The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-29

ter of the Prince of Weld, there was little
| expectation of his ascending the throne,
| for he was third son.
/ The match was a love one, and the
young couple for some time after their
marriage in 1857 lived a singularly retired
| and happy live. The Princess was busy
| quickly came to them. and the Prince
| occupied himself with scientific studies
| the development of his country's navy
| and with art. music and literature. His
writings fill many volumes and cover a
| wide range of subjects.
This simple life did not last long, how
ever, as deaths in the family first forced
Oscar into the position of Crown Prince,
and then set him on the throne.
The clever Princess proved an ideal
queen. She made the welfare of the sick.
| the crippled and the poor her especial
care. She provided for them as they had
| never been provided for before. Children
| particularly appealed to her sympathy.
| and her favorite maxim was ever, THE
worlds history is made in the nursery
| The Sophia Home in Stockholm, one of
the most modern and best equipped in the
kingdom, has been one of her cares, and
| she has always taken an active part in
| its management
This interesting monarch was born on
June 8, 1896. and is thus sixty-six years
| old. Her husband is seven years older
than she.
She comes of one of the oldest reigning
families in Europe. Her birthplace was
Wiesbaden whence also comes her wealth
and she was left fatherless at three Uu-
til she was seventeen she remained in the
great and beautiful city of gambling.
living in the palace of her grandmother.
Thence she went to wied. where, at
twenty, she met Prince Oscar.
During their active ruling life King
Oscar and Queen Sophia were probably
the most democratic sovereigns in the
world Thousands of their subjects have
gone to them for advice and counsel and
have been received. Both the King and
Queen are even more easily reached than
is the President of the United States.
Notwithstanding all her wealth. Queen
Sophia's head was never turned by riches.
On that subject at least she was perfect
" sane. Her household was run in the
simplest fashion compatible with her po-
sition and large social duties. There has
always been in her lifetime less ostenta-
ton and pomp at the court OF Norway
and Sweden than at any other in Europe.
The money instead has been devoted
to the founding of hospitals. asylums and
other charitable institutions and their
maintenance The Salvation Army has
been greatly benefited by her generosity.
1t doesn't seem to have occurred to tho
people of Sweden or their sovereigns until
misfortune after misfortune came that
any ignominy might be attached to a
fortune won through the prosperity Of
a gambling house.
King Oscar himself used to gamble in
public when he was away from his own
country. His stakes were usually small
but one curious incident when he played
for a very high stake is told of him.
He was in the gambling room at AK. |
in France. and idly placed small coin
on a number. The croupier pushed it
back to him with a sneer, saying: THAT |
cannot be for play; that is for the SER
wants"
The King was furious.
EN- banc" he shouted signifying that |
he wished to bet as much as there was |
in the Golfers of the house, and further |
added to the amazement and chagrin OF |
of the croupier by announcing:
II am the King of Sweden"
The throw was made, the king won, and |
an ebony box containing $4,000 was hand |
ed to him.
Pulling off the cover, with one sweep |
of his arm he sent the money in a golden |
shower flying over the floor.
When Wiesbaden fiourished as gamb- |
ling city it was the capital of the new |
extinct Duchy of Nassau, over which |
the Grand Duke of Luxembourg reigned !
until driven into exile by the Prussian |
invasion of 1866, when the title was con- |
fiscated TO the crown.
The public gambling houses were run |
by the house of Luxembourg, to its great |
profit Queen Sophia is the daughter of |
the last reigning duke but one. One of |
her Oldest sisters is the mother of Car |
men sylvia, the Queen of Roumania.
There has been no public gambling in |
Wiesbaden for many years, II having |
been abolished by law. The beautiful |
city where once were gathered the no. /
bility Of all Europe is, nevertheless still |
prosperous.