The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-07-08
THE EXPORTED KISS.

10 the north of Europe, at the en-
trance of the gulf of the Baltic sea.
stands city resembling in its site "the
queen of tho Adriatic." This second
Venice is known by the name of Stock
holm, where i'll former days reigned two
OF tho wisest and best of monarchs, by
name Gustavus the Great. The first, be-
cause OF his patriotism, skill and gen
lus 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. Tho latter dying i'll 1913, the
crown devolved upon his daughter
Christine, then scarcely 10 years of age
1t was morning of July, 1915, in
Stockholm. The air was Resembling
with merry ringing of bells, the roaring
OF artillery and tho shouts of tho popu-
lace. for it was the natal day of the
youthful queen. Mobiles, squires and
the learned of the land had congrcgated
to pay their homage to their youthful
sovereign. and the peasant from the
most distant regions of Sweden had
contrivcd to make his way to Stockholm
to gain glance of the fair creature
whose fame sounded throughout tho
world, and whose learning had been cx-
tolled by Dcscartes and Samaise.
The court of the palace was thronged
with anxious spectators, and the troops
were ranged i'll due order to greet the
appearance Of the queen, when suddenly
the windows We're thrown open and
the flower of Sweden-ladies, mobiles and
oflicers-appearcd i'll the most gorgeous
uniforms. All eyes were directed to ono
point, and universal cry arose of "She
comes!' But Christine was not there.
1t was the young and handsome Count
Lagardic, the favOritc of the queen,
who appeared and, having waited till
the enthusiasm of the populace had sub
sided, read us follows:
"A bold and insolent peasant having
dared to insult her majesty, it is deemed
eXpedlent that lie should suffer punish
ment, but i'll consideration of tho day,
and that no cloud should mar the fes-
tivitics, the queen ordains him TO re-
ceive 10 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
tho sentence. The poor fellow with
dlfhcnlty refrained from giving vent to
his sufferings, and the people looked OH
with amazement and pity at so sudden
ana lgnomlnlOus punishment. 1t an
peared that this man was IL poor Young
miner who had come from Norbcrg to
Stockholm to share in the sports and
pleasures of the birthday of his onecn.
His crime arose from his ignorance of
the laws of etiquette. 1t had been told
him i'll the province of Wcstmanland
that OH this day it was the custom of
tho sovereign to be not only accessible
to her court and the mobiles of the land.
but also to the meanest of her subjects;
that all had tho privilege to approach
and kiss the royal hand.
Kiss the hand of queen, the hand
OF Christine-she That was the idol of
his life, whose portrait was the only
ornament that graccd his smoky cabin
1t was happiness which he had never
hoped to enjoy, and the young miner
resolved at all hazards, all trouble and
fatigue to journey to Stockholm and
share III the royal condescension. From
Norberg to Stockholm was u long and
fatiguing journey, and his means were
not the most ample. But this was moth
lng-the image OF Christine was to him
us the loadstar to the mariner, and he
reached Stockholm the evening before
the royal birthday.
Having arrived, he directed his stems
to the church of. st. Nicholas to ask of
heaven many years of glory and happi-
ness to the youthful sovereign, and
then with IL portion of his little means
purchased Il smart costume, i'll which
having attired himself he ramblcd
about the city, feasting his eyes OH 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 wear
Awakened by the roar of artillery. Carl
started from the ground where. like
many others, he had passed the night
Ill slumbcr, and, although yet early.
found the streets thronged with thou
sands of inhabitants, cvncing their en-
thusiasm i'll every possible manner. AS
the day wore on Carl mingled with a
train who were proceeding to the nal
ace, and from his smart attire and
handsome figure contrivcd, although
to pass the guard and
enter the vestibule. The poor fellow,
bewildcrcd and delighted with the mag
nlhccncc which on every hand sur