Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-02

frightened as life Is today, warmed as at
present the road does not seem heavy.
Faithful sympathy and loyalty render the
royal crown light to wear-aye indeed. they
make the burden dear. Be thanked, there
fore beloved countrymen; be thanked from
my innermost heart!
"reminiscences of a King.
This little speech could fittingly be call
ed The "reminiscences of a Sovereign
1T was delivered at the banquet held in
Stockholm to celebrate the silver wedding
of the king and queen:
Love of the spot in which his cradle
stood is a feeling which still burns with
undiminished warmth and strength In the
heart of the northerner. What wonder,
then, that !, too, love Stockholm,
for here stood also my cradle. Here smiles
so many a delightful "Reminiscences Of my
childhood, and glitters 50 many a warm and
charming remembrance from my youth be-
fore my vision. Here | own so many
remennbrances of those whom now the
grave inclOses: but who. in spite of de-
parsure and death, still live in my heart.
And now. if l turn my thoughts to the
events which more particularly in these
present days rise before me- one of the most
precious is that of the day when l brought
home among you my wife, Here was our
common home formed and here precious
sons reared And although we have. dur
ing the five and twenty years which have
gone by, encountered both dark and bright
days, we must in humble gratitude ac-
knowledge that the grace of Providence
has been with and upon u.s.
Neglectful of Prerogatives.
The "Kingly Bard of the North has
never been a sticlller for ceremony-has
never insisted exercising many of his
prerosa tives. For example. he can pre-
side in the surprme court and possess two
votes, but he has always neglected to take
advantage of this privilege, holding that
he should not influence the decisions of
the tribunal since he is not trained in
legal matters.
He does not drive out in state when he
goes for airing, as is the usual custom
of rulers In fact, frequently he does not
take carriage at ALL but street rail-
way car. or saunters, unattended, along
the streets. stopping now and then to peer
into some shop window that catches his at
tention. He is particularly partial to win
dow displays of book and music stores and
many uncouth Swede can proudly assert
that once, while he was gazing into some
shop window. his king came up behind him
and eazed into the same window and rub
bed elbows with him, and gave him a
friendly nod before walking on.
1t is the easiest thing in the world for
any one to secure an audience with Oscar
Infinitely easier than for an American
to get into the presence of the President
Does a subject-Lapp from the far north
a poor peasant, lumberman from the fir
forests, well-to-do townsman-or a for
eign visitor wish to have audience with
the king? All that he need do to accom-
plish his object is to write his name in a
book three days previous to the next ensu-
ing public reception. usually held on Tues
day afternoon at the palace in Stockholm
and on the appointed day he will find him
self standing before the Swedish monarch
who will engage him in conversation and
treat him in a thoroughly democratic man.
ner.
Friend of the Press.
The king is quite ready to grant any
favor that he can consistently, and he not
infrequently puts himself to some incon-
venience to do so.
Shortly before the END of the last CEN
fury he was on his way to deliver speech
at the opening of certain railway, when,
while his train was halted at Gothenberg,
a Danish newspaper man, detailed to re-
port the ceremony, asked the king for a
copy of the speech he was to deliver.
But I cannot give 1t to you; have not
written 1t out yet" said the king.
Then the newspaper man explained that
If he did not secure copy of the speech
within the next hour or SO 1t could not be
published in his paper the next morning,
and 1t was Of vital Importance to him Tor
the speech to appear.
The king waxed sympathetic at the young