Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-06-24
By gibson wILLETs

By gibson WILLETS
The ablest monarch in Europe-as
King Oscar IL of Sweden was once
called by Theodore Roosevelt today
shares with the ear the limelight of
the stage of royalty. For King Oscar
has just lost half OF his kingdom Hav-
ing ruled the Swedes and NOrwegianS
for thirty three years, he now is mon
arch of the Swedes only. Norway
few days ago seeded, set up its own
government and may form a repub-
lie II is as if all our own great west
suddenly withdrew from the union, de-
claring Roosevelt no longer president
of the country beyond the Mississippi.
In such circumstance the east and the
west would 90 to war. Not so Sweden
and Norway. King Oscar. seventy-siX
years old. loves peace. Yet the one
man who directly caused the rupture,
by vetoing a bill creating a consular
service for Norway separate from that
of Sweden, was King Oscar himself.
A Ruler Who Loathes the Verb ITO Fail
For years this ruler has striven to
keep Norway and Sweden as one. He
has failed at last Yet once he said:
Il lOathe the verb TO fall" and add
ed: Il knew Il man who was compii-
ing Il dictionary. Remember ! said
TO him, there is no such word us fail
/ thought no more of the matter until
received Il copy OF the mans diction-
airy. on the title page the true title
was scratched out, and in its place
WAS written: The Dictionary of the
Missing Word l turned to the letter
L, and, surely enough, there was no
such word as fail"
This monarch has lived the busiest OF
lives, assigning himself Il task for
every minute of the day. In his library
where he works hangs Il large piece of
canvas on which is painted, in Swcd-
iSh. these IiAes:
/ shall pass through this world but once.
ANY good thing that in passing 1 can 40.
Or any kindness that 1 can show to any
human being,
Let me do il now;
Let me not defer IL
Nor neglect it,
For l shall not pass this way again
Thus King Oscar summarizes his life
philosophy so far as it concerns his
relations toward his fellow creatures.
While addressing the students at
Swedish university he said: "Remem-
Der time; it is your best friend. AL
ways carry Il watch and live by it,"
In his youth he was allowed TO become
intimate with boy of humble birth
They became chumS. one day when
playing with his little friend the prince
asked the lad what time 1t was. Il
have no idea" said the lad. but you
ought to have an idea retorted the
prince. why have you nOneE' Be
cause l have no watch replied the
boy. The next day the lad received
splendid gold watch. with Il note from
young Oscar, scribbled in his bOyish
hand, saying, This will give you some
idea about time"
Likes TO Be Tallest of Ills Court.
With this king who has lost one of
his two thrones l talked for an hour
not many months ago The interview
was arranged by the American minis
ter at Stockholm, Mr.. Thomas. In full
evening dress. though the time was
high noon. l proceeded TO the palace,
where the lord chamberlain uShered me
into the kings private library, wherein
hung the lines already quoted. The
place was overheatcd, opprcssively
close. like all living rooms in Sweden,
where windows are made not 10 open.
BY mastOdonic stove of porcelain
stood the tallest of the worlds rulers.
With all his accomplishments as ORA
tor, author, musician, linguiSt and sci
enlist tie kings only noticeable vanity
is said 10 lie in his six feet two and
onp-half inches. ON ccremOniOuS occd-
Slons. when his cooked hat is Orna-
mented with three gigantic ostrich
plumes. lie looks vcritabIe giant. He
likes TO be the tallest of his court.
Once be appointed TO office under the
crown Norwegian whom lie had
never seen. When his majesty arrived
ia Christiania, he WAS greeted by one
of the few men he had ever promoted,
whose height compelled him to look up.
That tail functionary was forthwith
given another and higher office far
from Christiania.
After the formal bows in receiving
me his majesty shook my hand with a
vicelike grasp: then we sat down on
opposite sides of broad table-desk, on
which were many periodicals and Il tel
ephone. Age had only added grace to
his erect figure. His hair, like his
beard, was gray and was parted on
the extreme left side He had a lofty
brow and serious eyes, ears of refine
nent close TO his head. the prominent
nose of the generous, the mouth of the
merciful, the long, strong fingers OF
the pianist and a mighty breadth Of
shoulder. He was dressed like any
we'll bred gentleman, displaying no or
nament. not even the button of an or
der. 10 indicate his exalted rank He
wore "A gray tweed suit. with cutaway
coat, standing collar fourth hand tie
and patent leather shoes. His only ar
tcles OF adOrnment We're Il small pearl
scarfpin, a plain seal ring and an or
d.nary watch chain. He speaks nine
languages. including the perfect Eng
iish. in which lie now began telling me
of his greatest hobby.