Immediately on his succession in 1907, King Gustaf showed that he had mastered the problems of the times and understood the change in the position of the monarchy which had netnally taken place in consequence of the advance of democracy. The 10 years preci his accession to the throne had witnessed far-reaching alterations the political life of the country. The extension of the franchise and the growing political and economic claims of the mass of the people. Really, a new era was being me Augurated. In accordance with the} increasing prevalence of opinion as regards the vanity of outward pomp and of the need for equalizing power in the community the King: decided to dispense with the cnrunation ceremony, which formerly had been the occasion of a display of rear pomp and ceremony. For similar! reasons "he also diminished the pageant, for instance, at the opening of the Riksdng and other important oveasions, and introduced, by way of setting a good example, greater si ly lite.
The King was nol, however, spared great it internal politic turally occur during such times ition as a result of fresh political and economic ideas spreading among the people. But the ts which several times seemed and firm organization of an old,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.