The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-02-08
THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK.


Denmark, passed quietly away at his
palace. the Amalienborg Castle. Copen-
hagen, Jan. 20. He was born in 1918
and was consequently ending his S8th
year. He was appointed to the success
sion by the Treaty of London in 1852.
and succeeded to the throne Nov. Is.
1863. The policy Of European nations
OF marrying the heirs apparent out
side the kingdom had made him father
in-law to an unusual number of reign
ing monarchs. The consolidation of SO
many thrones has greatly diminished
the number Of reigning families, and
consequently partners must be sought
for In the smaller States of northwest
ern Europe, which still retain their in
dependence, and 1t fell to Christian
ks family to provide the Princess
Alexandra, who is now the Queen OF
England: Prince Wilhelm, who is now
King Of Greece; Princess Marie Dag
mar, who Is now Dowager Empress of
Russia. and King Haakon VII, of Nor
way. King Haakon is a grandson.
Denmark Is not rich country by
any means. and the Kings net income
his sons and daughters were raised up
on living palmer than comes to the
sons and daughters of many rich mer-
chants in this country. This Is thought
to have made them all the more de-
sirable for Kings and Queens.
The King was Immediately succeed
ed by his eldest son, who assumed the
title of Frederick VIII.
The personality of the King is of
comparatively little Importance. since
Denmark, like the other Scandinavian
countries. is thoroughly democratic.
The government of the country Is In
the hands Of the Rigsdag. or Parlia-
ment. which is formed on the English
and American model. with the Lands
thing answering to the Senate or House
OF Lords and the Folkething corre-
spending to the House of Representa-
tives. The Landsthing consists of Sc
members. of whom IL are nominated
for life by the Crown and the rest elect
ed indirectly by the people for terms
of eight years. The Folkethinp. or
House Of Representatives, consists of
ia members elected by universal suf-
frage for three years. It Is intended
that there should be one member for
every $1,000 people. Every male citi-
zen who has reached his goth year. and
Is not in receipt of public charity, has
a vote. The salaries of the members
or the Danish Congress, like all other
salaries. are very moderate, the men,
hers receiving 10 kroner, about s1c6.
day while actually sitting and actual
travelling expenses to and from the Cap
ftal. Denmark has an area of 1898
square miles. or trife larger than
Maryland, and population of $780,
600, which makes a density of popuIa-
ton Of 100 to the square mile. The
Kingdom Is divided into Is Counties,
each or which has Governor at the
head, and the Counties are again d.
vided into Hundreds and the Hundreds
subdivided into Parishes. The people
OF Denmark are Of the Scandinavia
branch Of the Teutonic family and are
officially pure. That Is. there has been
little admixture Of any other races and
none Of the Slavic, which was brought
into Germany so largely in the shape
Of slaves.
Elementary education is general and
attendance upon schools has been made
compulsory since 1914. There are very
few Danes. indeed. who cannot read
and write.
The religion Is Lutheran. which has
been the State Church since 1886, when
the immense properties Of the Roman
Catholic Church were seized and ap-
piled to the support Of schools, colleges
and churches. The Church Is managed
by board OF seven Bishops. who have
no political activities Of any kind. and
there is complete freedom Of conscience
throughout the KINGDOM