The Washington times., 1902-10-26
COURTS AND CAPITALS
OF THE OLD WORLD.

Uf lHE ULU WUNLU,
Monarchs do not relish surrendering
any portion Of their dominions to a
foreign power, and each of them natur-
ally objects to figuring in history, as
the ruler under whose reign this or that
portion of the national territory was
alienated. To the reigning house OF
Denmark, therefore. must be ascribed
the failure of the upper house of the
Danish legislature to ratify the treaty
for the sale of the Danish islands in the
West Indies to the United States. Neith-
er the King nor the crown prince ac-
lively interfered in the matter, although
1t is no secret that from the outset they
were much opposed to the transfer of
the islands to this country, and that
their agreement to give their adhesion
of the national legislature was only Sc
cured with the utmost difficulty and CIV
en- with much reluctance.
But the Danish royal family Is a large
one. Not all of its members are bound
by the moral obligations imposed by the
constitution to maintain an attitude of
strict impartiality toward the rival po-
litical factions in all questions requir-
ing parliamentary treatment; and it Is
we'll known that Princess Waldemar has
been impelled by spirit of patriotism
to devote all her activity and energy to
securing the defeat Of the treaty in the
legislature at Copenhagen.
The result OF her influence has, of
course, been more apparent in the upper
than in the lower house; for, although
the landsthing, or superior chamber, of
the national legislature in Denmark has
more in common with the United States
Senate than with an Old World house of
lords, yet Its members, and perhaps
were more amenable to the wishes OF the
royal ladies at court than the legisla-
tors in the lower house.
Economic considerations and plain
business common sense dictated the dis
posal of the Danish Indies to the United
States for considerable sum OF cash,
and the transaction commended itself to
the business men of the kingdom. Pa
triotism and sentiment stood in the way,
however, and it is, under the circum-
stances. difficult to blame either the
royal family or the old aristocracy for
having preferred considerations of pa
triotism to those of business policy.
This is not the first time that Princess
Waldemar of Denmark has played an
important role in international politics
ular prince of the French house of Or
leans known as Ire Due de Chartres,
who served on the staff of General Nc !
Clellan throughout the civil war, who
was known among his American COM |
rades in arms by the nickname of
"Chatters," and who still belongs to a |
number of the organizations of veterans
who took part in that historic struggle. |
Princess Marie OF Orleans. at the time |
she married the youngest son OF the ven-
cradle King of Denmark, and took up
her residence at Copenhagen, seemed |
destined to life of political unimpor-
tance and inactivity. In fact, 1t is on
record that at first she suffered a good
restrictions placed upon her mode of |
life by the severe etiquette of which
her mother -in-law, the late Queen of
Denmark, was past mistress, and
sought in many directions outlets for
her superfiuous energy. At one time she
great interest in the Copenhagen fire
brigade, was elected LADY president" of
the Union OF Danish Fire Departments,
and was even accustomed to go
to fires at Copenhagen. She also
turned her attention toward painting,
and is today one Of the most accom-
plished of royal artists with the brush.
But before long she realized that the
annual gatherings of Russian. English.
Grecian, Swedish and German royalties
at Copenhagen. under the roof of old
King Christian and Queen Louise, af
forded unrivaled opportunities for fur
thering the political interests Of the
land of her birth, to which. without any
lack Of loyalty to the land of her adop-
ton, she remains devoted.
slngularly bright and witty woman,
and a sparkling conversationalist, as
healthy in body as she is in mind, she
became the favorite companion of her
luge brother-inlaw, the late Gar. on
he long forest walks he used to take
very day-in order to overcome his dis
to obesity-when spending his
in Denmark. They would walk
.ogether for hours, shadowed at a dis
ance, of course, by the inevitable de- !
ectives, the princess doing most of the
alking, and 1t was in the course of /
hese walks that the princess is credited !
With having weaned Alexander III from
he so-called three -emperors alliance
which bound him to Germany and to |
Austria, thus rendering possible that al I
lance between Russia and France which
ow constitutes one of the principal fac
ors in international politics.
1t was she who is said to have imbued c