Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 4.djvu/805

 DENMARK

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DENMARK

The physical character of Denmark, which geologi- cally is a continuation of the plain of Central Europe, shows only moderate contrasts. The Baltic Islands, surrounded by arms of the sea that are nowhere tleoper than 200 feet and contain little salt, are partly monotonous flats, partly rolling grovmd. Only a few points, as Gyldenloeveshcei on Zealand, Aborrebjerg on Moen and Froebjerg on Fiinen, rise to a height of 400 feet and more. Similar conditions prevail in Jutland. The high plateau that crosses it in a northerly direc- tion slopes abruptly down towards the east. Here are elevations of 486 to 573 feet (Hinimelsbjerg, Ejers Bavnehopj), lines of low, wooded hills, deep-cut val- leys, fertile fields and meadows, bubbling rivulets, and beautiful lakes. On the other hand the dune-bound west coast of Jutland from Blaavandshuk to Skagen ))resents nothing to the eye but heath and moor. Bornholm resembles in its structural character t'lc neighbouring Sweden. The northern and eastern coasts rise abruptly out of the sea, and the southern sliore and the interior are monotonous, although the hill of Rytterknagten reaches a height of 543 feet. There are no large rivers in Denmark, but with its numerous islanils and peninsulas — its coast-line aggregating a li'iigth of 3100 miles — there is no lack of deep brooks, and the River GuJenaa, in Jutland, is over 100 miles long. The lakes are nimierous, but small and shallow, only that known as the Furusee having a depth of 300 feet. The climate is comparatively mild, hardly dif- f<'ring from that of South Germany, but somewhat more severe in Jutland than on the islands. Only une-seventh of the soil is woodland. In the last few decades, however, successful measures have been taken to husband the forests. Beech and birch trees, ash and alder, some oaks, linden, and pines are found. Three-fourths of the total area of the islands and of the east coast of Jutland is tilled land ; the cultivation of grain, potatoes, and beets yields a large return. Walnuts and mulberries ripen in due season, and in some places juicy grapes ripen on treUises. The flora of Denmark, mth its 1500 species of wild- growing plants, is quite extensive but the same cannot be said of its fauna. The larger beasts of prey are extinct, even the red deer and wild boar have almost disappeared. Foxes, martens, roes, and hares are still numerous, and along the shores seals may be seen. Its birds, amphibia, and fishes resemble those of Germany. In the Little Belt, be- tween Jutland and Fiinen, the pilot whale {grindhva]) is sometimes found. The domestic animals are those of Central Europe. As the soil is for the most part made up of marl — though there are also other strata on Bornholm — the countrj' is not rich in minerals. It yields common clay, kaolin, chalk, and some lignite. The absence of metals and still more of good anthra- cite coal is greatly felt. Luckily, extensive turf-bogs provide the necessary fuel.

Denmark is inhabited by 2,000,000 people, most of them natives. Together with the Swedes and Nor- wegians, the Danes belong to the Germanic stock (North Germans, Scandinavians), and in body as well as character differ but little from the North Germans. Their written language has much in common with Low German. The language of the common people is divided into a number of strikingly divergent dialects. Nearly all of the population (98^ per cent) belong officially to the Evangelical Lutheran Church, which, as the Established Church, enjoys Government support. In 1849 complete freedom of religious belief was legal- ly guaranteed. Since then many have joined the Baptists, Irs-ingites, the Reformed Church, and other sects. Particularly gratifying is the modern revival of Catholicism, which had disappeared from Denmark for three centuries (see below under Religious History).

With regard to general education, Denmark com- pares well with other States. Education is compul- sory. The primary schools are kept up by the munic-

ipalities. Latin schools and modern high schools provide the necessary preparation for the university in the capital, the polytechnic institute, and the agri- cultural college. Very useful institutions are the "people's high schools", private continuation schools for the rural population. There is no lack of libraries, art collections, and collections of antiquities, nor of literary and artistic societies with ideal aims. Many Danish scholars and poets, sculptors and musicians have acquired fame that has spread far beyond the narrow limits of their country. We need mention only the names of Oersted, Woorsaae, Madvig, Oehlen- schlager, Thorvaldsen, Gade. The relatively small number of Danish-speaking people forces many writers to compose their works in one of the four bet- ter-known languages, German, English, French, Span- ish, or at least to translate them into one of these.

Denmark is a constitutional monarchy with strong democratic tendencies. By the national constitution of 1849, revised in 1866, Landsthing and Folkethiny share the government with the king, who has a civil list of a little more than 1,000,000 kroner ($268,000). The national colours are red, white, red; the flag shows the Danehrog, i. e. an upright white cross on a red field. Justice is administered by irremovable judges who are subject to the supreme court in Copen- hagen (Hoeiesteret), and who conduct trials orally and in public. The executive power is vested in the king alone. For the sake of political administration the country is di\'ided into eighteen districts, presided over by district judges. The larger cities have self-govern- ment and their own police. A general supervision is exercised by the head of the Copenhagen police.

The established Evangelical Church is divided into seven dioceses: Zealand, F(inen-^r6, Laaland-Fal- ster, Aalborg, Viborg, Aarhus, and Ribe. At the head of each diocese is a superintendent who is called "bishop", a name that has been preserved from Catholic times. The Bishop of Zealand is primus inter pares. The dioceses are made up of provostships and parishes. The provost exercises his office under the supervision of the bishop.

Since 1892 the Catholics of Denmark, who (in- cluding about 7000 Polish labourers) number 57,000, are under a vicar Apostolic (Johannes von Euch, Titu- lar Bishop of Anastasiopolis). Of these 3000 live in Copenhagen, and they are found in other important towns. Communities of good size are found in Fred- ericksborg (1500), Aarhus, Odense, Horsens, Fred- ericia, Ortlrup, Sundby (400). Besides these, mis- sions have been established in Aalborg, Esbjerg, Glorup, Grenaa, Elsinore, Kolding, Koge, Ledreborg, Najstved, Randers, Ringsted, Roskilde, Silkeborg, Slagelse, Struer, Svendborg, Thisted, Vejle and Vi- borg, also in Bornholm and Iceland. These are equipped with churches or chapels, some of them handsome, in which secular or regular clergy act as pastors. Among the cities Copenhagen (q. v.) far surpiisses all others in importance. Its population, including that of the suburbs, was in 1906 over half a million. It is the resi<l('nce of the king, the seat of the ministries of public affairs and of the state university; it is the centre of industry and commerce, of science and the arts. I^ormerly unprotected, it was a few years ago strongly fortified. Besides Copenhagen, only few places claim particular attention: Randers in Jutland, for its domestic trade; Aarhus, for its commerce and cathedral; Aalborg, for its ancient buildings; Horsens for its manufactures; Odense for its cathedral and commerce ; Svendborg on Fiinen for its manufactures. The ancient towns of Ribe, Viborg, and Roskilde bask in the glory of the past; their stately churches, built in the time of Catholicism, are yet reminders of their former splendour.

Bimetallism prevails in Denmark. The standard coin is the krone ($0.2(58). In weights and meas- ures the country has not yet adapted itself to the