The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-08
PRINCE OSCAR Of SWEDEN
HE RESIGNS HIS OFFICE TO me-
COME A MISSIONARY.
xotAine Bat Vanity In the World
He larries . roer xe.ns Noble
vvonan who Weeks With Him-
HE Pfety - the Ascctic Order.

cable dispatches announce that Prince
oscar Bernadotte. son OF King Oscar H..
of Sweden and Norway, and formerly poa-
sessvr of the title of duke OF Cortland.
has decided 10 resign his post In the
Swedish navy in order to become mis-
The prince. who is the second
son OF the old king. has reached his 18th
year. SAYS the New York Sun. He Is tall
and well-buiit. This physical advantage
he has In common with his father and
brothers. but beyond this there 10 little
in common between them and him The
king himself is as vivacious at So as he
was when his gay brother. the lamented
King Charles XIV, stiu lived. Most OF
his sons take after him, especially Prince
Charles, dashing cavalry officer. said
to be the handsomess man in Sweden,
and Prince Eugene, who. in spite OF roy
al birth, has developed into q painter OF
talent. These men love to live and to let
live.
Prince Oscar. on the other hand. finds
nothing but vanity in this world and its
pursuits. Dark Of countenance, modest
In mien, yet rather naughty in his man
uers. with coal-black eyes and a flowing
black beard, he resembles some Of those
great municipalities Of times gone by
that were always ready to enforce the
dogmas of the church with their swords
while they were preaching humanity and
the turning of the other cheek to the
smiter. His character Is fraught with
that sternness which Is capable OF much
sacrifice and much cruelty for the sake
of religion. He is self-willed to an ex-
tent which would have made him des-
pot or a rebel in another age. His piety
borders on fanaticism. He is. in a word.
his mothers true son. II he were not. he
might be the idol Of the Swedish people.
ard. even as it is. they look with a great
deal Of respect upon the man who had
courage enough 10 renounce his rights
and privileges as member Of the royal
house of Sweden in order to marry the
woman of his choice.
Some ten years have elapsed since the
attention OF the world at large was
drawn to the doings of this prince. Other
members OF the reigning dynasties had
previously dared what he intended to do.
namely, to marry a woman with no royal
blood in her veins. but his case was differ
ent. First, because a prince of Sweden
counts for more than a prince OF Reuss
or OF Lippe-Detmold. and, secondly. be-
cause there was no scandal of any kind
connected with the proposed marriage.
The woman who had won his heart was
no circus rider, no celebrity of doubtful
morals. but a good-hearted, pure-minded,
we'll educated. and rather religiously In
clined daughter of a poor Swedish noble
man. If Ebba Munck was to be blamed
for anything. 1t was for being neither
royal nor rich.
Queen Sophia held Miss Munck in such
regard that she is said to have encour-
aged the plans OF her favorite son. The
old king frowned and fretted. but could
not make up his mind to start a row
about 1t. He wanted peace, and he enter
tanned good deal Of respect for the In
dependence and strength OF will Of his
second son. The royal councillors and
chamberlains wrung their hands In dis
gust. predicting all kinds of evils and
sueaking much nonsense about state rea-
sens, etc. The marriage took place at
Bournemouth, England. Royalty. Swed-
ish and English, was absent. but repre-
sented by accredited officials.
The former duke OF Gothland stepped
down from his position next TO the crown
prince. Officially he ceased to be a mem-
Der of the royal house. There was much
talk about the title he should bear. Prince
Bernadotte was the one finally selected
and even this title could not be Inherited
by his children. Being placed in a posi-
ton resembling that OF Mohammed'c cof-
fin. he could not get Swedish dukedom
for his family because this dignity Is re-
served for members Of the royal family
in good standing. and he could not accept
have placed him on a level with the av-
erage nobility. To save his children the
disgrace of being born just like common
untitled people, the Old king turned 10
his young friend. the emperor of Ger
many. for help. and thus obtained for his
son the nominal dpkedom of Wisborg,
which title was tac,tly recognized by the
Swedish nobility.
There Is question whether. the prince
d rad frsrf l.f tx-o+ a.
from the threatend relapse into the bour-
geoisie from which Marshal Bernadotte
extricated himself and his family. Those
VINO know him best say that he submit
ted TO it only out Of a sense of filial duty.
His princely appanage vanished with his
titles. His promotion to the rank OF COM
modore In the Swedish navy did not bring
him cent of income. for while he had
lost his rights as a prince he had not
gained those Of a subject. and only a SUBJ
5ect can receive pay for services rem
dered TO the government. But the old
king Is rich. and there is good reason 10
suppose that he has been taking care Of
his son with the generosity which he has
given many proofs of possessing
Even before his marriage the young
prince used to be regular attendant at
the prayer-meetlngs and religious SER
vices held I'm the private apartments OF
Il was there he first met and became at
tached 10 Miss Munck. After his marriage
he found more time than ever to devote
To- religious matters He and his princess
have allied themselves with the most
p1ous element within the established
church of Sweden-an element that would
like TO sever all connection with that
church or to conquer it-and they have
showed themselves quite friendly to tho
a h0 ~, a
at revival meetings and missionary gath
erings time and again. both In Sweden
and in Denmark. but II Ia to be feared
that curiosity has led more people to U.s.
ten to him than his fame as an orator.
He has not inherited the sparkling wit
and elegance OF language which have al
ways characterized the utterances OF his