Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-06-17
By gibson WILLIS

- 1A-~OkN
The ablest monarch In Europe--as
King Oscar n. OF Sweden was once
called by Theodore Roosevelt today
shares with the ear the Iimeliyht Of
the stage OF royalty. For King Oscar
has just lost half OF his Kingdom. Hav
ing ruled the Swedes and Norwegians
Tor thirty-three years. he now Il mon
arch OF the Swedes only. Norway n
rev days ago seceded. set up its own
government AMI may form repuh.
lie. Ii Is as n 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 ~ 10 war. Not SO Sweden
and Norway. King Oscar. seventy-slx
years old. loves peace. Yet the Que
man who directly caused the rupture.
by vetoing bin creating consular
service FOR Norway separate from that
OF Sweden. was King Oscar himself
A Ruler Who LOatheS the Verb Ito Fair
For years this ruler has striven To
keep Norway aud Sweden as one. He
has failed AT last Yet once he said
ed: i knew man who was compil-
ing a dictionary. Remember l said
TO him. there Is no such word as fail
j thought no more OF the matter until
received a copy OF TIE mans diction.
airy. on the title page the true title
was scratched out, aud Ia it's place
was written; The Dictionary OF the
Missing Word / turned 10 the letter
j.. 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 ne works hangs large piece OF
canvas on which Is painted. in Swed-
ish. these lines:
shall pass through this world but once
Any good thing that Ia passing can do
OR any kindness that can show TO any
human being
Let me do IL now.
let me not defer IL
Nor neglect "a.
For I shall not pass this way again
Thus King Oscar summarizes his life
philosophy so far as IL concerns his
relations toward his fellow creatures.
While addressing the students at a
Swedish university he said: "Remeni-
Der time; IL Is your best friend. Al
ways carry a watch and live 10y IT,"
In his youth he was allowed TO become
Intimate with a boy OF humble birth
They became chGms. One day when
playing with his little friend the priace
asked the lad what time il WIS -
have no idea" said the lad But you
ought TO have an idea" retorted the
prince. why have you noney" BE
cause l have No watch" replied the
boy. The next day the lad received q
splendid gold watch with a note from
young Oscar. scrubbed In his boyish
hand. saying. This VIII give you some
idea about time"
Likes 10 Be Taliest of His 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 10 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 TO open
BY mastod0nic stove Of porcelain
stood the tallest OF the worlds rulers
With ell his accomplishments as ora
tor. author. musician. Iinguist and sci
enlist. the kings only noticeable vanity
n said to lie IN his six feet two and
one-half inches. On ceremonious occa