use an article of official dignity reserved for when royalty travels. There were frequent demonstrations on the way, the school-children being given a part holiday that they might see the distinguished American. The train stopped at a few stations and steamed slowly past others. In every instance children crowded the station platform and, waving their hats and handkerchiefs, gave a variety of school yells. Mr. Roosevelt never failed to acknowledge the salutations. When his breakfast was interrupted by a chorus from the outside he waved his napkin in the best of good humor. There was a large gathering at Moss, where a stop was made. Boys from the high school gave nine short cheers, which drew Mr. Roosevelt to an open window of the car. "That sounds like an American college yell," he said. "I wish you and the grown-ups good luck." The boys cheered again as the train drew out of the station. "They probably did not understand a word of what he said," remarked a member of the Roosevelt party. "Oh, yes," replied Minister Hagerup, "I doubt if any one failed to understand because English is thoroughly taught in our schools." The train continued to Christiania without further incident of note, arriving here shortly after 1 o'clock. Here the traveler was especially honored, the city, which had been in mourning the day before for the great poet and novelist Bjornson, being now a blaze of decoration in which the American red, white and blue was given precedence, while King Haakon and Queen Maud honored their guest by going in person to the station to greet him on his arrival. The platform of the station was covered with a red carpet, and inside the building a temporary stand had been erected for the receiving party. This was occupied by the King and Queen, with a large suite, all of the members of the Cabinet, members of Parliament, city and State officials, professors of the university and other persons of distinction. As the train drew in and Roosevelt stepped down the King crossed the platform and, without waiting for an introduction, shook hands warmly with the former President. He then presented Roosevelt to the Queen and the visitor in turn presented Mrs. Roosevelt, Miss Ethel and Kermit to their Majesties. From the station the royal carriage drove through the principal streets, which were lined on both sides with continuous archways of poles loaded with festoons, and with men, women and children, all with tiny American flags in their buttonholes. All residences and stores were decorated. Thus acclaimed, Mr. Roosevelt proceeded to the palace, where he, as well as his family, was provided with apartments hitherto sacred to royal guests. The King and Queen showed Colonel and Mrs. Roosevelt the little Prince Olaf that afternoon, and Roosevelt, who had been telling anecedotes about Seth Bullock, said: "I wish Seth Bullock were here to see your small Olaf. He would be delighted with him.". Later, while the ex-President was in his room arranging his papers and dictating letters, the King came in quite informally and asked: "Wouldn't you like to have a cup of tea." "By George, I would," replied the guest. The King rang, and for more than an hour the two sat drinking tea and talking on a variety of subjects. The King asked many questions and presented many of his opinions on matters relating to the United States. The day ended with a dinner at the palace at which many of the most eminent persons in Norway were present. Four State chairs were placed at the principal table, and while the remainder of the company stood at their places, the King appeared with Mrs. Roosevelt on his arm, Colonel Roosevelt following with the Queen. During the dinner King Haakon, after some graceful remarks devoted to the friendly relations between the United States and Norway, drank the health of his guests, to which Roosevelt fittingly responded, saying: "It is a particular pleasure for me to be in Norway, and I have been deeply impressed with my generous reception. Norwegians have made such good citizens of the United States that I once remarked to a group of traveling Norwegians that I rather grudged it that they had left anybody in Norway. As your Majesty has said, the Norwegians in America love the land of their birth and they love the country of their adoption. A man can love his wife all the better if he loves his mother a great deal." Colonel Roosevelt touched on Norse literature, and spoke of his pleasure when, as President, he was able to cable his good wishes to a new Norwegian King bearing the old name of Haakon. "And," he continued, "it is a fine thing for the country that Haakon and Olaf should be the names borne by the ruler of to-day and the ruler of to-morrow." He turned directly to the King and Queen, and said: "I hope that their Majesties, who seem to do all things well, will see to it that the small Olaf knows the Heimskringla thoroughly. I drink with my whole heart to the health of your Majesties." It is well to state here that the work mentioned is the traditional history of old Norway, written seven centuries ago. The chief event of the following day, May 5th, was the address which Mr. Roosevelt had engaged to