BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-11-15
Episodes in Many Lands.
The Kaiser's Friendship for a Nor
wegian Peasant. The "Blue
Danube" Not Blue.

Swedish papers tell OF friendship between
Emperor William and an aged Norwegian
peasant named Christian Jorje, whose home :
is at Molde, village near the coast. The /
kaiser never visits Norway without giving !
his old friend . call. The two converse like !,
a pair of old chums, addressing each other !,
as "Wllhelm" and s'Ohristian", the interview
usually being wound up by the villsger
playing something on his accordion and the !
monarch leaving him gold coin.
The Paris "Gaulolp prints a story of
Danish peasant who made the acquaintance
of his king during tie latter's visit to town
IN Northern Jutlsnd.
care you the kipgp he asked, approach.
ing the monarch, with a smile Of good-
humored curiosity.
'Yes. Is there anything can do for
yorin
"No, sir. I just wanted to tell you that
you are good king-one Of the best we ever
hadD
do You think soY Well, It's a matter
Of taste. But then / am poor Judge in
matters of this Sort" King Christian re-
piled with hearty laugh.
L. An interesting story OF the same ruler was
recently brought out by wreath which he
caused to be placed on the grave OF Nine
Jensen, wife of the celebrated portrait pain.
ter of Copenhagen. "Jensen was q poor
boy" says friend Of the artist, in an inter
view, "and the king took much interest in
his career. One day, on meeting his young
lprotege on the street, he was struck by his
gloomy appearance and asked him for the
cause OF his low spirits.
"I am in love" was the answer, "but the
young lady's father, toho is Holmblat, the
wealthy merchant, WON'T let her marry the
son of a poor tradesman".
The next day the rn.er OF Denmark called
at tie house Of his rich subject. BE told
him he came in the capacity OF matchmaker,
to plead the cause Of his young frieod, and
he won his suit for him:
One of the passengers who called for q
bill of fare in the restaurant OF the railroad
station at Calais the other day was . tall,
elegantly dressed, msjestic.l looking foreigner
, His appearance made a stir among the
walters, but he insisted on seeing the
manager. When the latter came in the
, stranger asked him to enumerate all the
, good things that his menu contained. The
passengers request was complied with, with
smiles and bows, and then, according to
Italie, the follo,oing dialogue took place.
J "Is that allp said the unknown man.
eyes, sir" answered the maitre 0h6;el
bashfully, "but can assure you, sir, thai
we have served person of the highest dis
tinction, and they have all been well pleased
with our MENU
"PersoDs of the highest distinctioni Blu
you don't know who you are talking to, dc
youan
''No, sir; admit 1 DON'T" resenttully.
81 am the Prince Of Bulgaria"
"Is that ALI" said the hOtelkeeper, will
studied indifference.
Some Austrian papers are making merry
ever the rebuff which Sarah Bernhard
: met at Sch0nbrunn, where she stopped dur
! ing her recent tour through Austria. While
inspecting the emperor's summer residence
she asked to be allowed to pass one night in
the bedroom once occupied by the son o.
Napoleon l., better known as ''EAiglon, /,
whose character she has been impersonatinp
in Rostand's well.knoscn play. Her request
was denied.
Speaking of the corruption prevalent
+ among the mandarins of China q writer
in Temps says: "The collector Of one oi
the southern ports, for instance, draws q
salary Of $500 taels from the government
yet his real income from his office amounts
to 400, 900 taels q year. In addition, he
Speculates in opium and rice. Every
mandarin without eYcaptiou ia in husinasc
Awaiting himself of his official position, he
buys rice at an unusually low price to sell
it at an exorbitant figure in the famine.
stricken provinces. Sometimes he will
build toll gate on road near his
mansion and levy tribute on passing teams;