Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-06-10
By GIBSON WILLErs

! By GIBSON WlLLETS I The ablest monarch in Europe-as King Oscar II. of Sweden was once
 called by Theodore Roosevelt-today
 shares with the czar the Iimelight o1 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 a few days ago seeded. set up its own
 government and may form a repub.
 lie. It is as if all our own great wes, 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 go to war. Not 50 Sweden and Norway. King Oscar, seventy-s years old, loves peace. Yet the one man who directly caused the rupture by vetoing bill creating a consular service for Norway separate from that of Sweden, was King Oscar himself. A Ruler Who Loathes the Verb "To Fair
 For years this ruler has striven to keep Norway and Sweden as one. He has. failed, at last Yet once he said "I loathe the verb to fail,'" and add. cd: T knew a man who was compil- ing dictionary. Remember I said to him, there is no such word as fail l thought no more of the matter until I received copy of the mans diction- ary. On the title page the true title was scratched out, and in its place was written: The Dictionary of the Missing Word turned to the letter F. and. surely enough. there was no such word as fail"
 This monarch has lived the busiest of lives. assigning himself task for every minute of the day. In his library where he works hangs large piece of canvas on which is painted. in Swed- fish, these lines:
 shall pass through this world but once. Any good thing that In passing can do, Or any kindness that can show to any
 
 Let me do it now;
 Let me not defer 1t
 Nor neglect 1t.
 For 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 e Swedish university he said: "Remem- Der time: 1t is your best friend. Al ways carry watch and live by 1t" In his youth he was allowed to become intimate with boy of humble birth. They becaIae chums. One day when playing with his little friend the prince asked the lad what time 1t was. "I have no iden." said the lad. But you ought to have an idea retorted the prince. Why have you nonew Be cause 1 have no watch" replied the boy. The next day the lad received splendid gold watch. with a note from young Oscar. scrubbed in his boyish hand. saying. This will give you some idea about time"
 Likes to Be TaIlest of His Court.
 With this king who has lost one of his two thrones talked for an hour not many months ago. The interview was arranged by the American minis ter at Stockholm. Mfr. Thomas In full evening dress. though the time was high noon. proceeded to the palace. where the lord chamberlain ushered me Into the kings private library. wherein hung the lines already quoted. The place was overheated. oppressively close. like all living rooms in Sweden. where windows are made not 10 open. By . mastodonic stove of porcelain stood the taIlest of the worlds rulers. With all his accomplishments SC ora tor. author. musician. lineuist and sci enlist. the kings only noticeable vanity is said to lie in his six feet two and inches. On acrimonious occs- sions. when his cooked hat is orns mented with three gigantic ostrich plumes. he looks a veritable giant He likes to be the tallest of bis eourr. Once he sroo'nted fo cd1ce under the crown . Norwegian whom be hsd never seen When his majesty arrived In Chrfssf.nis- he was greeted by one of the few men be hod ever promoted. whose height compelled him to lock up That tall functionap vas forthwith given another and hiGher o@ce fhr frcn Chrfsffsnis-
 After the formal bows in receivine De his ua;>>sy shook my hand wifh . vtcelike graep: den we sat down e loo11D0 nh1o of c bsun1 tno6eluh -