Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-11-02
KING OSCAR The MOST
VERSATILE SOVEREIGN
Sweden's Ruler Gets High Com
pliment From William E,
Curtis.
FROM Ar CRITIC TO EQUESTRIAN
Musician, Composer, Poet. Author, His.
torian, Dramatist and Lingutst-
In Modest and Immensely
Likeablc

illOSt dt1olliDliNllSu dbu NSlSdllS VI oh
living sovereigns, says William f. Cur
tbs. in his Stockholm letter to the Chi
cago Record Herald. He is an accom-
plished musician and composer, a poet,
author, historian and dramatist,
sketches well, paints In water %colors,
reads and writes eight languages and
speaks five. He is a fine horseman and
the most eloquent orator In sweden,
where oratory is held in high esteem.
At the same time he is a man or mod
est and un~ostentatious manners, and
when he ravel shields his royal rank
behind an incognito and is known as
Count of Haga. His best literary work
was done before he assembled the
throne, when he lived in a quiet home
on the seashore as the luke of Oester-
gotland. His cares and duties as king
nave not permitted him the leisure and
the liberty to think and write as he
did when he was merely a modest coun-
try gentleman. Nevertheless he Iinds
time to prepare many speeches, TO write
an occasional essay and to keep pace
with contemporary literature.
Artistic Work n Diversion.
His music and artistic work are a d.
version from the cares of state, and
every afternoon, when he comes from
the council chamber of his office, he
usually sits at the piano for an nour
or so trying the latest music and his
old favorites.
1t Is gratifying for foreigners who
nave the privilege of an audience with
the king OF Sweden to find him able to
converse with them in their own IAN
guage. Few people outside OF Scandi-
navia speak Swedish, but the king can
converse freely In English. French,
German and Norwegian, and invariably
conducts his interviews with the min
listers from those countries In their ma
tive language. Mr.. Thomas, the United
States minister, says that the king has
a keen sense Of humor and Is parucu-
larly FOND of American stories. When
Mr.. Thomas hears a new one he al
ways makes q note TO remind him to
repeat 1t to the king at the first OPP
portunity. 1t is not customary for
kings to laugh. They are supposed to
preserve a digniied and serious de-
a on all occasions, and King Os-
car permits no one to Guido him In the
strict observance OF the laws OF pro-
priety. But when he Is alone with Mr..
Thomas, or with General Lagberg, his
particular chum, or any other or his
intimate friends, he relaXes and lets
himself go In a hearty manner.
Has Written Many Books.
The literary works of King Oscar re-
quire ten pages of the regular publish
er's catalogue, and comprise an extra
ordinary variety-history, biography,
poetry, dramas, music, essays, speeches
and criticisms. His first serious work
was published in 1S49, before he had
any idea OF ever assuming the respon-
sibllities Of a king. II was historical
in character. HIS best known histori-
cal work IS an ccoun Of the events
that occurred In the years 11ll-l3, a
very important period of Swedish his
tory. He has also written a history of
the Swedish nav n a history OF the
wars OF Sweden, which is used as n
text book In the schools. His biography
of Charles Nil, King, Warrior and
Man" was translated and published in
English in 1879. Several of his pamph-
let's on Masonry nave been translated
into English and German, and the
speeches which he has delivered from
time to time during his forty years of
public life upon every conceivable sub
iect-history, politics, art, music, lit
erature, commerce, naval and military
affairs-fill several volumes. He APP
pears on all formal occasions as the
Orator of the day" lays cornerstones,
dedicates public buildings and opens
manufactures. He loves to make a
speech as well as the people love to
hear him, and can be wise, witty and
eloquent in any one Of five languages.
/ do not'know Of any other public man
who has similar accomplishments.
Not Sensational Like Kaiser.
His speeches are never Sensational,
like those of the German kaiser. He
has q great deal of tact, avoids contro-
v~ersies, and is diplomatic enough to
discuss the most exciting topics with
out offending either side. His mood is
generally con%ciliatory. He is a great
peacemaker and likes to say pleasant
things. He is somewhat critical, how
ever, and several years age became in
volved in n sensational quarrel with
B~jornson, the Norwegian poet and au-
thor, because OF caustic comments
made upon something the latter had
written. B%jornson is a very hot tenn
pered and impulsive person. He is also
a radical in his political tendencies. He
advocates the separation Of Norway
from Sweden and the establishment OF
a republic. He is the leader Of the re-
publican party in Norway, and has
published a great deal in violent criti-
cism of King oscar. The latter, there
fore, has not always had a kindly feel
ing toward him, and the bitterness OF
his sarcasm was repeated to BjornSon,
who at once challenged the king to
fight a duel. This was, of course, an
act Of treason as well as leze majesty,
and an order was issued for the au-
thor's arrest. Bjornson fled to Ger
many, where he remained several
years. Through the intercession OF
friends he was permitted to return, and
of late has been on friendly terms with
his sovereign.
Several literary and scientific men of
Sweden and Norway enjoy the per-
sonal friendship OF the king and are
racaiUa6 nn infimnt TO terms or tho noI
ace. He is also in correspondence with
literary and scientific men, musicians
and artists throughout Europe.