Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-05-30

The democratic Norwegians desired
q democratic king, and could nave
made no wiser choice than that of
Prince Charles of Denmark, now
Haaken VII. Compared with Sweden,
Denmark is very democratic, as some
one phrases it, in Denmark the aris-
tocracy has gone to seed. "The upper
classes in King Christians realm (now
King Frederick's) are largely wealthy
merchants and farmers of the 'scien-
tif1c' sort. Titles of nobility are no
longer issued in Denmark, and the few
remaining 'noblemen' in the kingdom
are not much seen at court.
1t would be pleasant to believe that
not all royal marriages are mar
rlages OF convenience, and it is heard
on all sides that Haakon and his queen
made a real love match-but this sort
OF story is very apt to be told even OF
the most boldly "arranged'' affairs.
Button the supposition this really is all
exception, let us give credulity to the
tale of the courtship of the Danish
prince and English princess. They
met when the latter one time accom-
panied her mother on a visit to her
Danish relatives. 1t was at the ANA
lienborg palace, Copenhagen, the
prince and princess made acquaint-
ance, and, so the story goes, tell il
love at first sight. The princess is
three years the princes senior, but
that was no matter, the course ct true
love ran smoothly, the couple was
married in the royal chapel at Buck
ingham palace. Whether or not the
marriage was a political one. it is
rather fortunate for Haakon, ruler of
. country with long coast line to de-
fend, to have such powerful ally as
King Edward.
To be sure, King Haakon has other
connections Of due importance. You
remember his grandfather, the lament
ed King Christian of Denmark, was
called father-in-law of Europe, AMI
Haakon is related to alnost all tn.
crowned heads; the car is his first
cousin, the king of Greece his uncle,
he IS a granddaughter of King Oscar OF
Sweden, his queen is cousin of the
kaiser
King Haakon is popular in the best
sense of the word, not because he
makes bid for popularity, plays to
the galleries, but because he is natural
ly kindly and good-humored. When
the news was flashed abroad that he
was, to occupy the throne of Norway,
a Paris paper spoke thus of the newly
elected sovereign: His wife adores
him; but who does not?" A most de-
voted husband, essentially a domestic
man, a favorite among his many broth
ers F*and sisters, prime favorite will,
his sfather-in-law, King Edward, well
liked by the democratic Danes, it is
readily seen he appeals to many men
Of many kinds.
= Charles was sailor prince, and this
fact proved very agreeable to Norway
with her long line of famous sea kings
No zdoubt the schooling he received in
the severe discipline of a training shir
had no small influence in his develop.
ment.s A former cadet in the Danish
navy and a messmate of the princes
recently wrote for Munsey's Magazine
spicy article on this period in thu
life of the new king of Norway. The
writer, Hrolf Wisely, says: But the
rough and ready course of training
through which he had to pass on ship
board, where nobody cared a fig for hi:
rank, and where he had to lear1
prompt and implicit obedience to dis
cipline, determined his character il
after life. Impressionable as the Lac
was, he would have shrunk to mere
princely puppet if he had been left tt
develop only in the atmosphere o.
court life. Instead, the human side O.
the boy was brought out by contac
with his comrades in the navy, and un
der the pressure OF their rigid code HI
was taught to work. and to play, tt
endure and to enjoy, like other health,
lads of his age. 1t was lesson tina
has been of inestfmable value in hi.
subsequent career"
When the proposition was made t.
Prince Charles that he become rule
of the independent nation of Norway
the prince mentioned three objections
his poverty-comparative, of course
the fact that his wife was averse to as
suming the burdens Of a queen; tina
he ought to be elected by the peopl'
rather than by parliament. AS is vel
known, the objections were overcome
Promise was given that a fund woul,
be,provided for the proper maintenance
of his family and in event of deposition
that a life pension would be grantee
him. King Edward persuaded Princes
Maud to consider with favor the posi-
tion. of queen of Norway. And popula
vote ratified the choice of the new
king. All was suspicious, the new
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