The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-11-14
A King For
Forty Years


capital is entertaining an extraordln.
airy gathering of royalists, who have
assembled to celebrate the doth ami.
versary OF King Christians ascensic,
to the throne The venerable and
kindly ruler will observe the anniver-
sary tomorrow. surrounded by his six
Prince Christian and
Queen Alexandra, OF Britain; King
George, Of Greece; the Dowager Car
ina, Of Russia; the Duchess of Cum
berland and Prince WaIdemar, and
many Of the 80 grandchildren and %
great grandchildren.
Despite the fact that he has passed
the four-score milestone Of life's jour
ney, King Christian is one of the bust
est men in Europe. He invariably be
gins the day at this time Of year at 8
O'Clock. He usually enjoys a solitary
breakfast in a little dining room on the
ground floor of the palace. To those
who imagine that royal tables groan
under the weight of game and foie
gras, pasties and dishes innumerable,
il will be a revelation that His Majcs
ty of Denmark breakfasts on coffee
and a wheaton cake. After breakfast
the king is accustomed to take a turn
in the grounds of the palace.
A sovereign usually receives an ex.
tensive post on every day, and King
Christian is no exception to the rule
His correspondence is generally per.
sonally conducted" for, TO quote his
own words. 81 wish to see for myself
what occurs, to form my own opinion
OF the circumstances, and then consult
my advisers" The king has also a
quantity Of newspapers to read, and
he has a habit of jotting down those
things which he wishes to be inquired
into further, either personally or
through his ministers, and II frequent
ly happens that he wishes to commu.
nicate with some portion of the popu.
lation, which has met with some mis-.
fortune, or some family which has
been afflicted with grievous trouble.
State business is the next item on
the program, and by IL o'clock the
king wishes to be alone. With his
lighted cigar. he takes his stand at the
historical window on the ground floor
to watch the parade and relief OF the
soldiers on guard. He scrutinizes his
guards with the skilled eye of an old
soldier; the smallest irregularity can.
not escape him. He never leaves the
window until the parade is quite fin.
ished.' Lunch is generally about
o'clock, and there the members OF the
royal family meet together as a rule,
for the first time in the day, and the
king is the most cheerful an animated
OF all
When luncheon is over the royal
family spends half an hour or so to
gether before the king withdraws to
his study. TO attend TO his private cor
respondence which he never hands
over to anyone else. Between and 8
o'clock the king can generally be seen
on his way to tho riding school of
Christiansborg Castle, either alone or
accompanied by his grandsons. The
king is still the best horseman in the
land, and spends an hour or so every
day in horse exercise and In instruct.
ing his Grandchildren in the accom-
plishment The royal family dimes,
according to the Continental fashion,
at 6 or $3.50 o'clock The royal din
ner consists generally OF four courses
and dessert, while the king limits him
self to one glass of claret and one of
port wine. champagne being unknown
at the royal table, except on festal oc.
casions.
After dinner conversation is in.
dulged in for half an hour or so, then
at $3.50 o'clock the family assemblies
in the drawing room for tea. A visit
10 the royal stables, to see that all is
wen with the horses, who expect their
lump of sugar from the royal hand Is
the next thing that claims the kings
attention. and then lights out" about
IL o'clock. Thus closes the simple,
busy day Of King Christian TX. No
servants watch at his bedside as In
days Of old-Only his great dog, which
is his insoparablo companion.