The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1912-05-23
DENMARK KING 4
WAS BELOVED
Late Frederick VIM Took HEARTY
! Interest In His People.
ON THE THRONE SIX YEARS,

His Democratic Bearing Won tho Ma.
tion-Was Related to Many Royal
| Families Of Europe Eldest Son,
| Christian, His Successor.
! The reign of King Frederick VIII. OF
Denmark. who died recently, was too
short and the part his country played
OF late in history too small to make
him very noteworthy character. He
succeeded his father, King Christian.
in January, 1906, when he was already
slxty-two years old, and thenceforth
| played his part as a constitutional mon
arch with an ability and high purpose
that won for him the admiration of
those who were most opposed in prin.
| c1ple to all his Office stands for.
King Frederick was born June 8.
| 1S43, and was married on July %, 1859,
| to the Princess Louise of Sweden and
Norway. During his fathers long reign
he was in the Danish army, entering
| the guards at an early age and serving
through all ranks till he became inspec.
| tor general Of the army.
As king he was noted for his absence
| of anything like show. He was a busy
| man. for with his wife he was inter-
ested in all that made for the welfare
| OF the community. He was chancel-
lor of the Danish National university
and grand master Of the Freemasons
| of Denmark and discharged with real
industry the duties appertaining to
these Offices.
Was Easy to Approach.
He was always the most approach
able of men. In Copenhagen or near
the summer palace at Hvidore the
king was familiar figure, strolling
through crowded streets or secluded
country lanes. sometimes absolutely
unattended and with seldom any more
efficient guard than one of the gentle
men of his court. He knew personally
many Of his neighbors and was fond
Of dropping in to chat with them over
their family affairs.
1t is told of him that once when a
party of Americans had found their
way into the gardens of one Of his
summer palaces he showed them
around and only revealed his identity
as he shook hands at parting and re-
marked:
IF you want to see the stables Just
say you have the kings permission"
Had No Divine Right Theories.
A Danish monarch less democratic
might have found his official duties
difficult to perform. Socialism is ram
pant in Denmark. and the king must
submit to many things that would be
1ntolerable to one obsessed with divine
right theories. King Frederick, how
ever, won absolute praise by his strict
regard for the limits of constitutional
authority. He realized that it was his
to use, not to abuse those with whom
he disagreed, and he could admire the
ability Of even those most opposed to
him.
So. whatever the economic views of
the most radical of his subjects, not
word was ever .breathed against King
Frederick, Queen Louise or the rest
of the royal house. They were rec
ognized as fulfilling the duties pre-
scribed for them by the constitution
with conscientious exactitude and as
always acting for what they believed
the best interests of their people.
His Royal Connections.
King Frederick was related to many
royal families Of Europe OF his three
sisters one is Alexandra. queen mother
of England; another is Marie Dagmar,
dowager empress Of Russia. and
third, Thyra. is the Duchess Of Cum
berland, whose husband claims the
throne of Hanover. One Of his broth
ers is King George l. of Greece and
the other Waldemar, who married
Princess Marie Of Orleans and refused
the crown of Bulgaria in 1886.
He is succeeded by his eldest son.
Christian. who married in 1898 the
Duchess Alexandria Of Mecklenburg
and is now forty-one years old. He
has two children. the Crown Prince
Frederick and Prince Knud.
Another Of King Frederick's sons is
King Haakon VII. Of Norway, who
married the Princess Maud Of Wales,
King Georges youngest sister, while
Ingehore the eldest dauphtar If tho