Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-11
THE KING OF DENMARK
HIS HOME LIFE AND HIS
PALACES.
King Christian is Very Unconven-
tional Monarch-A United and
Happy Family.
From the London Mall.

From the London Mail.
Nowhere in all the world could a more
united and happier family be found than
the one which is today assembled at Co.
penhagen to celebrate the eighty fifth
birthday of his majesty King Christian of
Denmark; 1t Is family, too. which takes
in almost more than one can count of mem
bers of various reigning families, for the
King seems to be either father, uncle or
grandfather to half the royalty of Europe
His relationship to Queen Alexandra does
not need mention, but 1t is one which has
secured for his majesty the affectionate re-
gard Of the entire British nation. and it is
an open secret that, next to his own coun-
try. England and the English enjoy the
largest share of King Christians esteem
A Modest Home.
His majesty was born on April 8, 1875
and married Louise, daughter of the then
Landgrave Of Hesse and niece of Christian
VIII and the Duchess of Cambridge. King
Christian was not in the direct line Of sue
cession, but was proclaimed heir to the
throne in 1852. At that period he and his
wife were residing in the Guele palace. a
residence of quite moderate size. 1t was
here that Queen Alexandra was born.
The Guele palace. however, was not con-
sdered sufficient for the dignity of the fu-
occupant OF the bdnlSn tnrOHe, anu
partly on this account and partly as a
mark of esteem the nation purchased and
presented the chateau of Bernstorf. which
from henceforth became the summer resi-
dence and, generally speaking, the scene
Of the famous annual gatherings 1t GER
tainly has always been the favor1te home.
and in a country where the monarch and
his family are always unconventional. they
have at BernStorff been more especially so;
in fact, all sorts of little stories may be
heard of how the kings children in the
days of their youth played in the sur
rounding woods and on the beach in the
sionally making the journeys to and fro on
the cart Of any good-natured forester who
came along.
AS a mere lad King Christian adopted the
profession of arms, becoming a keen stu
dent Of the technicalities Of the various
branches. The Danish army is not large
one, even now numbering only some ten
thousand on a peace footing; but this per-
haps is a creditable number for total
population Of two and a half millions. But
the men are of splendid physique and ex-
ceedingly well trained and armed The
king. his sons and grandsons are very
proud Of them, and when in town rarely
miss the ceremony Of mounting guard In
the Amallenbors Square.
Early Rising Court.
The daily life of the Danish court has
ever been simple and unpretentious. both
rising, early meals and as few possible
state functions consistent with dignity
have been literally the prescribed rule of
life. The average reader will have met
with many romantic tales concerning the
early days of our queen and her brothers
and sisters, and very romantic many OF
them are. for, although the keynote OF life
was simplicity, yet at the same time the
possibility of future dignities for the chill
dren was not lost sight of, and they were
accordingly trained with all consideration
for such positions.
Some have enlarged upon the poverty OF
the Danish royal family, but this was only
comparative by the side Of larger and rich
er countries Naturally, a country which
has a limited area and population has but
a limited exchequer, but the allowance to
the king as heir apparent was by no means
50 inf1nitesimal as we have been led to sup
pose. 1t is rather amusing, then. to read
how King Christian had to supplement his
income by giving drawing lessons to the
wealthy in order that he could the better
maintain his family. The assertion Is as
ridiculous as it is fallacious. Said one
Danish court official to me during one Of
nv visits to the court: "The king could
not draw or paint picture were 1t to save
his life; sketches for military fortfhcations
are all that he ever could accomplish In
that direction"
AS have already intimated, the King Of
Denmark Is thoroughly unconventional
and few monarch mingle so freely with
their people as does he. Not only may his
majesty be seen walking about the streets
alone and unattended, but it is not at all
an uncommon thing to note him stopping
to chat with a group of workmen. ne and
they in animated discussion concerning
some topical subject; and the people like
this freedom and close acquaintance with
their king
The Danes have socialistic tendencies
and ruler with less tact and minus the
kindly good nature which has ever dis
tinguished his majesty would have found
himself in a most difficult and trying posi-
ton 1t Is a moot question whether even
the supremacy could have been maintained
If the respect of the people had not been
gained and kept!