Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-09-14

largest building In the kingdom and
the most imposing. II is severe In It's
simplicity, says William Z. Curtis in
the Chicago Record Herald, and almost
entirely without exterior emSelish-
ment except low balustrade that runs
around the edge of the roof, 1t is built
upon rock in the midst Of the waters
that divide the city, and rises above
the surrounding buildings as If con-
soious of It's own dignity and import
anoe. The style of architecture Is de-
scribed in the guide book as the Italian
Renaissance, but there is very little
of the Italian about II, aud II was de-
signed By a Frenchman after the Old
palace, which formerly stood IN us
place, was destroyed by fire In 1891 but
was not entirely finished until 1853 IL
is almost square, 3iS by 372 feet IN size,
and surrounds quadrangle. TWO
wings, which reach to the second story,
extend from the eastern side and in
close a terrace planted with shrubs
and flowers. upon which the apart
ments OF the King ana queen ana the
This gives them an opportunity to
breathe the fresh air without going
into the streets. but il Is very limited,
and their terrace is perhaps the most
public place In all Stockholm, where
The noise Of the street traffic, the music
from nelghburing cafe, the smoke
from a dozen steamers that are moored
only 200 feet away and the confusion
of loading and unloading cargo destroy
all privacy.
one side OF the palace Is deyated to
state apartments. There Is long SER
les OF audience chambers, reception
rooms. ball rooms and dining rooms
beautifully decorated by French artists
I'm the first part OF the eighteenth CEN
tury. hung with acres Of priceless
tapestries and filed with cabinets that
contain the accumulated bric-a-brac OF
several hundred years. The great ball
room. which is known as "the White
Sen" because It is finished in ivory and
gold. Is one Of the finest apartments In
Turope. The throne room, where his
majesty receives the parliament twice
n wear In crown and royal robes, seated
in silver chair under "A canopy of blue
velvet. is also imposing, and the decor
dining room IL 100 feet long and mar
row and the walls are hung with tap
estrles representing the adventures OF
Don Oulxote. The crystal chandeliers
are beautiful, and are said to be the
finest In Europe The robing rooms a
series OF eight or ten In number, that
are used for coats and hats during
state dinners and balls, were formerly
occupied for sleeping apartments, aud
In one OF them the great Befnadotte
died.
The council chamber, where the king
holds conferences with his ministers
two or three times q week, rs rather
inapproprIately decorated. for the fres-
Goes upon the ceiling represent Venus
IN all sorts OF lascivlous attitudes and
immodest costumes, and in one corner
IS n recumbent figure OF the Goddess OF
Love in marble that ought to make the
king and all his cabinet blush The
council chamber is connected with a
series Of audience chambers and ante
rooms used for ceremonial purposes
with GobeIin tapestries upon the walls
and ship loads Of bronzes and porcelain
ornaments.
on the other side OF the quadrangle
are the guests chambers, where kings
are kept when they come to visit Stock
holm. but they would be much mora
comfortable at any of the hotels. Near
ly every sovereign In Europe for two |
centuries has been entertained here,
and the attendant who shows people
around recltes with great qualification
a catalogue OF the emperors and en-
presses and kings and queens who have
slept in each particular bed. King
who Il accustomed to comforts ana
luxurles would make his stay In Stock
holm as short as possible If he has TO
occupy these apartments.
The royal chapel IL within the palace
walls and connected with the state
apartments by long corridors. The royal
family attend worship there at ii
O'clock every Sunday morning with the
remainder OF the court, and listen to
sermon preached by one Of several state.
chaplains who are attached 10 the &C.
clesiastical department Of the govern
mont. The royal family occupy a little
gallery, sheltered from observation,
where they can see and hear, but can
not be seen, and the king can take
nap during the sermon, II he likes,
without offending the sensitiveness Of
chapel Is occupied by officers and mem
bers Of the household, and a special
place is reserved for the servants.
The church in which the kings OF
Sweden are crowned stands outside the
palace. several hundred feet from It's
walls. and Ia dedicated TO ST. Nicholas.
1t has a gorgeous interior for Luther
an church and Is a fashionable place OF
worship. Every Sunday morning you
WIFI find the nobility and aristooracy
Of Stockholm gathered there, and unless
you 90 early you win not be able TO get
n seat.
Palaces are usually cold, comfortless
hiildinas. but the private part of the
royal residence at Stockholm hah an
arpralance OF comfort that is unusual,
and IS more homelike than any other
palace 1 have ever seen. The iangs
smoking room, / grleye 20 say. uea,s
evidence that be Is worldly minded, Tor
upon the walls hang photographs Of
popular actresses In all degrees OF dress
and undress, Just such as YOU would
find IN the rooms Of a young American
club man. HIS work-roOms show evil
dences Of his recent presence. The
walls are hung with maps u3d photo
graphs OF naval vessels and fortresses,
ard the book shelves are filled wiih
WORKS Of reference In all languages,
among others the Century dictionary
an English encyclopedia, an American
edition Of "A biographical dictionary The
Statesnaus year book and the last re-
port Of Secretary Long.
The king Is of on a vacation, ana
Therefore the people In charge Of the
palace allowed us greater liberties than
are usdally accorded TO visitors. We
saw where he lived and whore Ae
worked. aud were permitted TO have a
glimpse Of his everyday life that Is de-
MED 20 most people.
The most Interesting room in his
suite II that IN which he holds receb
lions every Tuesday morning At 10
o'clock on that day, whenever he ia ii
Stockholm. he gives private audiences
10 any one who has business with him.
the beggar IN rags. the farmer who has
q grievance against the governments
the mechanic who is dissatisfied with
the public policy. the stranger within
the gates. the soldier Of his army, the
ssilois Of his feet, the suffering ana
the oppressed and even the servants
~ the palace can all have access 20 the
g,,H g.