Royal Matchmaking

Denmark is a small country whieh does not have a large part in the world's affairs, but lts court is an important one by reason of its marriago alliances and the personal influenco of the king and queen, Bays the Youth's Companion. Whenever there is a court ball at Copenhagen one of the liveliest dancers is King Christian IX., who is still young at heart, although close to his eightieth year. His wlfe, Queen Louise, is his senior by several months, and has ceased to dance in the royal quadrilles. She has been one of the most successful matchmakers in Europe, and stü! takes keen interest in this royü sport. For her eldest son, the crown prlnco, the queen found a suitable partner nearly 30 years ago in Prlncess Louisa, daughter of the king of Sweden and Norway. Her eldest daughter became the princes of Wales, and her second daughter the wife of Alexander III, and mother of the present czar of Russia. Her second son, after his election as king of, Greece, married a Russian grand duchess. With one grandson on the Russian throno and another the duke of York, destined to reign in England, and two other grandsons heirs to the crowns of Denmark and Greece, Queen Louise may be described as the grandmother of four emperors and kicgs. Two other marriages this adrolt matchmaker has arranged. Her thlrd son, Prince Waldemar, married Princess Marie d'Orleans, daughter of the Duc de Chartres, and her third daughter became the wife of the duke of Cumberland, a great grandson of George III of England, who might have been klng of England if Queen Victoria had died in her girlhood. These were marriages which brought great fortunes to the Danish family, for the Orleans princess was an heiress, and the duke of berland was also rich. Queen Louise, having married off all her children wlth marked success, has begun to arrange a new series of alliances for her grandchlldren. Her theory has beeu that the reignlng house of a feeblo country like Denmark can be converted into a center of influence In Europe by discreet but ambltlous marriages. She acted upon this principie when she advised her grandson, the crown prlnce of Greece, to marry a sister of the Germán emperor. The queen is not only a matchmaker, but also a woman of great force of character, and a good mind. Her influence has been feit in the famlly counclls throughout Europe. The late czar and the present emperor of Russla have attached great weight to her advloe. Copenhagen has been the capital where for two generations the Russian imperial family have been frequent visitors and have thrown off the cares of state. In September Queen Louiae's 80th birthday was celebrated by a reunión of her descendants and relations in Copenhagen. It was a large family party from many courts of Europe, and she received the congratulations of nearly all the sovereigns on the continent.