deliver before the Nobel Prize Committee, in recognition of the award to him, some years before, of the valued peace prize. The lecture, in consonance with this fact, was on “International Peace," and presented the ripened views of the speaker on this important topic. It was delivered in the National Theatre, which was crowded with an audience of two thousand persons. Unfortunately, the frequent use of his voice in speechmaking and conversation had affected the vocal chords of the lecturer, and for the first time in his career his voice gave way, failing as he went on until his words sank almost to a whisper and were lost by nearly all the audience. As for the address itself, its text is given in a later chapter, and it must suffice to say here that its significant feature was the striking suggestion that the Great Powers should unite in a League of Peace, with force and authority to dominate any nation that sought to engage in unjustifiable war. The following day was signalized by the University of Norway conferring upon ex-President Roosevelt the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The occasion was delightfully informal. Students filled the gallery of the university's theatre and sang "The Star-Spangled Banner." The rector briefly but warmly welcomed Mr. Roosevelt and then gave place in the tribunal to the Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, who made a speech, half serious, half humorous, which pleased immensely the King and his guest. The witty speaker suggestively compared Mr. Roosevelt to an engine always under a full head of steam and raising a cloud of political smoke and dust through which it was hard to discern the man himself. So some persons thought they got a glimpse of an angel with a halo, while others were certain they caught sight, through the cloud, of a modern devil. But when the dust and smoke settled all saw Roosevelt booming ahead on a straight track; one of the most vigorous and progressive teachers of mankind to-day Again the Dean spoke of Roosevelt as a giant, sitting on high Olympus, with Jupiter, Apollo and the other deities. He might not like to be drawn back to earth, but it was necessary so to do that the highest academic honor Norway could confer might be given to him. Then the speaker turned to Mr. Roosevelt's literary work, some of which he had read, plainly, if only for the occasion. He said the former President's fame as a writer would not be undying but that his "Winning of the West" justified the degree which the university was about to give him, for it was the result of original research. He agreed with others that Mr. Roosevelt was a man who had learned to use the capacities and powers which in most men lie dormant. He had converted his capacities into energies. In reply Roosevelt said that it did not make much difference what capacities a man had. It was important, rather, what he did with them. The thing was to get the job done. The King laughed, when he concluded: "If recognition comes for what you do, good; if recognition does not come"-here the speaker paused-"it isn't quite so good." King Haakon and his guest spent a part of the morning talking before an open fire in the palace, while the rain fell and a cold wind blew outside. During the afternoon a drive of observation was taken about the CHAPTER XL. Emperor William of Germany Greets Ex- MR UCH interest had been taken in the visit of ex-President Roosevelt to Berlin. The understanding was that the war-lord of Germany, regardless of courtly precedent, would meet his distinguished guest at the station, hail him as a brother spirit, and perhaps embrace and kiss him on both cheeks in German imperial fashion in receiving royalty. If anything of the kind was in view it failed to materialize. The sudden death of King Edward of England had put the court of his nephew William in mourning, and etiquette stood in the way of any such public reception. The Emperor therefore remained at Potsdam, sending Herr Von Schoen, his Secretary for Foreign Affairs, to meet his coming guest. The Roosevelt party reached Berlin on the morning of May 10th. The official party was at the station to greet them, but, from a misunderstanding as to the time the train would arrive, Dr. Hill, the American Ambassador, failed to reach there soon enough, as also the royal carriages sent for the use of the party. The result was that they had to drive in ordinary vehicles to the embassy building which they had decided to make their headquarters during their stay in Berlin. In the afternoon the Roosevelt party proceeded to Potsdam, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Hill, and the much debated meeting of the "strenuous ones" took place the American Jupiter and the German Mars. The scene was the New Palace at Potsdam, the historic mansion of Frederick the Great; the spot the marble steps of this palatial edifice. There stood the Kaiser, clad in the picturesque white uniform of the Garde du Corps, and wearing a helmet crowned with a shimmering white eagle. He looked the war-lord of photographic reproduction as the democratically-attired American ascended the palace steps with his vigorous stride. |