The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-10-01

prepared by the National Geographic Sc
ciety. Washington. d. c.
Denmark, with which Americans d
not often have contact, has receive
more than usual attention recently a
the owner of Greenland, where on
round-the-world flyers found it neces
sary to alight, as well as the politica
partner of Iceland another stopping
place in the fight.
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 Denmarks only remain
Ing colony. 1t is, in fact, a Danish
monopoly. Its 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
government for the common people,
swinging to that situation in less than
three-quarters of a century from a
highly developed arlstocracy.
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 It's 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 a
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 st Gsa
1t does not follow, as 1t 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 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 a very |
liberal constitutional monarchy, the |
government has become so much a part |
Of the people that it is their govern
nent. 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
,lasses
"Team Work" of the Danes.
There is one especially admirable
quality that strikes the observer In
)enmark-that is the capacity of the
Danes for Teamwork" When it
omes to the question of a reform
which the people have thought about
nd have come to the conclusion that
hey need, there Is no time lost in put
ing II into activity. To think, among
Danish folk. is to act. In this they are
mike their favorite hero of tragedy,
iamlet.
1t is refreshing, too, to discover that
o great affair concerning the good of
he people Is undertaken th0ughtessly,
nd the crown does not oppose in any
'ay reforms that may lessen Its priv
eyes or prerogatives
King Christian X is Dane of the
lanes, and yet sympathetic and toler-
nj Of the legitimate claims OF other
ations; and in Denmark one sees a =
monarchy at its best
1hatever ones prejudlces and tradi-
ons may be. one Is forced to admit
lat constitutional monarchy under
Ich circumstances Is an ideal lnstitu-
on, especially for small state. 8
The population Of Denmark. lnclud- {
z North Schleswig. returned under /
-essure, by Germany after the war. is +
bout S,250.0O0. The area of postwar +
enmark is 1920 square miles; 1t Is g
le-fifteenth the size Of Texas and r
,out onethird the size Of New York. |,
he Farce islands are part Of the king q
I'm Of Denmark. Iceland, which for
erly belonged to Denmark, became 4
ee state In 1874. rather gently ruled o
the king of Denmark. n
Denmark Is almost exclusively de- a
ted to agriculture; and yet not many J,
ore than 100000 persons follow the t,
rsuits of agriculture. forestry and n
hing. The capital, Copenhagen. Is a
city too large in proportion to the B
pulation of the country; 1t contains II
5 600 persons. Aarhus comes next, a
til 65.OOO; Aalorg has $4,000. and e
Tense. 10000 ia