Sept. 20.
"Britons may well share to-day the enthusiasm of the Danes celebration of the birthday of King Christian -X, for there is much in common between the two peoples. We are not 80 sure of the Welsh, but Danish blood runs strong'in the Scots and English and to a degree also in the Irish. The Nor mien first had a dig at the east coast of England, but, although school history books do not make so much of it, they went still more strongly for Scotland, with several excursions into Ireland. 'They colonized whole tracts in the north, and a Norse Earl of Caithness' was a noted character. Their names and language are still to be traced in the Highlanes, whilst sticklers for tradition even now decline to accept Caithness and the northern islands as a part of the Highlands, on the ground that their people are "foreigners." The Danes continued this colonzation, but not to so large an extent, having a more pronounce ed partiality for England. There they took possession of the choice est counties, gave King Alfred such an attack of nerves that he spoiled a baking of girdle cakes, and made ample amends by instilling into him by their example the idea of founding a navy, from which has grown our bulwark, the Royal Navy of today. So we owe the Danes something. In our own days they have given us one of the world's most charming and gracious ladies,' the late Queen Alexandra, who was King Christian's aunt.
King Christian, who was born in 1870, succeeded to the Danish Throne in 1912, His Queen is a princess of Mecklenbu Schwerin. and they have two sons, both as handsome and manly-looking as their father. This leads to a statement of the King's character which is something of which any man might be proud, Mention the King to any Dane and he will answer that the people absolutely adore him,. When asked why, there comes no more of a reply than that he is so thoroughly a man and a sportsman. As it is just those qualities that have so endeared the members of our own Royal Family to the people of all nations, the affection of the Danes for their Sovereign is easily understood. Riding and yachting are the sports in which he personally engages with the most enthusiasm, and he is an expert at the tiller—witness to the blood of the old sea-kings. In all other outdoor sports he also takes a great interest, and it is reported that he rarely misses an important football match. Soccer has become the game of the people in Denmark and the country is a favourite place with British touring teams, who are always well received.
The King has his serious side, where also he is a man of no mean ability. His was an especi laily trying position during the strenuous days of the Great War which followed so closely upon his accession, having regard to the geographical and strategical nation of his country. Yet he insisted upon and strenuous; and successfully pursued strictly tral policy in collaboration with Denmark's nort! ern neighbours, Norway and Sweden, In-1920, in the general settlement, he had the satis! tion of adding again to his kingdom the territory of Northern Schleswig, which had been taken from Denmark by the Germans 1864. Denmark now has a Socialist Government and dot not seem unhappy under it, We can only express the hope that it is composed of Philip Snowdens.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.