Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-06-11
Dom Carlos, tne spaplsh Prstenaer

Don Carlos, the spanish Pretender.
The present pretender to the throne
Of Spain, styled by his followers Charles
VII. and by the world at large Don
Carlos de Bourbon, Duke Of Madrid, is
twenty-five years of age, having been
born in Austria in March, lS4S. He is
a powerful looking, dark.haired man,
about six feet one and of frank, some.
what curt manner. His face, since he
began to wear a full beard, has become
quite handsome, though slightly slob-
bering aspect Of his mouth, not being
in harmony with his manly physical APP
pearance, spoils somewhat, the first
pleasing impression. He is a man of
easy access, without any trace Of haughti-
ness, and when seen on horseback at
certain distance, especially when salut-
ing people, and frankly taking off his
basque cap, has something picturesque
about him. His ways in private life re-
mind one very much of those of a
younger son of an English nobleman's
family; that is to say, he would undergo
for while any amount OF hardship
with great serenity of temper. Of the
sovereign, the statesman or the warrior,
there is absolutely nothing in him. But
he is very fond of playing the part of a
prince; that is to say, of lording it over
everybody, in the old fashion OF Spanish
kings; not excluding even his own coun-
cilors, some of whom are thrice his age,
and of surrounding himself with large
number of chamberlains, aids-de-camp,
secretaries and similar people, all of
whom have no other merit or duty than
that of flattering his pride. cav my
self genuine Spanish noblemen carry
ing away slops after Don Carlos had
washed himself, and busily engaged in
seeing that his top boots and spurs were
properly polished.
He was, undoubtedly, arehgious man,
but there is much less bigotry about him
than is generally supposed; and, for all
l could observe, the Spanish clergy do
not seem to exercise any undue influ-
ence on his mind. In fact, have seen
him marching for weeks without having
a single cure on his staff or at his table;
but in every village he comes to he goes
| first of all to the church and pays Wis
it to the local priest. Like the ajority
of Spaniards, he is bad horseman, and
| in about a months time saw him ruin
three excellent horses. At the same
time, he likes very much to ride, and
evidently thinks he looks like fine cav
alier; and so he does, with his glisten-
ing black beard his dark blue huzzar
uniform, the stars on his breast, his red
trousers, his high circus boots and red
cap with golden tassel.
His political notions seem TO be OF
very unsettled character. At all events,
each time happened to talk to him, or
listen when be talked to some one else,
on political subjects, was never able to
make out what was the substance OF his
views. Sometimes he seemed quite a
commonplace liberal of our own time;
at other times his utterances seemed TO
be the produce of the most old.fashioned
productions of Spanish absolution. On
the whole, | think he would make
| pretty fair constitutional king were he
properly restricted by law; for, having
lived constantly under European intiu-
ence, he has unconsciously imbibed the
political ideas OF our age. But, on the
other hand, being in private life under
the influence OF family traditions, and
basing his rights upon wornout ideas, ne
has naturally conceived, with modern
notions, others which would better suit
the seventeenth century. In the ETH
ouette he likes to observe at his wander
| ing court, and in the titles and court
changes he distributes, these weaknesses
Of his come very clearly to light. As
an individual he is very brave, very
kind-hearted; he is an excellent father;
he is polite and amiable with everybody.
He likes to sleep much and smoke much,
and he is rather henpecked by Dona
Margarita, Princess of Parma, whom he
married in February, 1867, and by whom
he has two daughters and son.-Lon-
| don SOcietV