THE DANISH KING IS KEEPSAKE TO PRENCESS ALEXANDRIA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1883, 18 June 1863, Page 3

THE DANISH KING IS KEEPSAKE TO PRENCESS ALEXANDRIA.

(From the Denuuuk, of Copenkogeu.) Dagmar the " darling Qaeeo " of Denmark died ia 1212, and was buried in Eingsted Church. She was carried to the grave adorned with a costl jewel, which lay on her breast. la the time of Christaio V., when her tomb Was opened, this oross was taken care of, and it is now one of the most precious objects preserved in the Meseum of Northern Antiquities in this city. This golden cross which is about an iuch and a half long and one inch broad, is covered with figures in enamel on both sides, and is supposed to be of Byzantiue workmaship. Oo the^tront is Christ on he cross,! and on the baok five holf-length figures, Christ in the middle, St Basilius above, St John Chrysostomus below, St Mary on the left, and St John the Evangelist on the right, Golden screws fasten the two sides together, and the space within' probably contains a splinter of the holy cross or some other relict.

This splendid ornament has great artistic value, il being tbe only enaraalled cross whic h is known to be older than tbe year 1212. It is always beheld with veneration by the crowds who visit the museum, for it speaks of a lady b eautiful beyond compare who died in the bloom of youth, and demanded neither goods nor gold, broad acres nor siones of price,, as her morning gift, but only Valdemar the Victorious her lord , and master, [to free the peasantry from their . plough tax and the poor prisoners from their fetters. It was this same Queen, who according . to tradition, had never committed a greater, sin than that on a Sunday she once " laced her silk sleaves small," and of whom tbe old Danish ballad sings that though she lay " dead on little. Kerstin's arm when the King rode up the street," she woke up at the sound of Valdemar's and her maidens' prayers, to asfc him " Peace give to the outlawed men, frae the prisoners from their irons." If ever their was a woman regarded fo r centuries as holy, it was Queen Dagnaar. Even down to the beginning, of this century, when the farmer went to his bench in Riugsted Church, be first approached the three grave* | where lie Valdemar and bis two wives, and, said, " Bangar, hail Bengerd, fie !" , No one in this countiy has so long and 80 eagerly pursued and protected antiquarian studies and our national monument's than our King. And he has had the 'happy idea to use this famous cross as a motive for a rich diamond jewel which he intends to give tojtbe Pripoe^l Alexandra on her leaving \([bq:.sfeo|es'l;ofvli^;':.| country. To lay hands on, the^ ongroaV ~<woif !;•; was of course not to be\thoughXo|;j : ''(-It;M:w»it garded by the people as a lciud^|^ll»d]ttMg But his , Majesty has ordered an ;|BxaotNilop^|b)^ be ma.de-. by his. court je^ler,,^ v l>id|riohii^i who is also at work on the jewel whiohaoCo^;! panics it, vu ' ' ' ; '"'; : "' ■ . • . ;/; . '■. : y<im«M ■"■ - ■' ■■■■ . ■ r i''.> l -. Ji - v iV;f.& c -..r,' 'X-a-v,^*