Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1904-03-19
Recent Occurrences Of Interest
in Sweden, Norway and
Denmark. AZ
OPENING OF SWEDISH RIKsDAG
Correspondent Gives Graphic De.
scription of the Converting
of that Body.
SWEDEN.
Stockholm.

respondent, anent the recent opening
of the Swedish riksdag: 'The annual
session of the riksdag was opened by
King Oscar in person recently in the
grand hall of state in the royal palace.
The time-honOred pomp and grandeur
with which this ceremony is performed
is imposing and interesting. First the
spectators who were fortunate enough
to obtain invitations to be present were
admitted to the ample balcony which
runs around three sides of the hall
where the members of parliament sit.
Then the ministers of foreign powers
to the Swedish court, together with
their wives and secretaries, entered the
diplomatic box on the right side Of the
great silver throne of Sweden. The
royal march was played on silver in
struments by the palace band, which
was stationed on a balcony at the end
of the hall opposite the throne. The
first notes of this grand old march
had hardly sounded before heralds,
pages and the officers of the queens
bOdyguard entered the royal box on
the left side of the throne just op-
posite the diplomatic box. They were
Immediately followed by the queen,
Crown Princess Victoria, who will be-:
come queen as soon as King Oscar
dies; Princess Ingeborg, wife of Prince
Carl, and her two younger sisters, be-
sides the ladies in waiting. The other
ladies Of the royal court occupied a
box to the left of the royal box. AS
the queen and princesses entered every
one rose and the occupants Of the
diplomatic box also arose and bowed
very low. Through a large portal be-
tween the royal box and the box Oc-
cupied by the court ladies there en-
tered, two at a time all the courtiers
and high government officials, and took
places on benches on the right and
left Of the steps leading up to the
throne. Before taking their places,
however, they halted in front of the
throne and, facing the royal box,
bowed very low to the queen and the
princesses. AS soon as the last pair Of
courtiers had taken their seats the
band suddenly stopped short in the
middle of measure and began play
ing the ''King's Song" The officers
of the throne guard, stationed behind
the throne, presented arms, and the
royal princes the sons of the king and
the two sons of the crown prince,
clad in nantes Of royal purple
trimmed with ermine and wearing
golden coronets, entered and took
their stand on both sides of the throne,
and after them came the king, also
clad in a royal purple mantle lined
with ermine, wearing on his head the
royal crown of Sweden and Norway
and carrying in his right hand the
golden scepter of the realm. The
lengthy and heavy train of his ma
jesty's mantle was upheld by two royal
chamberlains, and as the king reached
the throne and faced the spectators
the train was lifted up and hung over
the back of the throne. The king
made a slight bow to the queen on
one side and to the foreign diplomats
on the other, after which he sat down
ceremonies struck the floor with the
end of his staff to order silence. Aft
er the king had read his speech and
declared the riksdag open the speaker
of each chamber stepped forward to
the foot of the throne and made a
speech of homage. Then the high
chancellor of the realm read a report
of what had happened during the past
wear. After the princes had all left
the hall the queen rose, bowed to the
diplomats opposite and retired from
the royal box followed by the princess
rs and ladies in waiting. The diplO-
mats marched out with their ladies,
then the courtiers. throne guard and
government officers, all in order, &C
cording to their rank. After them the
members of the riksdag left, the mem
beers of the first chamber taking the
lead. Not until the last member of
parliament had disappeared was a
single spectator allowed to move"
Dog licenses in Stockholm amount
to not less than $4,000 crowns annual
" for only 1894 dogs. The number
that go loose" are, of course, in the
majority.
Two Swedish officers, Captain P. J.
Hegardt of the Bohnslan regiment,
and Captain H. F. Lindberg of the
navy, passed through Chicago a few
days ago enroute for Japan, whittier
they go ais military attaches for the
Swedish government, the first one rep
resenting the Swedish army and the
second the Swedish navy. Captain
Hegardt stated that if there would be
war between Russia and England, the
Scandinavian countries will be placed
in an exceedingly difficult and en-
barrasing position. unless they pro-
rect their neutrality in due season.
Captain Lindberg believes that Japan
has one of the strongest navies in the
world and that their torpedo boat
methods have proven a revelation in