The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-09

1
The pew king adopted the motto:
with the people for the fatherland."
When King Oscar breathcd his last In
his study In the palace. TO which he had
been removed when IL became known Oat
death Was merely "a question Of hours.
he was surrounded by the members of
his family. including the aged Queen
Sophia. and the Crown Prince, Oscar
Gustaf and high ministers of state.
The end came peacefully and the last
hours OF the expiring monarch were pass
ed I'm unconsciousness. Up TO the end
he gave no sign Of recognizing those
about him Queen Sophia was inconsoa-
bic because he could not bid her farewell,
and is now In a condition bordering on
collapse
The sturdy old king long withstood the
ravages of disease. his fatal Illness being
traced by many To the separation of Nor
way from Sweden. The success of the
blow to the aged king. who took deeply
to heart this severance OF an ancient
union. Both his pride and heart were
! wounded and his constant hrooding over
the event doubtless contributed TO his
death
Indeed. the doctors final diagnosis that
his heart was affected appears 20 give
color 10 earlier reports that he was slow
ly dying OF a broken heart.
COUNTRY GRIEvED.
The whole country is bowed in grief.
for oscar was something moro than q
ruler OF his people and had endearcd
sonal friend. when the flag on the pal
ace was lowered TO half-mast there was
a moan OF anguish from the multitude:
and many of them cried: our dead old
king is dead"
While those at the bedside kept their
weary vigil hour after hour. awaiting tne
inevitable end. great crowds stood OUT
side the palace with barred heads anu
fearful eyes. They remained long after
the official announcement that their we'll
beloved sovereign was no more.
The following official bulleun WAS
posted after the kings death:
"The strength OF the king continued 10
decrease throughout the night, and the
state OF inconsistencies became more
The death certificate. signed by Drs
Berg. Edgren and Flensburg, was word
ed as follows:
IN King Oscar IL. expired peacefully at
$40 o'clock this morning in the castle ~
Stockholm. at the age OF ~ years,
months and Il days, as the result OF cal
cihcation of the cerebral and cardiac
blood vessels.
All saturday the dying king remained
in a state of coma. AT times there were
faint signs Of consciousness perceptlbie
10 the attending physicians. and the pa
tents sufferings were temporarily re-
lieved The Doctors administrations
were without avail. and they held out no
hope at night beyond promise to keep
the spark ot life burning for yet ie"
hours. .
In the palace court yard. in the ann
cold gray mist OF the morning stood
crowd of school boys. King Oscars most
devoted friends. Here they had stood
for hours. blue and shivering watchlns
the palace flagstaff. There also gather
ed many old men and women In rags,
such as the king had always stopped 10
comfort with mild words and generous
aims when he met them In the parks or
-gsfa "a cd fnT
beloved king and benefactor was dying.
Suddenly the flag dropped 10 half-mast
and wall OF misery and sorrow arose;
The old folks clasped their hands ana
prayed and wept aloud. and the school
bows lamentations were pitiful TO near:
In room near the death chamber the
first marshal of the court read to the
cabinet a draft of the new King proc
iamation TO the Swedish people.
In an ante-chamber, high officers ana
officials discussed the probable policy OF
the new king. one by one the shlpS III
the harbor and the buildings througiIout
the city displayed the flag at half-mast
and the people soon crowded the streets
and open places near the palace, but All
smoke I'm whispers, bearing witness TO the
kindliness of him who had departed and
TO the love they bore for hlm
In the death chamber knelt the heart
broken queen, and gatnereu apout list
her children grandchildren and great
erandchildren, praying for strength 10
bear their great affliction'
NO DISTURBANCE EXPECTED.
The death of King Oscar is not likely
to be followed by any serious disturbance
OF Sweden's political condition. The ven-
erabIe monarch had been slowly failing
for many months past, and last January,
when he suffered from an illness, whlcn
at that time was expected to end fatal
ly precautions were taken for the ORDER
ly massage of power To the hands of his
able son, the new king.
Neither Sweden nor Norway Is likely 10
be disturbed by the passing of King Os-
car, since the recent storm between them
has wholly calmed and each has now ad-
iusted itself TO the new order of affairs.
In one respect the change OF monarchs
may ameliorate the relations between
Sweden and Norway, because the new
kings son. who now becomes crown
prince is united by marriage TO the
queen of Norway.
The new king, Gustaf. much resembles
his father i'm stature and in Saxon blonde
features The young monarch is not un-
used to the cares of state, and when ne
has acted as regent during the illness ana
absence OF his father has displayed good
sense and ability. lie is personally much
liked at his own and at other capitals
where he is regarded as having his faith
er's characteristics OF sincerity and sim
plicity.
Gustaf was born in the castle OF Drott-
ninsholm. Immediately after his birth he
was made duke of Nermland. lie pur-
sued his studies from 1871 10 1878 at Up
saa In 1879 he travelled abroad. visiting
almost all the countries OF Europe. In
1889 he returned second time 10 the uni
versity at Upsala.
lie entered the army in 1875 and I'm 1892
he was given the rank OF general lieu
tenant. In 1896 he served as inspector Of
the military schools and In 1898 he was
made a fun general. Between the years
1884 and 1891 he filled the office OF ice
king OF Norway.
AS a result OF Gustafs persistent and
strenuous efforts TO hold the Swedish-Nor-
weglan union together he incurred the en-
nifty of the Radical majority I'm the Nor
wegian Storthing. and i'm retaliation the
Storthing took away from him a yearly
appanage amounting to sl2.J00.
Gustafs children. beside the new crown
prince are Wilhelm, duke OF Soederman-
land, born June IL, 1884. who visited the
United States last summer. and Erich.
duke OF westmannland, born April 20,
1889
THE DEAD KINGS CAREER.
oscar H. was the great-grandson OF n