Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-22
THE LATE SPANISH KING.

Paris correspondence New York World.l
The poor young King of Spain! Ever
since the tidings OF his death reached Paris
I have been haunted by vision ofthe hand
some boy that used to see driving about
by his mothers side on tho Champs Eysees
or in the Bois de Boulogne. He was the
only one of the royal children of Spain that
had any claims to good looks, possessing
good features and pair OF brilliant dark
eyes, as we'll as graceful, slender figure.
Long ago in the palmy days Of the Empire,
the imperial family of France and the royal
one of Spain met at the frontier for some
purpose which do not now remember The
two boy princes, Louis and Alphonso, fra
ternized extensively, and Napoleon Ill was
amused at hearing the later remark to his
own son and heir Look here, Louis, when
you are Emperor and I am King we will
have better railroads made between France
and Spain, won't we?" Now both the
young royal heirs have passed from the
world in which they were to have filed 80
wide place.
On the occasion of the ill.omcned visit of
King Aphouso to Paris few years ago, ne
amused himself by strolling on the boule-
wards, buying papers containing theaccount
of the riot produced by his arrival end chat
ting with the newsvenders respecting the
events of the day. Yet the state of public
feeling in Paris then was such that had he
been recognized his life would have been in ac-
tual danger. But he was as brave as lion,
as became the traditions of his race, and
also that of his possible paternity. For it
has been extensively whispered of late,
when Marshal Serrano and the young King
died within q few hours Of each other, that
O tic closer than was revealed to the world
at large linked the old man to the young one
and connected in some mysterious way the
two departures.
It was matter of wonder to many per.
sons in Paris that Dr.. Fauvel, the great
French specialist in throat diseases, had not
been summoned to attend the King at the
commencement of his malady, especially as
Dr. Fauvel had always attended Queen
Isabella and her children during their resi-
dence in Paris for any troubles of that na-
ture. But such proceeding was forbidden
BY the strict rules of Spanish etiquette,
which prohibit one OF the royal family Of
Spain from being attended by any physician
who is not Spauiard by birth. AT the
time of the last illness of the young Queen
Mercedes there resided in Madrid German
doctor who was especially famed for his
treatment of typhoid fever, the disease from
which the Queen was suffering. He had re-
Gently saved the life of Mrs. ]. Z. Lowell
when she was suffering from violent at
tack of that terrible malady. A few days
before Queen Mercedes breathed her last
her Spanish doctors sent for their German
colleague and requested him to prescribe Tor
their patient without seeing her. This he
- I vii hot bay or
examine into the physical condition of the
Queen before prescribing for her: But that
could By no means be permitted. "Then,"
he said, "let me merely see her-let me go
to the door of her room and look at her
without crossing the threshold" Even thst
concession was refused. ''Then, gentle
men," he declared, 81 can do nothing. l
will not attempt to prescribe for patient
have not even seen." He withdrew from
the palace, and few days later the young
Queen was dead. But the sacred laws of Span
ish regal etiquette had been preserved with
out Infringement. A similar affair, but with
different denouement took place good
many years ago in Russia. The late Gar
ina, the mother of the present Emperor of
Russia, was shortly after her marriage at
tackled with serious affection Of the stom-
ach. Up to that time no physician could
approach the bedside of one of his lady pa
tients of the Imperial family nearer than
ten feet. The Empress grew worse and be-
came alarmingly i'll. The Emperor Alex
ander gave orders that famous physician
called Botkin, of whose skill in such cases
he had heard, should at once be sent for.
Botkin came, and, to the horror of his col
leagues, he walked up to to the bedside of the
Empress and took hold of her wrist to feel
her pulse Hewas instantly hurried from the
room and was loudly demonstrated with on
the improperly of his conduct, being told
that his Imperial patient was to be looked
at from a distance and that he must not
approach her, much less touch her. Botkin
listened in silence to all that the other doc
tors had to say, but when the report Of the
consultation was drawn up he refused to
sign it.. The Emperor, who was exceeding
ly anxious respecting Botkin's opinion, sent
at once for the report, and on noticing that
the name Of the new doctor did not appear
in it he caused him to be summoned at
once to his presence. "Your Majesty" !"
Quoth Botkin frankly, II cannot pretend to
treat o patient that l am not permitted TO
examine. The Empress is, learn, in a
very critical situation. think can save
her, but to do SO must be allowed to 60 to
work in my own way" The Emperor rose
from his chair, took DR.. Botkin by the arm
aad marched with him into the sick-room
of the Empress and straight up TO her bed
side. There, DOCTOR" he said, examine
your patient, and if any one pretends to in.
terfere with you remember that you are
obeying my commands" The course OF
treatment prescribed by the great physician
proved successful. The Empress was saved
and that particular rule of imperial etiquette
was abrogated forever.
One cannot but pity the poor young
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