New-York tribune., 1919-03-22
he Lion of the North"
"A Name at Which the World
Grew Pale

Charles 4. LES THE TWELFTH. KING on SWEDEN.
By John A. Gade. Illustrated Tho Houghton
Mifiin Company.
Some day, no doubt, philosophic-his
torians will address themselves to the
fascinating task of measuring the
values of national follies. They will
teil us, Tor instance. how much France
Oh to-day owes for her greatness to the
periods of Louis XIV and Napoleon,
and what Germany Of the future-if
there should happen to be any Ger
many in the benefits from the
world-record madness of Hohenzol-
lernism and Prussian Junkerdom Of
the twentieth century.
Nearly 300 years ago. when an army
OF 10000 was a great military force,
sweden was a world power Cardinal
Richelieu ruled the civilized world
from Paris, and Gustavus Adolphus
was his chief lieutenant, and together
they, drew new physical, political and
intellectual boundary lines across the
map of the Old WorlG. Little Svea's
light was burning with lustre second
IN brllliance to only that of France
Then Charles the Twelfth came and lit
both ends of the candle.
And ever since. with exception of the
little Finland tragedy, Sweden has
ousled herself in humble rcspectability
with such home chores as paying her
debts and keeping her legislative floors
swept and clean and her pantry stocked
and tidy. Now, 200 years is long
time for nation to spend without an
eruption Sweden has prospered in
this time, and she has been reasonably
happy. In how far did the romantic
splendor of Sweden's spendthrift days
serve to inspire and cheer the nation? {?
THE Lion of the North,' as the
Swedes love to call the young mon
arch who came so near to annihilating
the whole nation, has found many able
biographers. Voltairc took his meas
ure, and scores of other historians. BIZ
ographers and essayists have sought
to determine whether Charles WIS a
madman or genius. Not the Acast
oflillant OF the many volumes consti-
utlng the photography OF Charles the
twelfth has been contributed by John
A. Gade. an American of Norwegian
descent, resident of New York, who
attained distinction as an architect be-
tore he became a writer.
supposedly the narrative of Colonel
hllngspor-Colonel Hotspur would
serve as the English equivalent-this
ia'est volume on Charles the Twelfth
Is written in style that is quaint
ana chaImlng and delightfully."- illu-
mined with ke-believe unconscious
humor. Colonel Klingspor possesses
tn ehe curously distorted view of our
4ilieha, samuel Pepys, and therein lies
eee re chlel interest of tale that has
Nilngspors saga would rank high
among the curiosities of literatmre
But, as matter of fact. Mr.. Gade,s
manufactured New York product is as
good as If not better than what we
mlgnt expect if the story had been
,hsnd- made by Colonel Klingspor, late
OF the Drabants, King Charles's pet
regiment and bodyguard. iO'
!he good colonel eschews the no-
iltlcai tangle of his times. but loves
to dwell on manly games and The ey-
cltement of battle. Not for him to
delve into the intricacies of strategy
put the clash of arms, the great ad.
ventures of his master; and the high
spirit that moved the Swedes TO at
Tempt to dominate Germany, Poland
ahG Russia and rule these countries
from the barren heights of the Baltic
peninsula. There is something epic
IN In the conception itself, and perchance
oharics telt something of the passion
OF the ancient Gods of Asgaard as he
conquer Gar Peter and his realm with
less than $4,000 soldiers, hungry, poor
" armed and clad and moved solely |
oy their blind devotion to their Young |
leader, who, in turn, had blind con-
ldence III his own powers.
And what men they were, these SOL
diers of Charles Their artillery aban.
doned, their uniform in rags and them
selves half-starved, they rushed into
the fatal Battle of Poltava, attacking
many times their number of Musco.
'ites. 1t was hardly battle. The Rus
sian bear opened his jaws and swal-
lowed these barking, biting Northern
whelps Of Thor But the tragedy wna
not perfect, not Geek 1t was a Rus-
sim mess, for Charles escaped across
the Dnieper with a handful of his most
and dragged himself with the
remnant of his force to Tur-
key, there to remain in exile for venrs
devoting himself to pitiably unsuccess,
full attempts to stir UP war between
the Sultan and the Gear,
But all these viciss.tudcs Colone,
Klingspor views in his old age, na no
sets himself to write The story, through
I. =