New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-15
TIE ROYAL FAMILY OF BELGIUM
From ne EAltsAan Rerle.e.


His Majesty Is a tall, somewhat lanky monarch
of forty i've with Ito wing black beard ana q
double eve glass. He has amiable manners, with .
ready smile and he loves to iOke. His ruling pas
sion is building; and for that reason ne very
fond of NJ Anspach. the late Burgomastsr ~
Brussels. who played the part OF haussmann for
tine Belgian capital. The two between them were
constantly tracing ont new boulevaris and mean
while the King was engaged IN building extensively
for his amusement. ~ his very comfortable for
tune allows hlm 10 do. he has private income OK
$500, 900, and "A Civil List OF $685.. 900 and upon
this he has Out three residences 20 keep mp. Tho
chalet ut Osteud. which sands like staring casino
at he top OF the Gilt. was erected alter the Kings
own designs and " inhabited In summer by Ills
Majesty alone with suite Of men fer the Queen
never sets foot IN IT, IL IN banked By remark
ably fine stables. ingeniously eontrvcd out 81 an
old artillery baTrack. Laeken, the iaNorlt' resi-
denco OF the Queen, IL Versailles % miniature,
repete with elegance and luxury lis hothouSef
and feTnery are real marVes ~ uoral wealth, and
its park m gIt compare advantagconSy With
Chatsworth or knowsiey. But the completes
specimen of that architectural genius winch has
won for the King the nickname OF Leopold le
BAtisseur" il TO DO found "a the Royal Palace W
Brussels. which ~ an ungainly structure {. look
at from the outside. hut iull within ot splendid
halls, beautiful Conservatives. and lovely suites II
apartments for the eut"rtainmenr OF guests
Next 20 has passion fDr building. Leopold III. has .
love OF geographical science, and signs .or the day
when Belgium shall have a navy an colonies. Hs
rs never pleased 40 ~ hen he can tntsf and
converse with great explorer Ike NOriensk odd.
The King also likes pictures sculpture and rngray-
ings; but he has no taste for music, and 10 borcs
sit listening through those court concerts Of clas-
steal music Of which the Queen II 81 fond
Queen Marie Henrietta Is VA almost all things the
opposite OF her husband. a grave sad. handsome
woman who never smiles. she gives Que the idea NJ
having had great deal Of domestic sorrow 10 b"ar
The death of her one son, bright boy 81 Twelve.
was a heavy blow 10 her, and she has never rccov-
cred from H. though she has three daughters on
whom 10 bestOw her affections. he eldest Vie
Princess Louise, Is married 70 Prince Philip or
saxe-C oburgt Ii in the second, the Princess Ste
phanie. who Is gong 20 be welded 60 tie Arrhduks
Rudolph and 'he third ,rhe Princess Clementine' Is
"A child OF eight All these prinsesscs have been
20 severely brought up according 10 the u-sgcs u
conveutual secluslon that before tn Prnces-
Stephanes betTOthai the brussels people never 900
"A glimpse of herr she had nOt even been photo
graphed aud ~ In only since her engagement that
She has been allowed 10 drv. abou, publicly vita
her mother and TO ride with her father The Queen.
like her sister n-aw, th" kmpress 81 Austria, ~
pnsslonately fond of horses dogs. dragr, and tan.
dcms. She frequently drives about the 81 'ets OK
Brussas in fourth hand pony chase. ana very
cleverly she does 10. Her speed might no calrd
furious by London imasistrate but the sleepy
Be-, iau h-driveys are accustomed 20 the -sht OF
her aud get out OF the way with aacrity when
they see fler Majesty bearing dow on them. bY
her husbands subjects Queen Marie li'nuette -
popularity she has Is derived from the gracious
patronage which she IL always ready 90 best0w
upon artists and musicians She - undoubtedly
fond OF music and though animate'l in h'r f'la-
lions with mankind IA general ny All the pride -
Hap-hurg. she conde-cends 70 be- sna6le when
patronlgiug opera singers. 10 was az hsf request
th,t tha King decorated the baritone faure.
fhe oth.r members II the Bcigian Court are tho
Count OF Flanders the Kings brother Ms VIE
Princess ~ llOhonzolern. : igmaYngrn, and their
four hildren, the eldest of whom, BALDWIN. Count
al Hainant IL heir prcsunptve to the throne
During the lifetime OF the First Leopold ia" Count
of FLANDERS usad 10 be- very popular. but lac has
rather ceased o. be since his marriage with a
Pril-aian princess, fer the Pru--lans are nos ia
good odor with Leopold subjects aud the Count
has therefore found 10 prudent ~ abstain tFUiu poll
Tics lest be- should be accused ~ acting 20 r die
tation OF Prince Bismarck. lie confines himself
mostly Oh his functions as General-n 4 hief ~ ths
Cavalry aud has good deal OF tecbnica1 military
know ledge which would prevent hin from being
. mere carpet soldier II he hal "a display hls Rrn's
Ina war. The unfortunate Princess Charlotte I'm
pres- ~ Mexico completes Ga. Belgian Court circie
OF would complete ID Il her roturnel 81 her,
Maximilians AFFLICTED wife hye- Ia striUt frtifrrpent
az the Chateau De BuuehoGte near brussels Nhrfs
she receives daily visits from ono or other ~ hrf
relatives. Tbs King -ees her once week 40 least.
and ~ does the Queen. l. IL said That withih mo
last year the I'm presses health has greatly iin-
proved, aud that she can now conFcrs" tatlunaiil
but her mind IL stlll ci0udod.
To conclude thcs~ notes On the belglan Court one
NAV say that the general tone of 10 ~ resp.ctabls
" ithout prudery aud polished ~ithout hrilhancy.
The want OF harmony ln tastes betwe-u tho King
aud Queen prevents them from iisDsnssng more
hospitality than they compelled b. do for goli-
cal ~ asons and for the gfeater part of the year the
ROYAL couple 1.-Two In privacy Then the klns IL
never 49, happy as when eloscted With 'ount Jean
dOultrcmont porng over geographical charts 4
while the Queeh divides her time Ia unequal parts
between her ehildrcn. he's religious datcs and hei
| stables.