Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-22


the idea begins to take hold that the
new king is in every sense remark
able man. Bjornstjerne Bjornson. the
great Norwegian writer, who has said
many bitter thing about the Swed-
ish Grown Prince Gustaf, lately de-
clared that in the face of what he has
seen since this man came to the throne
he regrets much of what he has writ
ten.
One of the new kings passions, how
ever, has long been known to his peo-
pie. He is mighty hunter. There is
probably no land in all Europe, prob
ably in all the world, where the true
Nimrod finds such supreme satisfac-
tion as in Sweden. Its boundless for
ests swarm with big and small game,
and its innumerable lakes and rivers
with an amazing abundance of fish.
Gustaf is never so happy as when on
the trail of bear, and, If all tales be
true, he has far surpassed the president
of the United States in the number of
these beasts which he has slain with
his own right hand. He holds the rec
ord in Sweden both for flood and field.
King Oscar Had Faults
King Oscar was filled with joy of life,
brilliant a friend of beautiful women
perhaps too ardent a friend-a man or
exceeding attractiveness and amiabil-
ity. His son is man of plodding ways,
modest, grim, wanting nothing for HIM
self, passionately fond of the open air
and of things that belong to the open
air. He is probably the best shot in
his kingdom; he Is certainly the best
tennis player. His room is ornamented
with many trophy won in the tennis
court--won against all comers, and not
merely against those who gladly lose
game to a prince.
There is a good story told about his
passionate love of tennis. Last sum-
mer, when King Oscar was sick, the
crown prince was placed in charge OF
the government as regent. There was
cabinet council arranged for one
morning and the crown prince, as he
was then, had to preside. But on that
very morning he had arranged game
of tennis and forgot all about the cabi-
net council until an hour after the APP
pointed time. He hurried to the palace
and hastily changing his clothes, ap-
peared in the council chamber breath
less, breathing only apologies. The
grave and reverend seigniors looked
very glum, and the Radical prime min
lister, Mr.. Staaff, informed the regent
that the time of the council belonged
to the nation, and that they hoped
there would be no repetition of this
remissness. Poor Gustaf apologized in
a very humble fashion and was for
given. Oh, yes, the glory of kings in
Sweden is departing! Ichabod!
King Oscar was a brilliant orator,
SURPRISING even the German emperor
in the wealth of his rhetoric and de-
lighting in tickling the ears of the
eroundlings with polished orations on
every subject under the sun. King
Gustaf knows none of these graces. He
is hating in speech, stumbles and
shuff1es in the middle OF the simplest
sentences, and breads the duty imposed
on him by his position of speaking at
public meetings. There is not a trace
of nervousness in the man, but he has
an adherence of talk" His father
knew him we'll. When he was ap-
preaching the end he said to his friend
Staaff: 'I am sort OF a poet; my
nature is that of poet and accident
has made of me a king. But wait till
Gustaf comes to the throne. He will be
a far better king. He knows what he
wants"
Kings Servants Strike
While King Oscar was lying sick the
servants in the household of the crown
prince struck for higher wages and
their complaints came to the ears Of the
prince. Many another man in his posi-
tion would have relegated the matter
to the head of his household. Not so
the prince. He called meeting of the