The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1906-06-01
rhe democratic Norwegians desired

The democratic Norwegians desired
a democratic king, and could nave
made no wiser choice than that of
Prince Charles of Denmark, now
Haaken VII. Compared with Sweden,
Denmark is very democratic, as some
one phrases it, in Denmark the aris-
tocracy has gone to seed. ''The upper
classes in King Christians realm (now
King Frederick's) are largely wealthy
merchants and farmers of the 'scien-
tific' sort. Titles of nobility are no
longer issued in Denmark, and the few
remaining 'noblemen' in the kingdom
are not much seen at court.
1t would be pleasant to believe that
not all royal marriages are mar
riages of convenience, and it is heard
on all sides that Haakon and his queen
made a real love match-but this sort
of story Is very apt to be told even OF
the most boldly arranged" affairs.
But on the supposition this really is an
exception, let us give credulity to the
tale of the courtship of the Danish
prince and English princess. They
met when the latter one time accom-
panied her mother on a visit to her
Danish relatives. 1t was at the ANA
lienborg palace, Copenhagen, the
prince and princess made acquaint-
ance, and, SO the story goes, fell in
love at first sight The princess is
three years the princes senior, but
that was no matter, the course of true
love ran smoothly, the couple was
married in the royal chapel at Buck
ingham palace. Whether or not the
marriage was political one, it is
rather fortunate for Haakon, ruler of
country with long coast line to de-
fend, to have such a powerful ally as
King Edward.
To be sure, King Haakon has other
connections of due Importance. You
remember his grandfather, the lament
ed King Christian of Denmark, was
called father-in-law of Europe, and
Haakon is related to almost all the
crowned heads; the car is his first
cousin, the king of Greece his uncle,
he is a granddaughter of King Oscar of
Sweden, his queen is cousin of the
kaiser.
King Haakon is popular in the best
sense of the word, not because he
makes a bid for popularity, plays to
the galleries, but because he is natural
ly kindly and good-humored. When
the news was flashed abroad that he
was to occupy the throne of Norway,
a Paris paper spoke thus of the newly
elected sovereign: His wife adores
him; but who does not?" A most de-
voted husband, essentially a domestic
man, favorite among his many broth
ers and sisters, prime favorite with
his father-in-law, King Edward, well
liked by the democratic Danes, it is
readily seen he appeals to many men
of many kinds.
Charles was sailor prince, and this
fact proved very agreeable to Norway,
with her long line Of famous sea kings.
No doubt the schooling he received in
the severe discipline of training ship
had no small influence in his develop
ment. A former cadet in the Danish
navy and a messmate of the princes
recently wrote for Munsey's Magazine
a spicy article on this period in the
life OF the new king of Norway. The
writer, Hrolf WHISKY, says: But the
rough and ready course of training
through which he had to pass on ship
board, where nobody cared fig for his
rank, and where he had to learn
prompt and implicit obedience to dis
cipline, determined his character in
after life. Impressionable as the lad
was, he would have shrunk to mere
princely puppet if he had been left to
devslop only in the atmosphere of
court life. Instead, the human side of
the boy was brought out by contact
with his comrades in the navy, and un-
der the pressure of their rigid code he
was taught to work and to play, to
endure and to enjoy, like other healthy
lads of his age. 1t was a lesson that
has been of inestimable value in his
subsequent career"
When the proposition was made IT,
Prince Charles that he become ruler
of the independent nation of Norway,
the prince mentioned three objections:
his poverty-comparativ of course;
the fact that his wife was averse to as
Stunning the burdens of a queen; that
he ought to be elected by the people
rather than by parliament. AS is well
known, the objections were overcome.
Promise was given that fund would
be provided for the proper maintenance
of his family and in event of deposition
that life pension would be granted
him. King Edward persuaded Princess
Maud to consider with favor the posi-
ton of queen of Norway. And popular
vote ratified the choice of the new
king All was suspicious, the new