Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-06

DINED BY
MONARCH
Pole Finder Gives Proof of
Statement
.DENMARK'S KING AND QUEEN
ENTERTAIN COOK
ROYAL FAMILY SHOWS FAITH IN
ARCTIC coNoUERoR
Discoverer Awarded Unusual Honors.
Scientists Convinced and Truth
of Narrative Is Mo Longer
Doubted
tBy Associated Press. ]

~ OPEN t1AGGN, Oepl. o7-1Cis lSu-
erlck A. Cook dined tonight with
" King Frederick at the summer
palace, a few miles outside of Copen-
hagen.
The king summoned DR.. Cook to an
audience yesterday as a formal cour-
tesy. They had an hours talk, and,
while these royal audiences, according
to etiquette, can be minutely described
by members of court, DR.. Cook made
such an impression on the king that
the latter Immediately instructed the
court chamberlain to summon the ex-
plorer to dine with him tonight.
The king invited DR.. Cook to meet
him yesterday only afters having the
government make the closest possible
Investigation into the merits of his
story.
Ali Danish explorers were asked to
give their opinions of DR.. Cooks claims
before the audience was granted, and
their verdict was unanimously in his
favor.
Honor is Unusual
The dinner was entirely the result Of
the kings personal opinion regarding
the explorer, who had the seat on the
king'sA right, an honor which Danes
cannot remember having been accord
ed another private person.
Members Of the royal family listened
to his every word as he recounted the
dangers and / Irivations of his polar
journey.
DR.. Cook was immensely pleased to-
day by a telegram from President Iaft
in which the president EXTENDED ms
hearty congratulations.
He had to undergo an ordeal today
being bombarded on every SIDE with
questions intended to test the accu-
racy of his affirmations.
Although it was after midnight when
L. Al nf laAo IN
first days trying experience, he sat up
for two hours engaged in correspon-
dence and in conversation with CSm-
modore HoVgaard and Professor OlH4-
sen, secretary of the Geographical so'[
oiety.
He was up before o'clock this
morning reading translations of COM
ments in the Danish newspapers.
Later he received Commodore Sverd-
run and Count Harald Moltke, a MEM
Der of the Mylius Erichsen expedition,
who probably will illustrate DR.. Cooks
book.
one Of the most exacting periods OF
the day was an interview with Pro-
fessor Stromberg, leading Scandlna
Wan astronomer, who says when ne rs
permitted to examine DIR. Cooks OBJ
servations he can decide within half T.
day wheher the explorer has been at
the pole.
Several other expert arctic exDlor-
ers were closeted in conversation with
Dr. Cook.
When they came out they appeared
thoroughly convinced of his absolute
good faith.
A luncheon at the American legation
afforded further opportunity to nom
expert persons to strengthen their al
ready firm belief in the explorers mar
rative.
The dinner at the royal castle was
the scene of greatest enthusiasm.
Egan in Party
DR.. Maurice f. Egan, American min
lister. and several other guests COM
pleted the party.
The dinner passed off quietly, as is
customary on Sunday in the royal
household, but after dinner there was
a regular rush around DIR. Cook, who
started a succinct recital of his ad-
ventures.
One after another of the royal per-
sonages piled him with questions and
marked their intelligent appreciation
of conditions in arctic seas and then
waited eagerly while the explorer an
swered always without hesitation.
Prince Waldemar, brother of the
king, who is a scientific sailor, was ex-
tremely interested in the currents
ice Prince and Princess George of
Greece also made pertinent inquiries.
The king and queen and everybody
were so greatly interested III the story
that they remained in the drawing
room much longer than is their Gus
tom. As DR.. Cook retired with MIN
lister Egan he was the centcr of con-
gratulatory group. 1t was easy to be
seen that the royal family had implicit
faith in him.
1t has been decided that after DIR.
Cooks visit to Brussels he will lecture
at Paris. He then will return to CO.
penhagen and sail from here for New
York.
% Not cognizant of Fame
One of the most interesting features
of DR.. Cooks present position is that
he is about the only intelligent man
in the world now who does not realize
how conspicuous and talked about DR..
Cook is today. Minister Egan has
shielded him carefully.
While he is theoretically living the
governments guest at hotel he prac-
tically is living at the legation, that
he may be kept away from the pres
sure of crowds. DIR. Cook thinks that
he viii be able to get back to New
York so that he may revise his sc1en-
tiflc records before he gives them to
the world
At lunch at the embassy To-Day tne
explorer escaped for a few minutes
from the absorbing topic of the arctic
and asked questions which to the lis
teners appeared amusing about what
was going on.
What was this remarkable play, "The
Merry Widow" of which he had heard
from the Danes in Greenland? What
was Taft's majority? and similar ques-
tipns.
To obviatc the possible loss by ship
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