The Pembroke County Guardian and Cardigan Reporter

OUR LONDON LETTER. [BY OUR ARTIST CORRESPONDENT.] The father of two kings and two em- presses, and grandfather of a king, a queen, and a Czar-such was the King of Den- mark who has just passed away. To us he was known as the father of our Queen Alex- andra, to the Russians as the father of the Empress-Dowager and grandfather of the Czar. The Greeks chose one of his sons for their King, and the Norwegians gave their vacant throne to his grandson and granddaughter. Prince Carl and the Princess Maud. Once a comparatively un- distinguished princelet, though boasting a very ancient lineage, the position to which he and his family have been raised is largely due to his homely virtues and his kindly disposition, which have made him popular almost in spite of himself. The in- fluence he has exerted, both as a man and THE LATE KING CHRISTIAN. as a monarch, has been on the side of the domestic virtues of economy, simplicity, and industry. The atmosphere of his Court was purer than that of many prouder houses, and the families who allied them- selves with him lost nothing, but often gained a great deal. His death, in his eighty-eighth year, was peaceful and quiet, like his life. The news was certainly un- expected, and came as a great shock, al- though he could not have lived long. Full of years and honour, one of the most vener- able of monarchs has passed away, leaving behind him a record which is in many ways a credit to him, he having set a good example of what a monarch can be. The new King and Queen of Denmark are amongst the interesting Royal couples of Europe. They ascended the throne at a time of national prosperity, and are ex- tremely popular with their subjects. His Majesty is in his sixty-third year, having been born at Copenhagen in 1843. It was not until he was ten years of age that the question of the Danish succession was set- tled, and he became the heir to the throne. Up fej that time he attended the ordinary public school of the town like any other Daninh boy, and even after that his up- bringing was very simple. He married Princess Louise of Sweden, so that through the acceptance of the Norwegian crown by Prince Carl the three Scandinavian king- doms have monarchs who are bound to- gether by the-tiosest of family ties. While he was Crown Prince the new King became KING FREDERICK or DENMARK. very popular with the Army, as well as with the agricultural classes who are the backbone of the nation. He is on terms of cordial friendship with his brother-in- law, King Edward VII., and has often visited him in this country. The task which lies oerore tne new King is to main- tain the commercial prosperity of Denmark which arose during his father's reign, and to draw into closer union with the sister kingdoms of Norway and Sweden. His Majesty has had the unusual experience of seeing his younger brother ascend a throne -tmat of Greece-some forty years before he himself became a monarch; and what is even more singular, his younger son as- cended the throne of Norway while he him- self was still an heir-apparent. A pretty incident took place at the Villa Mourisfcot at Biarritz on Saturday King Alfonso paid a visit there to see his fiancee, the Princess Ena, and walked with her to the Lake of the Legend, on the shore of whtch they each planted a tree. in memory, the King said, of this memor- able occasion." It is believed that the occa- sion referred to was the definite arrange- ment of the engagement. The scene was wit- nessed by the Princesses Beatrice and Frederica, who betrayed much emotion Al- most at the same moment the King re- ceived a visit from his brother-in-law, the Infant Don Carlos Bourbon, who had in- "LA MAISON- D1; BON DIEU." terrupted his journey to Vienna and Munich, where he was going un a diplomatic mis- sion. Baron von Pawel Rammingen related a legend to the Royal lovers, in which the Villa Mouriscot is referred to as "La Maison du bon Dieu." King Alfonso, turn- ing to his future Queen, remarked, Let UIf. congratulate ourselves on being here in the 'House of the Good God,' and let us hope it will bring us luck." It is said that the ceremony of the Princess's con- version to Catholicism will merely consist of the laying-on of hands, no fresh baptism 6r confirmation being required. The Prime Minister was commanded by the King to visit Windsor last week-end. The other guests included Sir Edward and Lady Grey and Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Gladstone. Several local gentlemen met Sir Henry at Slough, and congratulated him on the Liberal success at South Bucks. On arriving at Windsor an enthusiastic crowd occupied the platform, and loud cheers greeted the Premier as he stepped on to the platform. His Majesty had a long and animated audience with C.-B." relative to' the opening of Parliament. At dinner Sir Henry was given the distin- C.-B." AT WINDSOR. guished honour of escorting her Majesty Queen Alexandra. The King motored to the Great Park on Saturday, and had seve- ral hours' good shooting. Prince Edward and Prince Albert of Wales acted as beaters. On Sunday the King and Queen, Princess Victoria, and the children of the Prince and Princess of Wales attended the service in the private chapel, the Prime Minister and Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone be- ing among the congregation. The preacher was the Dean of Westminster. The Land- grave of Hesse and Prince and Princess Danilo of Montenegro visited Windsor dur- ing Sir Henry's stay. The funeral took place last week of one of the most prominent men in the history of British working-class movements-George Jacob Holyoake. He was, at his own re- quest, cremated at the Golder's Green Cre- matorium, and was attended by friends drawn from every branch of the "advanced" movements. His old friend, Mr. E. O. Greening, who has been Chairman of the Co-operative Congress for several years, made an interesting speech, recalling the deceased veteran's connection with various movements, and especially with Abolition- ists. The firmness as well as courtesy with whicli Mr. Holyoake met his op- ponents was dwelt upon, and also his op- position to Governmental socialism and his great belief in Labour co-partnership. His non-belief in a life beyond the grave was the only point upon which Mr. Greening FUNERAL OF A FAMOUS CHARTIST. differed from his life-long friend, but it made not a shadow of a shade of difference between them, and he had faith that he would meet the brave, strong, and tender spirit of his departed friend beyond the dim veil. The white coffin was covered with a faded Garibaldian tricolour-a reminder of the friendship between the two worthy veterans-and wreaths from various friends and societies with which the venerable re- former was connected. The mourners in- cluded Mr. G. W. Foote and Mr. Joseph McCabe, representing the Secularist move- ment; while Mr. Henry Vivian, M.P., along with Mr. Greening, stood for Co- operation. Amongst others invited were Dr. Clifford, Mr. F. Maddison, M.P., Mr. Ralph Neville, of Garden City fame, Mr. A. E. Fletcher, and Mr. Herbert Burrows, of the Social-Democratic Federation. One talks of seeing a play and seeing a picture-gallery..People go to see" Nero in the latter sense. Beautiful as have been many of Mr. Tree's productions at His Majesty's Theatre, the dresses in "Nero," designed by Mr. Percy Macquoid, R.I., and with many of the rich fabrics specially woven at Mr. and Mrs. Hunter's Handicraft School, Haslemere, are, per- haps, the most thoroughly artistic and gorgeous ever put on the stage. They are designed from statue remains found at Pempeii. The furniture is correct" to the last detail. The architecture, the pillars, the marble steps, the courtyards, the foun- tains-they are all exactly to life," and more realistic than one would think scene- NERO h AT HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. painter and carpenter, under the happiest conditions, could ever make them. The whole presentation is superb-Mr. Tree, who excels at this sort of thing, has sur- passed himself. "Nero" himself, however: gives one the impression of a spoilt boy. This may be an intended effect to explain his history. Mr. Stephen Phillips's blank- verse tells a story in some parts ingenious arid dramatic; but after the second act the play drifts into poorly conceived scenes meant to elaborate to us the character oi Nero. Spectacularly, of course, the great leene is the burning of Rome.