The New York herald., 1879-12-01

proceeded to pay their respects to Queen Isa-
bella, who seems to command universal SYM
pathy. The streets were never gay The
people are enjoying themselves to their hearts
content. Everybody is dancing, singing, eating
besugo and masapan. Temporary booths are
erected for the sale of cakes and sweetmeats.
The Plaza Mayor has wonderful display of fish,
vegetables and fat turkeys. The beating of
rustic drums, the strumming of guitars and
three-stringed instruments, called rabeles, make
an indescribable din. A gala representation is
being held this evening at the Italian Opera
House, which was opened thirty years ago, on
the birthday of Queen Isabella. Every corner of
the house is full. The royal box, in the
centre OF the house, on the first tier, is fitted
up with crimson hangings and mirrors All the
number of pretty women in the four tiers of
boxes and in the galleries. Bright eyes seem
togeam even from the lofty region of the Paraiso.
Between the acts the occupants of the butacas
(armchairs) are travelling from box to box, ex-
changing greetings, and the theatre wears the
air of splendid drawing room.
THE STORY OF ALFoNso's LIFE-How HE wEPT
OVER MERCEDES coFFTN-H1s SCHOOL DAYS
AND RECALL FROM ExILE-HIs HATRED OF
sYcopHANTs AND FLATTERERs.
The Paris Figaro publishes simultaneously with the
Tagblan of Vienna a conversation with King Alfonso
touching the causes which led him to ask for the
hand Of the Archduchess Christine, after having
most sincerely thought he should per-
petual mourning for his first wife. III
had" said the King. entered my whole past
In the grave OF Mercedes. From my earliest
youth she was my only thought Her image was
ever present in my mind. when I passed my
examinations at the Vienna Theresianum. amid my
comrades at the military school in England. in my
study and in the battle lines Of Lacar. 1t was
against the wish of her family and mine. against the
advice of President Canovas and against public
opinion, which dislikes the Montpensier family.
that succeeded in making her my wife. loved
her kings rarely do. and lived with her like
the most affectionate bourgeois We were never
apart. We shared alike work. pleasure and dan
ger. Whenever went out shooting by myself
brought her homo my bag. l told her be-
forehand whatever I meant to say in public
speeches. She took deep interest in everything I
did, everything said and everything attempted
When she died desired nothing much as to die
myself. For two months shut myself up in the
Escural not has been stated, to addict myself to
ascetic practices. like Philip L.. for bigot
but to weep Mercedes coffin. After that
sought amusements to drown my grief. but
ultimately found this existence would not
do Now that I promised the hand Of
the Archduchess Christine feel that am born to
o new life. and that may yet again be happy
1t is not for me- who love tho Archduchess. to
make general reflections to the best sort Of
women The Archduchess unttes all the qualities Of
the best types OF the viennese, for which have
much sympathy. Her character is frank, her tenn
perament gay. She is resolute" (Here the King
left off speaking French and continued in GERMANY
"She is made to insure the happiness Of man worn
out by anxiety and deceptons who yearns for
ton at his own hearth. and am sure she will and
in Madrid tho Same sympathy which she commanded
in Vienna
'.Worn out by anxiety and deceptionsl" Strange
words for youth Of twenty-five. Alfonso's suffer
ings have drawn to him the attention Of the world
He had understood. If he had not actually
perienced. the hardships of exile His childhood
was passed foreign soil. He had witnessed the
tears of his mother. driven from her kingdom Heis
y
remembered that his failings arise from tho irrcg
ular and not altogether healthy training he has
ceivsd while his virtues of purely spontaneous
and natural growth. From very infancy the
Prince Of Asturias WAS weak and sickly, and
this may in no small measure account for the pas
sionae fondness entertained for him by Queen Isa-
bella. . fondness which. indeed. is easily ex-
planned Oh other grounds when remember
that he is the OILY son. He q child
when tho instruction took place which drove his
mother from the throne. and mp to that time had
shown special aptitude for anything except pick
ing up aud retailing to his gentle men, in rafting
court gossip of every conceivable color and
description. morbid love of scandal is. in
deed one of the most prominent and unfa-
vorable features of the young Kings charac
ter: but 1t must be confessed that this
falling is common to most spoiled children. whose
precocity Is laughed ut. If not indeed admired and
fostered by an over-indulgent and doatng parent.
During his exile in Paris and later on in England
the Prince of Asturias was, OF course, brought in
frequent contact with the little Prince Imperial but
there was nothing in common between the morbid
and reserved character of the Spanish and the frank
noble, open-air nature of the French boy. The fol-
lowing touching anecdote may not be misplaced
here. When the royal family of Spain FIRST sought
refuge in France. the Emperor and Empress
hastened to Biarritz to embrace Queen isabella and
on their return happened by accident to mako some
auson to the sad interview in the presence OF tho
little Prince Imperial who suddenly cxcaimed:-
where they going. papaY'
"Who?' inquired the Emperor.
'why, the king you have been seeing"
'Lonis. they are going into exile"
"where is exilo?' inquired the child.
The Emperor smiled sadly. and putting his hand
fondly on his sons head. made the usual evasive
reply which is supposed to satisfy the curiosity Of
chidren-
..You shall know when you bigger"
Surely these words were prophetic
AT SCHOOL PARIS.
In Paris the future King OF Spain was sent q
day scholar to the well known Jesuit College OF
stanislas. Queen Isabella and Don Francis of As
sisi presented him in person to the Able Lalanne,
who directed the college. The Able performed his
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