrCn Norber2 to Stockholm was long aLd fatiguing journey, and his means were not the most ample. But this was noth- ing-the image of Christine was to him as the loadstar to the mariner, and he reached Stockholm the evening before the royal birthday.
 Having arrived, he directed his steps to the church of St. Nicholas to ask of heaven many years of glory and happi- ness to the youthful sovereign, and | then with a portion of his little means | purchased smart costume, in which having attired himself he rambled about the city, feasting his eyes on the | many wonders which for the first time | he had beheld, and now to him ap- peared almost as creations of fairyland | or romance.
 | The morning dawned bright and | beautiful, and the forts of Fredericks- | burg and Waxolm announced that Chris | tine had reached her sixteenth year. | Awakened by the roar of artillery, Carl | started from the ground where, like many others, he had passed the nigh, in slumber, and, although yet early, | found the streets thronged with thou | sands of inhabitants, evinoing their en- | thusiasm in every possible manner. AS the day wore on Carl mingled with a train who were proceeding to the pal | l>, a,.l handsome figure contrived, although unintentionally, to pass the guard and enter the vestibule. The poor fellow, | bewildered and delighted with the mag nificence which on every hand sur rounded him, kept wandering about, re- | gardless as he was ignorant of all eti-
 quette, jostling and pushing aside no-
 bles, ladies, officers and other function
 aries--in short, all who impeded him.
 At length, having entered the great
 gallery, his simple costume attracted
 the gaze and called up the astonishmen of the assembled multitude. Murmurs upon murmurs rose all around, but stil
 Carl kept advancing. He was ignoran
 of the storm then gathering and hat proceeded as far as the door of the hal
 of audience when the officer in waiting
 demanded his name and business. IL
 was about to reply when, catching
 glance of Christine, his enthusiasm
 knew no bounds, and pushing the office
 aside he rushed into the royal presence
 seized the hand which at that momen