Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1924-10-01

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety. Washington. D. CO
Denmark, with which Americans do
not often have contact, has received
more than usual attention recently as
the owner of Greenland, where our
round-the-world flyers found it neces-
sary to alight, as well as the political
partner of Iceland, another stopping
place in the flight.
Since the sale by Denmark to the
United States Of the Virgin islands
and the establishment of the almost
complete independence of Iceland,
Greenland is Denmark's only remain
Ing colony. 1t is. in fact, a Danish
monopoly. It's government is distinct
ly paternaliStic, but is scrupulously for
the benefit of the natives.
To very marked degree the govern
ment Of Denmark itself has come to be
a government for the common people,
swinging to that situation in less than
three-quarters of a century from a
highly developed ariStocracy.
Even now there is a paradoxical
condition of affairs. The court of Den
mark has been called "the royalest
court in Europe" because it has fur
nished kings and queens to several
thrones besides its own, and it's reign
Ing family is related by blood to nearly
every crowned head on the continent
1t may seem strange that the royalest
court of Europe should exist in q.
country which is largely constructive
ly socialistic. 1t seems even stranger
TO us that the farmers in Denmark,
who are the most influential part of
the population, should take to socialis-
tic methods.
1t does not follow, as it does in
Sweden and in Germany, that social
lists in Denmark should hate a king.
They are sometimes in conflict with
the existing government and would
doubtless use all their influence to OBJ
tain a republic if nearly all that can
be gained through the application of
democratic ideas to government had
not been already achieved.
In truth, in Denmark, under very
liberal constitutional monarchy, the
government has become so much part
of the people that it is their govern
ment. This has, in the eyes of the
more conservative Danes, some disad-
vantages just now, as the present gov
eminent exists mainly for the poorer
classes.
"Team Work" of the Danes.
There is one especially admirable
quality that strikes the observer in
Denmark-that is the capacity of the
Danes for teamwork" When it
comes 60 the question of a reform
which the people have thought about
and have come to the conclusion that
they need, there is no time lost in put
ting it into activity. To think, among
Danish folk, is to act. In this they are
unlike their favorite hero of tragedy,
Hamlet.
1t is refreshing, too, to discover that
no great affair concerning the good of
the people is undertaken thoughtlessly,
and the crown does not oppose in any
way reforms that may lessen its priv
neges or prerogatives.
King Christian X is Dane of the
Danes, and yet sympathetic and toler-
ant of the legitimate claims of other
nations; and in Denmark one sees
constitutional monarchy at its best.
Whatever ones prejudices and tradi-
lions may be. one is forced to admit
that a constitutional monarchy under
such circumstances is an ideal institu-
ton, especially for small state.
The population of Denmark. includ-
ing North Schleswig, returned, unGer
pressure, by Germany after the war, is
about 3,250000 The area of postwar
Denmark is 1920 square miles; it is
one-tifteenth the size of Texas and
about one-third the size of New York
The Farce islands are part of the king
dom of Denmark. Iceland, which for
merly belonged TO Denmark, became a
free state in 1874, rather gently ruled
by the king of Denmark.
Denmark is almost exclusively de-
voied to agriculture and yet not many
more than 1000, 900 persons follow the
pursuits of agriculture, forestry and
fishing. The capital. Copenhagen, is
city too large in proportion to the
population Of the country; 1t contains
$4,000 persons. Aarhus comes next,
with 65,0oo; Aalorg has $4,000. and
OdenSe. 10000.