The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-10-26

An Eloquent orator and Most Accom-
pIshed Living sovereigu. Modest and
transformations.

oscar ID of Sweden is probably the
most accomplished ana versatile of all
living soNereigus. lie is am accomplish
cd musician and composer. "a poet au-
thor historian and dramatist sketches
well, paints i'm water Colors, reads and
writes eight languages ana speaks I'VE.
lie is "a fine horseman and the most elo-
quent orator i'm Sweden, where ora
tory is held in high esteem. At the
same time he is a man of modest and
uuostentatious manners, ana when ne
travels shields his royal rank behind an
iuCoEuitO and lis known as Count OF ha-
ga. His best literary work was done
before he assembled the throne, when Dc
lived In a quiet home ON the seashore az
the Duke of Oestergotland. His cares
ana duties as king have not permitted
him the leisure and the liberty To- think
and write as he did i'm the oldcn days
when he was merely "a modest country
gentleman. Nevertheless be finds time
to prepare many speeches, to write an
occasional essay and to keep pace with
contemporary literature.
His music and artistic work are a di-
version from the cares of state, and
every afternoon when he comes from
the council chamber or his Office he
usually sits at the piano for am hour or
so trying the latest music and his old
favortes.
The literary works Of King oscar re-
quire ten pages of the regular publish
er's catalogue. and comprise an extra
ordinary yariety-history, biography.
poetry, dramas music, essays, speeches
and criticisms. His first serious work
was published i'm 1919 before he had any
idea of ever assuming the responsible
tiles of king It is historical i'm char
acter. His best known historical work
is an account Of the events that oc-
CURED in the years 171l-13, a very i'm
portant period Of Swedish history He
has also written a history Of the Swe-
dish navy and a history Of the wars OF
Sweden, which is used as a textbook
in the schools. His biography Of Char
les XII, King, Warrior and Man." was
translated and published i'm English in
1879. Several Of his pamphlets on Ma
sorry have been translated into Eng
fish and German, and the speeches
which he has delivered from time TO
time during his forty years of public
life upon every conceivable subject-his-
tory, politics, art music, literature
commerce, naval and military affairs
fill several volumes. He appears on all
formal occasions as the Orator Of the
day" lays corner stones. dedicates pub
lie buildings and opens manufactures
lie loves to make a speech as well as
the people love 10 hear him. and can be
wise, witty and eloquent in any of five
languages ] do not know Of any other
public man who has similar accomplish
ments.
II Is gratifying for foreigners who
have the privilege Of an audience with
the King Of Sweden To find him able to
converse with them in their own Lam
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 minis
tiers from those countries in their ma
tive language Mr. Thomas. the United
States minister. says that the king has
keen sense of humOr and is particu-
larly fond of American stories. When
Mr. Thomas hears a new one he always
makes a note to remind him to repeat il
to the king at the first opportunity. 1t
is not customary for kings to laugh. |
They are supposed to preserve a digni-
fled and serious demeanor on all occa-
sions and King Oscar permits no one TO
Guido him in the strict observance Of
the laws of propriety. But when he Is !
alone with Mr.. Thomas. or with Gen
eral LagerberE, his particular chum or
any other of his intimate friends, he re-
lakes and let's himself go i'm a hearty
manner.-W. +. Curtis in Chicago Re
cord Herald.