Semi-weekly herald., 1912-05-16

Frederick VIII, king of Denmark,
and the most democratic and popular
monarch of Europe, was born June 3,
1S4S, twenty years before his father,
a prince of the house of Schleswig
Holstein- -Sonderburg- -Gluecksburg, be
came king of Denmark under the name
of Christian TX. His fathers acces-
sion to the throne of Denmark was
arranged by the powers of Europe, to
avoid the perlls of a disputed throne
after the death of Frederick VII, of
the Oldenburg line, who left no chill
dren.
When his father became king,
Prince Frederick, then youth of 20,
was in the midst of his studies at the
university of Copenhagen. These were
not interrupted by the change of cil-
cumstances, and, in fact, the only
change in the life of the young stu
dent was, that on Saturdays, instead
O. walking to the modest home oE.his
iiilkeelpis in one of the quiet streets of
Copenhagen, he took street car at
the Gothersgade to visit the royal
family at the Amalienborg palace. IN
assumingly and unostentatiousiY t'e
young prince mingled with his ltul .
subjects and frequently he had -
stand up and hang to strap, when
the car was crowded.
After he had graduated trom the
university the young prince entered
the crack regiment of the Guard ds
private. He was the only man aaiong
the sovereigns and heirs apparent Ct
Europe who served as simple sol
der in the ranks without the slight
est distinction from his humber cont
rades. He wore the same clothes. liv
ed in the same quarters, ate the same
simple and coarse food, used .he sam
rude utensils, tin plate and cup, iron
knife and fork, which he cleaned with
his own hands, shouldered the same
heavy rifle and went through the saiLe
routine and training like all the rest
Only after he had received thorough
training he accepted promotions t.
the rai,; of sergeant.
In his fathers house thc young
prince had become used TO he sim
pest and most frugal life. Christian
was poor and married II princess
equally impecunious. Tne family vas
large and the strictest economy was
necessary to make both ENDS meet.
Young Frederick, like iis younge =
brothers, had no valet ard was com
PEELED to polish his own shoes. Even
after his father ascendej the throne
in 1868 the plain and si1'piy life
Of the family was changed lat little.
Frederick's sisters, Alexandra, former
queen of England, and Marie Dag
mar, who married Alexander III. of
Russia, used to make their own dress
es before they were married and, when
two of them went out driving in the
solitary family carriage, the other
members of the family had to remain
home.
Frederick VIII. modelled his life
and habits after the illustrious exam
pit VI MS idNhciS oIAlotidI anu
when he succeeded to the throne on
Jan. 20, 1906, upon the death of his
father, his popularity was merely a
degree less than that of his beloved
predecessor. Under Christian there
was never any ostentation or display
at court and the royal audiences were
ordinarily as open and simple as the
average White house reception. This
was not changed after Frederick as
cended the throne. Even the fact tina,
!. Frederick's wife, Princess Louise, the
= laughter of King Charles XIV. of Swe-
den and Norway, inherited fortune
of about thirty million dollars, did moi
materially influence the simplicity OF
life at the royal court.
1t was Frederick's curious fate tC
see his younger brother and his owr
son become reigning monarchs before
he himself assembled the throne ol
Denmark. His brother William was
elected king of Greece in 1868 ant