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

WITH NORWAY'S KING

(Translated from Lectures pour Tous.)
1t is always eXhilarating to see a nation
happy-especially when that nation has
just passed through 4 revolution. When i
arrived at Christiania 1 found Norway
making a holiday; satisfaction was gen
erai and cordially unanimous. Imme-
diately people began to speak to me of
our king or our queen" and of Our
little Olaf
His majesty is a perfect gentleman.
And the queen skates so Well"
Though our little Olaf is only three
years old, he can manage his sled-and the
queen goes riding all alone on her bicycle"
NC need of police; a hundred guards
men in all, monsieur. No king was ever
on such TINA terms with his people"
II the concert CT enthusiasm wound
up with, You will gee how gay our king
Is"
Such We're my charming impressions as
[ walked to the royal palace, where the
pure" flag now floats, with its Norwegian
colors %unpiingled with tho Swedish ones.
Under the Greek portico that adorns the
very simple facade. two fcot-chasseurs
we're mounting guard. Anybody who chose
could enter. Without other Formally, an
usher opened a glass door, and pointed
obliginglv to the great staircase that leads
. Us W VIZ Mig = wax AAASI4lo IossS
r%cliefs, a few tapestries ard . profusion of
green plants enbellished the broad vesti-
bulc.
Easily Approached.
AT tho second story stood q second and
Ast usher. who led the way into the salon
II the aidcs-Gc-camp where the chief Of
hcer Of the military household was waiting
with u list of appointed audiences in his
hand. The Officer opened IA door; before
~ ,.-nr .ty,n So. &" g-,-,a ;~,1
\ tall young man, with hand outstretched
GAME orward aad in perfect French pro-
bounced the pretty Scandinavian formula /:
You are welcome,' This was the king,
Rad he greeted me with charming sim
plicity. He said az once, Take that chair:
you will get a splendid view of the ford"
So, there l was, comfortably installed in
All armchair, face to face with his ma
lesty Haakon VII, and close to a tall win
dow opening upon the Incompatible pano-
rama of forest and water, very lovely in
The sunlight. with a view OF Christiania
nesting between the sea and the woods.
L had hardly time to glance at my sur
roundilgs; Haakon VII eagerly began the
conversation. He knew that i had ira
veled widely, and he did me the honor of
questioning me about my Journeys. A
the time, and his majesty took this oppor-
tunity of talking about tho affairs of the
far east.
it is a pleasure to hear the king speak.
for he expresses himself with vivacity
emphasized by rapid progress. Very tail
aud slender. and very elegant in his
mourning, the king, though %thirty-three
Years old, seems younger. and he also
seems little of a northerner. in spite of
the clcarncss of his eyes. His stature and
his eyes are northern enough, to be sure,
but the Joyous animation OF his speech and
the mobility of the expression of his face
are limos southern. And vet l was
obliged to recall to King Haakon the
precise object of my visit, which was to
earn the Impressions os the newly
crowncd lnonarch. The young sovereign
die rot seem over anxious to crafty my
curiosity.
What can 1 say about a reign that has
only begun? Everything is still so new,
md 1t was all so unexpected"
II; is precisely this element of the UNI
foreseeE that iWpresses and charms me.
Your majesty must certainly nave re-
tanned a vivid recollection of the sensation
Of waking up one fine morning to find
yourself at the head OF 4 realm"
1t Was $50 SUDDEN
Ut was indeed a very curious expert
ence," replied tho king. With a graver
smile, and however natterins it might
- - 49, VI
surprlsc was complete. 7 had not i'm
aS.ned that l should ever be called to
wear a crown. Very quietly, though with
no little enthusiasm, | was pursuing my
career as d naval officer. L won all my
promotions under the usual conditions,
that is, by working rs hard as possible,
and I had only cne ambition, TO work
hard enough 10. gain promotion. Perhaps
l sometimes Dreamed of beng one lay
made a rear udmiral. Oh! hut tia, was
L long Way Off, fo- Advancement is slow
In the Danish l.aNy. All at once, as If it
concerned cnly q change OF post or pos
sibly my taking IL new ship. | was CON
frontcd with ,he question, DO you want to
'c King OF Norway? In the navy VIC
have TO get used t" al,rIpt transfers. hut
this time I had certainly enough To TANK
Of
And your majesty d%cclded:"
Not to accci,. without 4 formal and
freely voiced expression of the will OF the
entire Norwegian nation. l at once laid
down this absolute condition. Before |
do anything, | mean to consult the nation.
y consultation before the fact is better
cham a consultation after the fact. Blu,
the amusing thing was that in order tc
take this natural and, as it seemed to me,
entirely wise step J had to combat tho
most vigorous opposition, the only opposi-
ton ] have thus far met with: and yet ii
was kindly enough meant. to be sure.
people said 10 me and people wrote
to me from all parts of Norway, What's
the use CT Il plebiscitc? Tho result is sure.
conc and reign: You are our king Tha,
was very pleasant, but | stuck to my orig
maj !cca. i beg your pirdcn,' / replied,
but permit ne to say that | am az pres.
eilt only Prince Karl, d naval officer. II
Norway wants 70 transform me into q
Norwegian King. /! VIII become such witt
al my heart: but first tho viii of the ma.
ton mus. he express ed"