The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-12-18
Swedish Kings Name is an
Old One There
History OF His Predecessors Throws
Interesting Light ON Kingdom
and Royalty.
ALL ARE DIFFERENT IN TYPE

Sweden has had a striking variety
of Gustavuses as rulers, beginning
with her secession from Denmark in
the sixteenth century. VIII the fifth
Gustavus, who assembled the throne
at the death Of his father will fur
nish still a new type?
Gustavus |, founder OF the house
of Vasa, says the Cleveland Plain
Dealer, was patriot when patriotism
among Swedes meant danger and suf-
fering. As a young man he distin-
guished himself in the war waged by
his people against the rule of the
Danes. Delivered as a hostage, he
was held in captivity, escaped in dis
guise and wandered for months with
a price on his head. The tyranny of
the Danes aroused the men of Dale
carlia TO proclaim their independence,
and they made Gustavus head of their
own and other communes OF Sweden.
The Swedish diet accepted him as
king in 1923. He brought order out
of chaos and died in 1860. beloved
by a united kingdom.
The second Of the name was the
great Gustavus Adolphus, probably
the ablest soldier of Europe between
Caesar and Napoleon. His troops be-
came the wonder of the continent
and his innovations in the art of war
the terror of his enemies. His page
In history is familiar to every student
Gustavus III. reactionary and a
weakling as administrator and war
rlor. is chiefly remembered by reason
Of his violent death at the hands OF
an assassin in 1892. His aping OF
the manners Of the French court and
his grossly extravagant use of public
money alienated large part OF his
country and few mourned his tragic
end.
The next ruler was Gustavus ",
who. succeeding his father at Il
years OF age. had a stormy reign of
II years, ending in his deposition
and the assumption OF the Office by
his uncle, the Duke Of Sudermanla.
The king had the same firm belief IA
absolutism that caused his fathers
senseless war with Russia
finally putting an end TO his rule.
Thus sweden has had four kings of /
widely different character and ability |
in the line Of Gustavuses. What OF
Gustavus V. who takes the reins OF
government this week? He Is a man |
Of action, less of a theorist and |
dreamer than his father. the dead |
king Oscar, but Il remains TO be seen
whether he will become as popular |
with the mass Of his subjects. with |
the aristocracy he will be in greater |
favor. The arlstocrats had never
bffn able to forget that the founder
OF Oscars line was Marshal Berna-
dotte. who owed his rise in life 10 the
revolution. This fatal strain OF peas
ant blood. however. the new king Is
held to have largely eliminated. part |
ly through his fathers marriage TO
the Princess Sophie. OF Nassau. Gus
tayus is on terms OF close friendship |
with the German emperor, his wife's
cousin.
IL is presumed that the RESPONSE |
bility of his kingly Office viii soften
Gustavus' resentment against the Nor
weglans, for Withdrawing from his
fathers realm. At a banquet in |
Stockholm soon after Norway had leh |
the union. the then crown prince
openly expressed the opinion that the
way to heal the breach between the
nations was to invade Norway with a |
Swedish army and beat the recalci-
trants into submission. The utter
ance caused a great commotion in |
both countries, but even Oscar could |
not force HIS son to retract. It is 10
be hoped for the peace OF northern |
Europe that the new king has
changed his mind about sending an
army AGAINST bfo maetar, ,,of~bt.o. /