The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-08-10

fthe sovereign speak of his election and
his electors" With certainly a good deal
more modesty than is customary with our
representatives.
There is something significant, I think,
in a report that has been widely circu-
lated, and is doubtless true. While the
voting was going on in Norway the re-
suits were telegraphed to Copenhagen ev-
cry morning. King Christian, the court
and the Danish nation waited with anxiety
tor these dispatches. which one by one
were forming the royal crown.
The future king, however, went quietly
about the business of life without wasting
an hour in efforts to learn the news. And
When the telegram came which gave the
hnal results of the election in Norway, it
was only with great difficulty that the adj
dressee could be found. The new sover-
elgh mad gone out in a steam launch in
the harbor to inspect a torpedoboat. He
)ovially made his excuse to the marshal
who mad pursued him thither. II beg
pardon. Sr Marshal, but my duty is here.
| must first get someone to take my
place"
w know, OF course" / remarked, that
it was the national will thai brought about
the revolution and established the new
Norwegian Kingdom. The parliament, by a
unanimous vote of its l16 members, ex-
pressed a wish to see your majesty reign
III Norway"
ut only remained to accept. When his
majesty, Christian IN, my grandfather
and my king consented, L could no longer
hesitate. From the day when the people
of Norway spoke" continued the king,
Prince Karl became Haakon VII. the
Princess Maud became queen of Norway,
and my son became Olaf, the prince royal.
L and mine belonged hencefortht to the Nor
wegian fatherland. Elected by the Nor
wegians, / am a Norwegian"
Your majesty mot with a magnificent
reception here. Only this morning, l was
told how fishermen from the fjords and
woodsmcn from the forests undertook the
several days journey on skis and came
With green branches in their hands
through snow and tempest to salute their
king"
II shall never forget the welcome the
Norweslans gave me; they realized with
what frankness and devotion 1 had come
to them; besides, 1 found the most reas-
sullng sympathy expressed by the whole
world"
For some time my eyes had been at
tracted by an exquisite photograph stand
-ng on the table. that of a baby, dressed
all in snow white furs, and maiestically
holdlilg as a scepter an enormous snow
ball. This was Olaf, prince royal. the fu-
ture sovereign of the White unit
pointed to the portrait and then remarked.
one form of the popularity that attaches
to your majesty seems to me especially
J touching. a is the enthusiastic affec-
ton displayed by the Norwegians for the
prince royal"
A Proud Father.
Ihis time 1 had only to let King Haakon
go his own gait-he forgot all about. diplo-
matte customs and court etiquette and be-
came simply a father.
All he cried joyously. the child is
truly popular. / confess that 1 should never
have believed that a 3-year-old baby could.
as you say in France, Conquer the suf-
queen. what the Norwcgians love best in
our government is st.ll our son. You must
know that Prince Olaf was a Norwegian
by instinct. He has a huge liking for the
national flag. He loves snow; he soon
found out how to managed his sled. He
mad nothing to learn in order to become
prince royal; he had only to permit him
self to he loved by all the people and all
the world. For his father, it is a more
complicated affair. Every day 1 nave to
learn my trade"
S a man has to learn to be a king?'
Certainly. and I believe it is much more
difficult than to learn to be a good sailor.
l don't speak merely of the great moral
and political factors involved. However
simple he may be and however simple he
ma desire to remain, the king of Norway
hcannot I've as did the captain or even the
Danish prince. You will hardly ask me
to give you o course of twenty lessons in
the art Of rtisning. But even in the triH-
ing details OF daily life there arc quantities
of new things that a king must learn: for
instance, 1t cost me great effort to accus-
ON. myself to signing Haakon instead of
Karl
S your majesty delights to a%cquaint
himself with every familiar detail of Nor
wegian life?'