New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-07-16
The Spanish Prctenticr.

a letter writer says: "The present pre-
tender 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 years of age. He is
a powerful looking man, about six feet one,
and in his frank but somewhat curt manner
reminds one of the Emperor Alexander of
Russia, when he was some twenty-five years
younger. His face, since he began to wear
full beard, has become quite handsome,
though slightly SOLDERING aspect of his
mouth, and the deficiency of teeth, heredi-
tary in the Spanish Bourbon house, not being
in harmony with his manly physical appear
ance, spoil the first pleasing impression. He
is easy of access, and without any trace of
haughtiness. His bearing in private life
resembles that of the younger sons of the
English nobility who have entered the pro-
fessions. Like them he has the capacity of
enduring for while any amount of hardship
with great serenity Of temper. Of the SOW
ereign, the statesman, or the warrior, there
is absolutely nothing in him. But he is very
fond of playing the part of king-that is to
say, of thou-ng everybody in the old fashion
Of Spanish kings, not excluding even his
councillors, some Of whom are thrice his age,
and of surrounding himself with large num-
Der of chamberlains, aides-de-camps, secre-
taries, and familiar people, all of whom have
no other merit or duty than that Of fattering
his pride. saw genuine Spanish noblemen
carving away Stops after Don Carlos had
washed himself, and busily engaged in seeing
that his tOp-bOots and spurs were properly
polished. lie is undoubtedly a religious
man: but there is much less bigOtry about
him than is generally supposed. Like the
majority of Spaniards, he is a bad horseman,
and in about a months time l saw him ruin
three excellent horses. AT the same time
he evidently imagines that he looks a fine
cavalier, with his glistening black beard, his
dark blue hussar uniform, his stars on the
breast, his red trousers, his high circus boots,
! and his red cap with the gold tassel. His
| tied character. At all events, each time l
happened to talk to him, or listen when he
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 commonplace liberal of our own day
ut times his utterances appeared to be the
product of the Old-fashOned traditions oil
Spanish absOlutism. On the whole, think
he would make pretty fair constitutional
king, if properly restricted by law. AS al
individual he is brave and kind hearted; he
is an excellent father, and is polite and anna
BILE to everybody. lie sleeps much anG
smokes much, and is rather "henpecked" by
Dona Margarita, Duchess of Parana, whom
he married in February, 1867, and by whom
he has two daughters and q son.
"Dona Margarita has the reputation o
being a very clever WOMAN. Handsome sh'
is certainly not, although in her stature, fai
hair, and blue eyes there is on the whole
some rather attractive. But surely no ont
would take her for a Queen of Span. Sh'
looks much more like a German or an Eng
lish middle-class lady, Of that slim and deli
cate appearance so often met with in North
an early age, and have more children thar
, they ought to have. Being year older, an
much richer than her husband, and of NOR
decided cast Of mind, she exercises, un
fortunately, great influence over Del
Carlos.'