Year: 1864

The death of the King and the ascension
of hi father to the throne released Prince
Frederick from the prison at the end of lit
tie more than two years, and he was then ap-
pointed Governor of the Island of Funen.
But, being inclined to fall again into his old
ways Of living, his royal father soon after in
sisted that he should marry once more, and
after some negotiations, Princess Caroline of
Mecklenburg- Streltz, was chosen to be the
second wife In the full bloom of youth,
pretty and highly accomplished, it was hoped
that she would wean Prince Frederick from
his low-born companions and bring him
back to court and to sense of his crown
princely 80 s But this the young Prin-
cess-si' ed to do Frederick, al
- Asdged her to be prettier,
thoug- as proud as his first wife, and
before long absented himself more than ever
from the Court and his new home What,
probably. contributed to his arrangement
was an : accidental meeting with an old
friend Of hH youth, Louise Rasmussen
Poor 0iss had seen hard times since she
left Dpa3rk for France, Though an Or
namen some years of the Paris corps de
ballet, she was soon shelved on the appear
ance of greater ornaments, and had to con-
tent herself with becoming member of a
wandering troupe of actors disseminating
dramatic art through the little towns of
Germany, Hungary, and Bohemia The
speculation, with all its hardships and mis-
cries, proved very unsatisfactory in pecuni-
airy sense, and Louise Rasmussen was glad
to drop off the stage of destitute Hanover
ian village and proceed on foot to Hamburg
The wealthy merchant city gave her new
friends, among whom she sojourned for an
other couple Of years, and then returned to
Copenhagen.


Getting to the dangerous boundary of
thirty, Miss Rasmussen now resolved to be-
come steady, and accordingly settled down
as a milliner and dressmaker, working for
the shop and for any procurable private Gus
toners One evening, coming home late
from her work she was arrested-at least
this is the Copenhagen story-by the sight
of fire, and, with her wonted energy,
ranged herself among the handman chain of
assistants whose hands passed the pals Of
water from the canal to the fire engine She
had not been there long when she perceived
that a gentleman opposite, busy in handing
pals, stared very hard at her. as if trying to
recognize an acquaintance. She recognized
him at once; it was His Royal Highness
Prince Frederick, heir to the throne of Den
mark. The conhagration being subdued,
Prince Frederick gallantly offered her his
arm accuHlps.Isy Misc nasr.,s s.sp,or. 30 l4Or
humble lodgings, and, few months after,
she found herself installed in a pretty little
villa on the island of Amager, from which,
at the end of year, she migrated to a lar
ger mansion, with numerous servants about
her. Here she had the satisfaction Of learn
ing the divorce of Prince Frederick from his
second wife, after a union Of five years.
Princess Caroline returned to Mecklenburg
Streltz, and Louis Rasmussen was declared
favOrite en- trite.


King Christian VIII, died on the Goth
January, S4S, and the same day his son
ascended the throne as Frederick VII One
of his first acts was to elevate Louise Ras-
mussen to the rank of Baroness Danner,
which title was advanced soon after to that
of Countess. The matter created some dis
content at first among the people; but was
judged less severely when it was found that
the royal favorite used whatever influence
she possessed for the benefit Of the nation.
Besides, the King loudly declared more than
once that he would prefer thousand times
giving up his throne than separation from
his friend The Countess became almost
his sole adviser, and her influence grew to
such an extent that she was able to persuade
the King to make her his lawful wife. The
mere announcement Of the intention created
a storm of indignation throughout the coun-
try, leading to protests on all parts, and TO
strong remonstrances from the Ministers );
nevertheless Frederick VII was not to be
shaken in his purpose, and on the 9th of
August, 1850 he gave his hand in the
church Of Fredericksburg, to Louise Ras-
mussen. A short while after the King,
with his consort, visited the southern prov
inces Of Denmark, and being rather coldly
received at one place, his Majesty made a
very frank speech at a banquet given in his
honor. He told the guests that, though a
King a by no means given up his
prlyiegC-<as man to marry the woman he
loved best, and that, in the place in which
he stood, he looked upon his present wife as
the only true friend he possessed in the
world. The speech, repeated from mouth
to mouth, created profound sensation, and
gradually extinguished the illfeeling against
the Countess At later period she was
again censured for giving herself too much
the airs Of real queen but the reproach
was deemed venal, in view Of what was
generally ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS she was, in
deed, the devoted friend and consort of her
royal husband. She alone succeeded in
chasing away the spirit of profound dejec-
tion which settled upon the King in the la
ter years of his life, under the burden of
physical and mental suferings as well as
political cares Frederick VII was thus
enabled to become what even his personal
enemies do not dispute-the best monarch
Denmark has had these hundred years.


The hardness of precious stones is in the
following order: Diamond, ruby, SAPPHIRE,
topaz. havcinth. emerald. garnet. AMETHYST.