FROM DANNEVIRKE FOLK.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13374, 30 September 1936, Page 3

FROM DANNEVIRKE FOLK.

PROPOSED PRESENTATION. DENMARK’S KING. Many residents of .Southern Hawkrfs Bay will be interested in the birthday of King Christian 10th of Denmark, which he celebrates today (states the Dannevirke Evening News). His Majesty, who was born on September 26th, 1870, is therefore 66 years old. He succeeded to the Throne on May 14th, 1912, and married on April 26tli, 1898, Princess Alexandrine or Mecklenburg-Schwerin. King Christian has two sons, the heir apparent being H.R.H. Prince Frederik (the Crown Prince), who is 37 years of age, and who in 1935 married Princess Ingrid, daughter of the Crown Prince of Sweden.

Though many of the original Danish settlers of Dannevirke and district have passed away, their descendants are still in our midst, and they may be interested to learn that on May 14th next King Christian will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the commencement ment of his reign. To mark the occasion, an appeal is being made to Danish residents and their descendants both in the Dominion and Australia, to contribute to a fund, the proceeds of which will be devoted to the purchase, of an appropriate gift for presentation to King Christian to mark the occasion. The intended gift will consist of a cigarette box in solid gold, adorned with an oj>al and suitably inscribed. This is to be to His Majesty in person by the Con-sul-General for Denmark in Sydney, Mr G. L". Hoest.

In order to spread the response over as wide a field as possible, the minimum subscription has been fixed at 2s. but any amount in excess thereof will be welcome. A married man with children if he so desires can make a small contribution in his own name and similar amounts in the names of his wife and each child. The names of donors will be presented to the King, together with an address bound m leather. Those who intend subscribing to the fund should forward their donations direct to Mr Stronach Patterson, the Danish Consul, No. 4 Lower Cuba Street, Wellington, C. 1., and it is desired that they shoxild all be in his keeping as soon as possible and not later than the 15th November. MOST DEMOCRATIC OF MONARCF3. A POPULAR RULER.

A tall, slight man rides rapidly on a bicycle along the well-paved streets of Copenhagen. Turning in at the Palace gates, he is smartly saluted by the sentry. Curious visitors realise that he must be a personage of importance, although there is nothing about his appearance to suggest that he is other than an ordinary prosperous citizen of Copenhagen. “Who is he?” they ask. He is His Majesty King Christian X., King of Denmark and Iceland.

King Christian, who is 63 years okl to-day. is the most democratic of monarchs. As a youth he refused all the privileges of his position, serving as a private iu the Danish Royal Life Guards. He often stood sentry before his grandfather s palace. His army service was interrupted by attendance at Oxford University, where lie studied law. After his return he went back to the Army, and in 1900 reached the Kink of general. On May 14th. 1912. his father died suddenly, and he came to_tlie Throne. Tho simplicity of King Christian's life appeals to the democratic Danes. He often cycles alone in Coi>enhagen, but his favourite sport is yachting. For the most part he sails in home waters, for Denmark boasts 500 islands and a seaboard of hundreds of miles. King Christian’s simple tastes were exemplified during a visit to London, when he rejected an elaborate programme of entertainments in liis Honour. “Lot us have no expensive functions.” lie said. “I would rather have a chance to meet every Dane in London and have a few words with him”—and lie did.