Copenhagen

T H E SUR ROUND INGS OF COPENHAGEN.

fail to pu t in an appearance. W hile the races last, the plain presents the usual anim ated spectacle of a ra c e -co u rse ; bu t in a few days it again subsides into serene quietness, and, for ano ther year, the sky, the visitor, and the deer are in sole possession. The forest is one g reat deer preserve, fenced in by a faggo t hedge many miles in length. H ere and there large gates, painted red, w ith the royal m onogram , are th row n open to all. At a few of them vehicles and horsem en pay a copper o r tw o in toll. N obody pays this toll w ithou t g rum b lin g ; b u t old custom s proverbially die ha rd , and g rum b lin g , it w ou ld seem, does no t hu rt the vitality of this one. The deer in the forest b e long to the King, and none bu t the K ing's keeper dare kill them . N ow and then a buck is shot for the Royal kitchen. O therw ise they are left in peace, and form one of the chief attractions to the visitor. They graze in large herds u n d er the beeches, tam e to the extent of being accustom ed to the sight of man, bu t tim id and frightened when approached too closely. T hey then lift their beautiful heads, prick their pointed ears, and gaze at the in trud er w ith a startled expression in their liquid eyes. No anim al stands on its four legs w ith such firmness and g race as does a listen­ ing doe; let the in tru d er take ano ther step, and the herd that a m om en t ago was still as stone, is m ov ing away in rapid flight. N ot far, however, do they run. T hey pu t between them selves and the cause of their flight w hat they consider a safe distance, and begin to graze again. But then, of course, no one ever harm s them ; their only foe is the keeper, when the Royal larder needs replenishing. O u t in the open they are even m ore num erou s than in the forest. They herd tog eth er in hund red s closely w atch ing each o th e r’s movements, aw aiting the signal to be off. Am ongst the graceful, slender hinds tow er the g reat antlered stags, — m asters severe and jealous w here the rights of the harem are at stake. D u ring the autum n loud roars may often be heard

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