THE FUTURE HOME OF PRINCESS MARGARET

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1746, 23 August 1905, Page 27

THE FUTURE HOME OF PRINCESS MARGARET

Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, ia beautifully situated on Lake Malar, which flows into the Salts jo Bay. “Stock” means sound or strait, and “holme” signifies an islet. The town is built on several islands. On account of the great beauty of its surroundings of water and' wooded slopes, Stockholm is called the Queen of the Baltic. The constant water traffic of steamers, steam launches, and smaller craft of all kinds, from one part of the town to another, makes the scene a gay and picturesque one. Princess Margaret will be received by the King and Queen of Sweden at the Royal Palace, which is built on the largest island, Stadeholmen. It is a massive building standing in its own grounds, and might- remind Princess Margaret of Buckingham Palaoe. In the coui'tyard is a colossal bronze statue of Gustavus 111., and below the wall of the coui'tyard flows the Channel. Further on the Channel widens into a very fine natural harbour, in which there is room for the largest man-of-war. From the Palace can be seen the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, where the kings of Sweden are crowned. The old Palace and Ohui'ch of Rdddarholmen is some distance off; it is chiefly used as a royal mausoleum. Of great interest are the immense number of flags, saidho be about five thousand, the tropliies of the many wars’in which Sweden has been engaged. _ The old Palace is used as the Houses of Parliament, which is called the Diat, and consists of four orders, the nobles, clergy, buighei's, and peasants, and the King has much the same powers as the King of England. Sweden is larger than Great Britain by more than half her area. The climate is cold in winter and very hot in summer. Botanists would find Sweden a happy hunting ground, the wealth of flora and the number of different varieties being remarkable. Forests abound all over the country, and quantities of timber ai'e exported. Wild animals are to be found in the north, such as bears, wolves, beavers, and wrild reindeer. Elk and deer may be seen in the forests, capercailzies and woodcock provide game, and eagles are sometimes seen. Fish abound on the sea coast, and in the lakes and rivers thei'e ai'e many salmon. Education in Sweden is given at grammar and elementary schools, and also in the Universities of Upsala and Lund. In isolated parts of the country visiting teachei-s instruct the children, and though this would seem an unsatisfactory method, yet it is stated that the proportion of those who cannot read to those who can is as one to one thousand. Much of the education is given in the most perfect way in the world, namely, by the parents themselves in the long winter evenings. Home life is a great feature in Sweden. whei’e the men are sober and indllSF-

trlous, and the women are proud of their pomes. The religion of Sweden is Lutheran, and the King is required to adhere to this creed. The earliest history of Sweden can only be traced from the Sagas or chroniciesj which consist- of rather &» confused mass of fables and folk lore. Almost the first King of Sweden belonged to the Ynglings Dynasty* descendants of Odin. Sweden was then taken by the Danes till about 794, when their great pirate King, Ragner Lodbrok, was hilled in an expedition against the English coast. After his death Sweden was declared a separate kingdom under his secend son, Riorn Tronside. Sweden was constantly troubled by internal wars, hut it is interesting to note that Princess Margaret of Connaught had a famous namesake, Princess Margaret, the daughter of Waldemar Atterdag, the last male of the ancient Danish Kings, and the widow of Hakon, King of Norway. She organised an expedition against Albert of Mecklenberg, King of Sweden, and haying overthrown and*taken him prisoner in 1389, she was declared Queen Regnant of Norway and Sweden. She was called the Stemiramis of the North, and formed the three monarchies of Denmark, Sweden, and* Norway into one by the famous union of Cannar in 1397.

Queen Margaret was succeeded by her grand-nephew Erik, of Pomerania, in 1413. After centuries of war with Russia, Germany, Prussia, Poland, and Denmark, the King of Sweden, Chaides XTTT.j being childless, the death of the heir, the Prince of Holstein Augusten--Iberg, in 1810, made it necessary for a Crown Prince to be elected. The choice fell upon Bemadotte, Prince of Ponte Corvb, and one of the best Marshals of Napoleon.- He was crowned as King Charles XIV. in 1818 at Stockholm and Trondheim as King of Norway and Sweden, each kingdom still retaining its own separate constitution. Since that date, owing to years of peace and good government, Sweden jbn© become prosperous, and her people are loyal to the descendants of the House of which is now represented by King Oscar. Princess Margaret, therefore, will feel that her new home in sea-girt Sweden will not be very different from Great Britain. The people will welcome an English Princess' who has inherited the traditions of simple home life and devotion to duty which she has learnt as a child in the home oF her grandmother, Queen Vie* toria, and in that of her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, who are beloved wherever they go, whether it be India, Aldershot, or Ireland. King Oscar has presented his grandson Prince Gustavus Adolphus with the Castle of Sofiero, which is about an hour from Stockholm, and has beautiful views of woods and. water. Swedish ladies are fond of riding, and are often skilled in the musical rides which are seldom seen in England. They often wear a uniform, and guide their horses gracefully through the figure of lancers or quadrille with the cavalry officers as their partners. Music, too, is much appreciated in Sweden, which was the birthplace of Madame Jenny Lind. Princess Margaret, who loves music, will hear excellent music in Stockholm. Prince Gusr tavus Adolphus is an enthusiastic geologist ; both he and Princess Margaret will find ample scope to study this fascinating subject in Sweden.