The Detroit times., 1912-06-21
ROYAL DEATH OVER IN
DENMARK is SIGNAL
FOR FESTIVE SCENES
Visiting Notables Feast and
Happy Crowds Fill Streets
After the Kings Death
NO MARK OF DISCoURTESY
Late Sovereign Held In High Es-
TEEN. But People Follow
Time-Worn Custom
BY RAYMOND e. SWING.

COPENHAGEN, June 21.-Copen-
hagen loves funeral. The visiting
ambassadors Toasted and the Danish
people stared and stared until they
had optical indigestion and until
Frederick VIII was laid to rest in the
old Roskilde church Ii wasn't the
presence OF death that was obvious;
II was the presence of festivity.
The crowds which filled the streets
were happy crowds, despite crepe and
myriad OF half-masted flags. The
people laughed and joked, craned
their necks, admired the pretty uni
forms. They jolted each other and
chaffed the policemen.
For this leyity there are two reasons
/ The most important is that a royal
family in a state like Denmark Is a
national pastime. A king isn't much
good. He costs a lot of money and
the investment only pays dividends
once In great while, at a wedding,
( coronation or a funeral Then royalty
dons its most gala dress and rides
Through the crowded streets. SO the
people can have their good time, too.
The other reason is that the new
Nils 10 q yOuLS udu tut d lOukt
Hong time, Denmark has been ruled by
old men. Christian X is barely 40;
the crown prince IA. When the year
sof mourning is over, the court will be-
come a livelier place That means
that the people will get more of their
moneys worth for supporting a royal
Family.
Roskilde, where all the Danish
Kings are laid away in the old vii
llage abbey, was an interesting place
the day OF the funeral. The church
was draped in crepe. which cost the
Danish people $4,000 kroner ($12,00O)
THE street from the road Everywhere
else from the depot TO the church the
Iground was sprinkled with evergreen.
Flags were flying from a Thousand
lpoles. Infantry and cavalry were
drawn up beside people. They wait
ed patiently and happy. An old ditch
digger, his pick and shovel over his
shoulder, pushed through the crowd.
A policeman stopped him.
Where are you going?" he asked
sharply.
ITO dig the kings grave" said the
laborer, and the crowd roared at his
wit.
II What a contrast to the national
( grief In America when Mckinley was
2buriedl In Copenhagen, the night be
fore the funeral, the Royal Opera was
filed with a brilliant audience which
applauded a splendid rendition OF
ia Tosca!" Every other theater was
In full blast. The streets were gay
and crowded Around the hotels where
royalty was stopping (hotels, by the
way, without a single private BATH
the people waited and stretched their
necks--always looking and looking &c
get their moneys worth.
Imagine Indiana or New Jersey
about as iasge az Denmark, support
ing palace. royal family, army and
navy No wonder Denmark Is nearly
broke" and tie royal castle. burned
10 the ground % years ago is still be
ing rebuilt
1.-THE aI-s IS lead " said one Ct no
copenhagen new spapers. What of IT.
He was old; he should have died Is
that any reason for having feasts and
banquets as though IL we're a royal
wedding? Is that any reason for
throwing away money like water IN
entertaining foreign ambassadors :
This Is a aatl mai disgrace"
Other papers TESTED about the first
meeting OF Haakon. Of Norway. and
Gustav. 81 SweGer. VINO are not ON
speaking ter-Is bncgusc % ne recent
separation OF the Two countries. There
were column, a. equally imps,tiLat
royal gossip. Nptional gi'ef VAS
curiopsly absent