The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-09-22
Wouldn't They Haven't
YOUNGEST KING IN EUROPE
Boyish Monarch of Greeee-A Product
Of the European War

Athens, Sept. 22.-King Alexander
was the centre of a brilliant scene as
he made his first appearance before
parliament, took the oath to rule as
a constitutional monarch, and deliver
ed his first speech from the throne.
He looked a boyish king, for he is
just twenty-four and the youngest
king in Europe. But he is tall, stall
wart and good-looking and in his uni
form of an officer of the guards with
the medals and ribbons of royalty he
had all the bearing and DIGNITY Of
monarch.
The event was notable in many re-
spects. Neither this young man nor
anyone else supposed he would ever
be king until few weeks ago. He is a
sort of war-king; product of the
great European war. His brother had
been trained to be a king and had re-
ceived a course in high politics. But
when the Entente Allies gave King
Constantine an ultimatum to abdicate
they required also that the crown
prince, who had been trained for
kingship, should also leave. And SO
this younger son, unframed in state
craft, was suddenly compelled TO take
up a crown and become monarch.
He had expected to follow the career
of a soldier and had been to school
in England and at the royal military
school, Potsdam.
The event was chiefly notable, how
ever, in being a sort Of transition
from royalty to democracy-another
result OF the European war. While
this young man was king, yet the oath
he was just taking was to rule as
constitutional monarch and his appear
ance in Parliament here today, with
the prime minister and ministers
about him, was a formal recognition
of the principle for which this minis
try and the Entente Allies had con-
tended, that a responsible ministry
direct the affairs of the country and
not the king.
The recognition of this principle
was very prominent in the ceremony
Of today. 1t was less royal func
tion and more gathering of democ-
racy. Before the king were the elect
ed representatives of the people, all
about him we're the ministers and
there we're comparatively few court
attendants. The speech from the
throne had been prepared by the
ministers. and when the moment Gr-
rived for its delivery the prime min
lister, Venizelos, took ii from his poe
ket and passed it to the king for de-
livery.
The pronouncement of the king,
| thus framed by the ministry, careful
| ly avoided any offensive reference TO
| the dethronement of King Constan-
tine, for this was a delicate family
matter which would involve criticism
by son of the acts of his father
But II openly reversed the policy OF
the former king, in strongly approx,
ing the course of the entente. whom
the king now referred to as friends
and allies battling for the defense OF
humanity, as against the rapacity Of
the central powers.
AS a spectacle also the event had
its interest The ministry had sought
to give full scope TO every royal pre-
rogatiye, for they wish the new kine
to be real representative before the
people of constitutional monarchy
The splendid coaches of the royal es
tablishment with powdered grooms
and footmen. and heralds and outrid
ers in brilliant uniforms, made an ole
world picture Of royal pageantry, a.
the king moved between dense cherr
ing masses, with solid lines of soldiers
stretching from the palace to tn,
parliamentary chamber The marbl,
colonnade OF the chamber was gar
landed with wreaths and flowers. anl
a great floral crown above the door
way indicated that even in this abod
of democracy there was still wei
come for what remained OF royalty.