Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-22

Sweden were proclaimed there by the
Witenagamote and raised on the shields
of the chiefs of the people. In Upsala
was the hoary temple of the old Scan
dinavian religion, and 1t is place dear
and sacred to the people. To break
with those old traditions and all that
they mean will be a severe blow to the
people, and will not increase the popu-
larity of the monarch who decides to
break away from so splendid tradf-
ton. But King Gustaf only smiled one
of his rare smiles, which have an ele-
ment of grimness in them. 81 have de-
cided." he said, "and the people can be
my judge" When the news became
known there was at first an outburst
of shocked surprise, but the shock only
lasted day or two and then song of
jubilation and praise echoed through
had a king after their own heart.
democrat, friend of the people, simple,
modest and shrewd.
But that was not all. The Swedes
are nightly proud of their rigsdag.
Next to the British house of commons
ii is the most venerable legislative as
sembly in Europe. The ceremonial at
the opening of the Swedish parliament
is most elaborate, and the cost Of 1t Is
reckoned at another half million dollars.
The members of the rigsdag, in their
al palace and then, to the accompani-
ment of church bells and the trumpet
ing of a score of heralds, they pass in
solemn procession to the parliament
house. The court accompanies the pro-
cession in splendid medieval costumes;
pages and court marshals bearing the
insignia of the realm are there, and the
rear Is composed of the princes and
princesses of the royal house. with the
king and queen in their center. The
picture is described as Of the most gor-
geous character.
Wears Plain Clothes
Away with all this, says Gustaf V.
He had long talk on the subject with
his prime minister, who is a sensible
man and a thorough radical.
'Whats the use of it all?" asked the
King. "Our parliament will be as well
opened if l walk across from the palace
and open the parliamentary session
with a speech delivered in my ordinary
clothes. or perhaps in the uniform of
NV guards, which is simple and with
out any useless gold braidings and
things. I object to be seen with an
ermine robe hanging from my shoui-
ders and a crown on my head studded
with Jewels. My dear minister" added
Gustaf "all that state and ceremony,
all that pride of costume and state. are
entirely at variance with modern con-
ceptions and my people are modern
or nothing. Let us save the money,
MIR. Minister" He smiled, and the
minister smiled, and the people of
Sweden are smiling, for they know
they have now a whole man at their
head.
Gustaf V. was born in the beautiful
castle of Drottningholm, near Stock
holm, in June 1858. The king is, there
fore, not yet so years old. King Oscar
gave him a splendid education, and the
princes inclinations were always to-
ward science. He entered the army in
the usual way and was a general and
an admiral at 40. He acted as viceroy
of Norway until 1884, when this office
was abolished. He was never on very
friendly terms with the Norwegians,
and it must be said that had the sepa-
ration between Sweden and Norway not
taken place in the reign of his father
1t would certainly have taken place in
the reign of the son. The Norwegians
have hitherto heartily disliked Gustaf
and when he was viceroy they gave
practical proof of this in lowering his
appanage from $4,000 to $4,000 kronen.
All the time when Gustaf was crown
prince he came little in contact with
the people, so that even today if you
ask an ordinary Swede his opinion of
the new king you will invariably be
answered with. a shrug of the shoul-
ders. Among a select few, however,