THE AMERICAN-SC AN DIN AVIAN REVIEW 
670 
The Greenroom in the Old Royal Theatre. From a Drawing by 
Klaestrup, about 1850 
produced, and it was through the interpretation of his characters, such 
as Jeppe, Erasmus, Jean de France, Jacob von Thyboe, that the com¬ 
pany won its reputation. But Holberg always refused to accept the 
post of manager; he fully realized that “it is more difficult to manage 
a troupe of actors than an army consisting of many different nations.” 
During its first period the theatre operated under the municipal 
government which had financed the undertaking; but from 1770 it be¬ 
came a state institution under the direct supervision of the king with 
the Lord Steward acting as chief; this lasted until 1849, the year Den¬ 
mark got her Constitution, from which time it ranged under the de¬ 
partment of ecclesiastical affairs and of public instruction. The yearly 
allowance from king and State has varied considerably, and at present 
amounts to about one million kroner. The national stage is not a com¬ 
mercial enterprise, but must be a model theatre comprising the three 
forms of art: drama, opera, and ballet, maintaining the old, ingenious 
motto which is inscribed in gold letters above the stage: Ej blot til Lyst. 
Its artistic level must be above the taste of the moment and it must 
be a guiding influence in the intellectual life of the nation. And it 
must be said to the credit of the institution that it has fulfilled its 
great task. Through its hall has resounded the refreshing laughter at 
Wessel’s immortal satirical work Eove without Stockings; from its 
stage Danish poetry was first heard in Ewald’s patriotic epics; and in 
1801 the actor, H. C. Knudsen, made a successful appeal to the patriot¬ 
ism of the people. While the English fleet, under Admiral Nelson, 
was lying outside Copenhagen ready to bombard the city, this brave 
artist inspired the citizens with courage and enthusiasm for the defense 
of their country by reciting patriotic songs from the stage. After- 
