New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-30
CHRIsTIAy TX AND FREDERICK VII

CHRISTIAN II AND FREDERICK VII.
A good old man is dead, notable historic
figure has passed away, and half a dozen royal
and imperial courts are in mourning. The end
came suddenly to King Christian of Denmark,
and therefore happily. 1t came at ripe age
he was nearly eighty-eight-to lonely man
who had probably been longing for his own
summons ever since the death Of his consort,
more than seven years ago At peace with the
world. rich in the loyal love Of his SUBJECTS
with his realm prosperous and his throne and
dynasty as secure as such things can be IN
this world, he had long faced the inevitable
with composure. and has left memory which
will be envied by multitudes Of his less ia
vored fellow men.
Christian X came of a historic line and bore
the historic title of King of the GOths and
Wends as well as Of Denmark. 1t was be-
cause of the Danish kipgship over the Wends,
who are Slavs that the Russian cars have
maintained a certain pretensiOn TO the Danish
throne. He also bore the title OF Duke of Schles-
wig and Of HOlSten from which arise historic
memories. For it upon and because or
his accession to the Danish throne in succession
TO Frederick VII that the dispute over the
duchies arose which led to German interview
ton the spoliatiOn Of Denmark. the aggran-
dizement of Prussia through using Austria as
a catspaw, and the first great step toward the
humiliation of Austria and the eXaltation or
Prussia as the head of the German world. For
DueppeI was the advance skirmish Of SadOwa,
and had there been no Sadowa there might
have been no Sedan. The PruSSian court is the
foremost that is not to-day personally bereaved.
Yet there is no other that has more reason to
regard the passing Of Christian IN with in
terest
The Mother-inLaw of Europe" they used
to call Queen Louise. in reference to the matri-
monial alliances OF the Danish family. Six chill
dreu were born to Christian and Louise. The
eldest who now becomes Frederick VIII, mar
ried Princess Louise of Sweden. The second is
Alexandra, Queen Of Great Britain and Ire
land and Empress Of India. The third is
George Of Greece. The fourth, Dagmar, be
came Marie FeOdOrOvna, Empress of Russia
and mother Of the present Car. The fifth is
the unhappy Thyra of Cumberland, a Queen
without a throne. The sixth Waldemar, mar
ried Marie of Orleans. Moreover, Christians
second grandson. Charles, who married Princess
Maud of England, is HaakOn VII of Nor
way. Thus the courts of Denmark, England,
Russia Greece. Sweden and Norway are made
to mourn. besides those Of various minor Ger
man states.
The new King is Frederick VIII a man Of
nearly sXty-three years, but still in the prime
of life and commanding in full measure the
heir apparent is Prince Christian, and the lat
ter in turn has an heir apparent in the person
Of Prince Frederick. so that n direct success
sion is provided for two generations beyond the
present 1t will not escape attention that the
historic alienation Of royal names is preserved,
and promises to be preserved for many year
10 come. Beginning with Christian ii in 1913,
Christians and Frcdericks have followed one an
other in uninterrupted alienation. Christian
IN succeeded Frederick VII and is succeeded
by Frederick VIII, who in the order Of nature
will be succeeded by Christian X, and he in
turn by Frederick IN
The sympathipS Of America, as of the world
! are due and will be given to Denmark and
/ TO the matrimOnially allied courts Yet there
must also be some feeling Of Congratulation in
( the circumstances Of the case. To have lived
( for eighty-eight years, to have reigned-and
largely ruled-to the satisfaction and to the
prosperity of the people for more than forty
two years, 10 have seen his children and his
chdrens children occupying secure and splen-
did thrones, and TO have borne himself through
all his life without fear and without reproach,
comprise a record at the climax of which any
sovereign might gratefully chant his "Nunc
Dimittis" and which a nation, confidently ex-
pecting a continuation of like conditions, may
well regard with pride and satisfaction.