Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-08-09
NORWAY'S KING

fthc sovereign speak of his election" and
his electors" With certainly a good deal
more lnodcsty than is customary with our
representatives.
There is something significant. I think.
IN q report that has been widely circu-
lated. and ia doubtless true. While the
voting VAS going on in Norway the re-
suits were te!esraphcd to Copenhagen ev-
cry morning. King Christian. the court
and the Danish nation waited will, anxiety
Tor these dispatches, which one by one
wero 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
final results of the election in Norway, it
was only with great difficulty that the adj
dressce could be found. The new sovcr-
elSh mad gone out in a steam launch In
the harbor to inspect "A tolpodoboat. He
jovially made his cxcusc 10 the marshal
who mad pursued him thi;hcr. II beg
pardon, S!r Marshal, but my duty is here.
must first get someone to take my
place
know, of course l remarked, that
1t was the national will that brought about
the revolution and established the new
Norwegian kingdom. The parliament. by Il
unanimous vote of its l6 members. cx-
pressed u wish 10 see your majesty reign
In Norway
ut only remained to accept. When his
maicsty, Christian IN, my grandfather
ana MY King consented. | could no longer
h~eaitatc. From the day when the people
u Norway spoke" continued the king.
Prince Kari became liaakon VII, the
Princess Maud became queen of Norway.
and my son became Olaf. the prince royal.
l and mine belonged henceforthtetheN Nor
wcsian fa.heriand. Elected by the Nor
Mcs,ians, | am a N~orwegian.'
"SoUr majesty met With q nagnidcen.
reception here. Only this morning. l was
told how fishermen from the fiords and
"oodsfnen from the forests undertook the
WITH green branches in -hcir hands
through snow and tempest to salute their
king"
Il shall never forget tho welcome the
Norwogians gave me: they realized with
what franiness and devotion ] had come
to them: besides, i found The most reas-
auiins sympathy expressed by the whole
world"
For some time my eyes had been at
;racted by an exquisite photograph stand
--nS on the table, that of 4 baby. dressed
All IN snow white !urs, and lnajestically
lioiaiaS rs 4 scepter an enormous snow
ball. This was Olaf. prince royal. .,,e flu
cure sovereign of the White Country. |
pointed 10 the portrait and then remarked,
80 'AN I'Ai ! nat
to yonr majesty seems to me especially
touching. That is the enthusiastic affec-
ton displayed by the Norwcgians for the
prince royal.'
A Proud Father.
This time ] had only to let King Haakon
go his own gaie-he forgot all about dipio-
matte customs and court etiquette and be-
came simply a father.
All he cried joyously. the child is
truly popular. l confess that ! should nevc,
nave believed that n 3-year-oli baby could,
As you say in France. conquer tho suf-
frage of the people, l often say to tho
queen. what the N%orwcgians love best in
our government is stu our son. You mus,
know that Prince OLA was a Norwegian
hy instinct. He has a huge liking for the
national nag. He loves snow; he soor
FOUND out how to managed his sled. He
mac nothing to learn in order to become
prince royal; he had only to permit him.
self to be loved by all the people and all
ihe world. For his father. it is a more
complicated affair. Every day l have Il
learn my trade"
so a man has to learn to he a king?'
"certainly. and | believe it is much NOR,
difficult than 10 learn to be a good sailor
l Don't speak merely of the great nora
ana political factors involved. Howcvel
simple he may he and however simple he
may desire 10 remain. the king of Norway
cannot Eve as did the captain or even The
Danish prince. You will hardy ask me-
Ia give YOU a course OF twenty lessons ii
the art Of itisn!ng. Eut even in the tria
Ing details OF daily life there are quant!;ie:
Of new things that a king must learn: fol
instance. 1t cost me- great effort to accus
iom myself to signing Iiaakon instead OF
Kerr
so Your majesty delights to acquain
himself with every familiar detail of Nor
wcsian life