Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-02-22

Old King Christian, now at rest in
the grand old cathedral of Roskilde,
which for 900 years has been the bur-
ial place of his predecessors on the
throne, was SO picturesque a figure in
his role of father, grandfather, great
grandfather, and uncle of the major
portion of European royalty, that he
may be said TO have monopoliZed pop
ular interest as far as the reigning
house of Denmark has been concerned.
Occupying the center of the stage, he
completely overshadowed his eldest
son, with the result that his successor
is far less widely known than he de-
serves % be.
For Denmark, although a small
country, scarcely even a second class
power, and incapable of putting more
than about $4,000 soldiers in the field,
nevertheless occupies as important a
position in the north of Europe as
turkey does in the south. If the sultan
commanded the entrance to the Black
sea by his possession of the Dardanel-
les, Frederick VIII. holds the key to
the Baltic, and during the last ten or
fifteen years Denmark, urged by her
new ruler, has by means of heavy fin
ancial sacrifices, and often in the teeth
of parliamentary opposition, strength
ened the defenses of Copenhagen to
such an extent that she controls the
access to and the egress from jle
Baltic.
True, there is the Baltic canal con-
cfFs TOD I..y
tary purposes But its capacities are
extremely limited, and experience with
the SueZ canal has shown how easy It
Is to construct one of these artificial
waterways for days and even weeks
together. The principal gate of the
Baltic remains the so-called sound, the
waters of which wash against the walls
of Copenhagen, and as King Frederick
has become the keeper of this gate, he
Is destined TO play a far more weighty
role in international politics than war
ranted by the size and population of
his kingdom
This being the case, a brief pen
sketch OF this new monarch may be
retarded as timely by the readers OF
The Democrat and perhaps It may com
mand some additional interest through
Inc circumstance tnat It is written by
one who has enjoyed the personal ac.
quaintance of Frederick for many
years, indeed, since 1877.
Frederick as Summer.
1t was in that year that | first be.
came acquainted with Queen Alexan.
dra's eldest brother. not at Copen-
hagen, but at Paris. Summing in
those days was not as common as Il
has since become. Relating at depeuner
one day to the crown prince of Den,
mark. as he was then, the extraordin.
airy sights and adventures of the prev
ious night which l had spent in visit
Ing the worst and oldest quarters OF
the city. under the guidance of the DO.
lice, he became so interested BY the
story that he insisted on my making
arrangements to enable him to under
take similar expedition. The respon-
sibility was not altogether pleasant
one. For tour of this kind was moi
unattended by danger. and, whereas,
In other cities the police cicerones al.
ways insisted upon visitors to the
Sums being unarmed. in Paris the con.
trary was the case, since there was al
ways the possibility that the police
and those In their company would be
attacked with knives and revolvers by
those dreadful thugs who In bands to
which they give Indian names. such as
the "Apaches," infest the barriers"
delighted when thy can find ,hmselves
In sufficiently large force to outnumber
their arch enemies. the sergeants de
vile.
accordingly sought the advice OF
Gambetta. then chief of the parlia.
mentary budget committee, and whom
was on terms of intimacy, and told
him of what was contemplated by the
crown prince. He at once communi-
Gated the matter TO the minister of the
interior and to the premier. A cabinet
meeting was summoned. and the min.
lister of foreign affairs was instructed
to request the crown prince In the
most pressing manner through the
Danish envoy In Paris to abandon his
projected Summing expedition. declar.
ing that the government could not
consent to accept the responsibility
for his safety In the slums. and at the
same time pointed cut that IL any harm
befell him there II would reflect upon
the hospitality and the fair name OF
France. The prince was good enough
TO intimate 10 me. without delay, that
II would be necessary to cancel the ar
engagements which he had asked me to
make for the tour through the slums,
and blamed himself for having spoken
too freely about the affair. and thus
allowed the authorities to become
aware thereof. OF course, did not
tell him about my call upon Gambet.
ia in connection herewith. ana King
Frederick win never know thereof un.
less he happens to see these lines.
Christians Dislike Of France.
Frederick was a frequent visitor to
Paris. differing In this resnect from