New-York tribune., 1907-12-09
KING OSCARS CAREEn..

King Oscar of Sweden was born in Stockholm on
January FL 1922 and succeeded his brother. King
Charles XIV in 1872. Destined for the navy ne
took an active part In several expeditions, command
ing the squadron He took the course in the UnI-
versity Upsala, where he was graduated uoc-
tor of philosophy. His people regarded MIN as tle
best educated monarch of his day He was learned
in the lore of books and travelled extensively. He
was crowned King of Sweden at Stockholm on May
IL, 1873. and took the crown as King or Norway
at Drontheinl on July IS of the same year
King Oscar was the fourth monarch of the Berna-
dotte dynasty TO wear the twin crowns of the united
kingdoms of Sweden and Norway. He the
third son of the Crown Prince Oscar (afterward
King Oscar l. 1Si4-59) and of Josephine of Leuch-
tenberg daughter of Eugene Beauharnais, the
stepson of Napoleon. In June. 1905. the union be-
tween Norway and Sweden was dissolved by the
Norwegian Storthing, and in October Oscar II re-
nquished the sovereignty Of Norway as part of his
title and the more troublesome portion OF his dual
kingdom
King Oscars contributions to literature were
voIunnous. and he had Some reputation as a poet
His works include a monograph on Charles XII"
whose Memoirs he also edited two volumes OF
poems "Recollections OF the Swedish Fleet and
Poems ard Leaves from My Journal" drama,
entitled The Castle of kronbOrg. and TRANSACTIONS
into Swedish of several plays of Shakespeare THE
Cid' (Herder's translation. Goethes Faust and
Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered" For some OF his
ronances and ballads. sent TO the Sweish Academy
anonymously he received prize Cambridge Uni
versity gave him the degree of Doctor of Laws in
1900.
Many Of the hymns now in use throughout the
Protestant churches in Sweden of King Oscar s
composition. words az well music. for he
an accomplished musician. well a facile
lnguist speaking no less than seven languages.
He was always u patron of learning. and Nansen
owed his Arctic discoveries TO King oscars orlSi-
nal encouragement Of his enterprise His ability
as a dip!omatlst and authority on international
law were attested by the choice OF him the
f,1- sfa hon Sc ais in
the Samoan treaty between the United States.
Great Britain and Germany II was stipulated that
il the three treaty powers could not agree on the
choice of Il chief justice OF Samoa that officer
should be named by King oscar, and later he
acted as arbitrator in settling the claims for
pensatlon losses sustained by British and Ger
man subjects and American citizens in Samoa
Although his Judgment was unfavorabe TO the
United States, iIl feeling resulted in this coun
try. save possibly the part OF the individuals
most closely Interested
1t is not generally known in America-at any
rate by those oc the present generation-that King
oscar visited this country several occasions
prior 10 his accession 10 the crown and while serv-
ing in the navy.
Like the late Queen Dowager Of Portugal, King
Oarar wore upon his breast a medal for saving
Ne. 1t conferred upon him by the French
government far back 1851 long before he
assembled the throne, for two feats OF courage
performed in the neighborhood of Nice The frst
consisted in checking at the peril of his life two
runaway horses hitched TO 4 carriage that
oil the point OF dashng themselves and the vehicle
with IT'S occupants over a precipice. Five days
later he jumped into the water and saved a child
from drowning. AS recently August g. 1902. the
King added TO his record life While
yachting near the Marstrand Bridge. at Stockholm,
which was crowded with women and children. the
structure collapsed. precipitating most - them
into the water. The King threw of his coat and
assisted in the rescue twentyth three persons, who
were taken on board his yacht.
Oscar II married, in 1851 Princess Sophia daugh-
ter of the late Duke William of Nassau -Four
sons we.e born to them. Gustave. Duke of Werm-
land the prince, who succeeds his father,
was born on June l6, 1888. He married Princess
Victoria, daughter OF the Grand Duke of Baden
and d granddaughter of Emperor William l of
Germany. oscar. the second son, formerly Duke
of Gotland was born on November j.. 1883. Upon
his marriage Miss Ebba Munk, in 1885 he
nounced his succession 70 the throne and became
the Count Of Wisborg. Carl Duke of Fustergot-
land the third son. was born on February e. 1851.
and married Princess Ingeborg. daughter of King
Frederick Of Denmark. Eugene. Duke of Narke,
the fourth son. born in 1866. and is unmarried
The new prince is Gustave Adolf who
was born on November Il. 1SS2 and married in
June 1905, Princess Margaret Victoria, daughter
of Prince Arthur, Duke of COnnaught.
King oscar was devotedy fond of his wife and
children, and their family life one of union
and happiness