The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-12-03

spent some months at the German water
ing places. He returned few. months
later restored to his bodilyyigor.
King Alfonzo's Death.
| LONDON, Nov. 25. The DEATH of King
/ Alfonso of Spain.was announced in des
patch from Madrid early this morning.
The physicians pronounce the.fatal, mala
dy to have been consumption accelerated
by dysentery.
Throughout Monday night King Alton
SO had spasmodic fits, the result of fever
and debility. Eight doctors were in con
slant attendance. The fits continued
throughout Tuesday, and the King died al
8:45 O'Clock this morning. The Pope's
benediction arrived before he expired. All
the officers of State and the Cabinet min.
listers, except the Minister of War and the
Minister of the Interior were present at
the dissolution. The Cabinet met imme-
diately and Queen Christine was appointed
regent for her infant daughter, the heiress
to the crown. In accordance with the
law, the members of the Cabinet have ten
dered their designations, but will remain
in office pending the Regents pleasure
The body of King Alfonso will be inferred
in the Palace of the .Escurial. Orders
have been issued that the troops be con-
fined to the barracks. Great anxiety pre-
walls in Madrid A rigid censorship is ex.
ercised over press kilograms.
Queen Victroia was the first person in
| England to receive an official notification
of King Alfonso's. death. Besides send
ing a message of coincidence to the
widowed Queen Christine, who is COM
pletely Frustrated, her Majesty despatched
a special messenger to the Spanish EN-
bassy at London within half an hour af-
ter the receipt Of the news
THE MAIN INCIDENTS IN THE c ARFERoF
TINT DEAD MONARCH.
Don Alfonso-F Francisco Assist erdi-
nand- Piu-J -Mary-of- the-C Conception
Gregory, etc, OF Bourbon, King of Spain,
by the title of Alfonso XII, was born on
the 2Sth of November, 1857. being the only
son, but second child of his mother, the
then reigning monarch Of Spain, Isabella
II, by her King consort Don Francis of
Assist. His Majesty was called to the
throne of his ancestors by coup d 'etat in
Madrid the 30th of December, 1874, six
years subsequent to the revolution which
feost Isabella her crown.
The late King was the ninth sovereign
of his house, and at the time of his Access
sion he was the only prince Of the illustri-
GUS family of Bourbon in reigning posi-
ton in Europe, the one other crowned per-
sonage of the name being Don Pedro, en-
peror of Brazil. A hundred years ago the
diadems Of France, Spain, the two Sicilies,
the grand duehies of Palma and Tuscany
were worn by Bourbons. Now nearly all
the descendants of Hughes Capet, or, to
come few centuries nearer, of Henry of
| Navarro, are wanderers over the face of
the earth, a band of exiled pretenders to
different thrones. Even the two reigning
branches of the family have their success
sion in the female line, for the late King
Alfonso has only daughter to receive his
heritage, and the Emperor Of Brazil's sue
eessor will also be princess.
The life of Alfonso was not without Vi
cissitudes or romance. His early wears
were passed in the corrupt court of his
mother. where the little fellow was almost
driven into his grave by the strickness of
the studies forced upon him. The rigid
rules Of Spanish etiquette insist that a king
of Spain must be q paragon of knowledge.
Professors tried to drill every human
science and some nine or ten languages in
to the child's head. There was always an
excuse as he dolefully observed, for MAX
ing.him learn something new. Thus, a
king of Spain must surely be able to ad-
dress his Basque subjects in the native
tongue. So a Basque dictionary and
grammar and basque master made their
appearance. Then king should know the
languages of his nearest neighbors enter
Portuguese Professor, proud to explain the
beauties of the Lusiadn to his august
pupil. As for French, it was taught him
| almost as soon as Spanish. English, too,
was pronounced Indispensable, Gibralter
being a perpetual reminder of England &
existence. The long connection between
/ Spain and Germany, as well as between
Spain and Italy, naturally suggested some
acquaintance with German and Italian as
most useful. 1.-The revolution which
turned out my mother once laughingly
remarked Alfonso, when he was known in
England as the young Prince Of the AS
/ trias, gave me my first holiday" True
he was not allowed to neglect his studies
while in exile, but his mother soon dis
covered that he was over-crammed, aui
for a year or two the army of professors
was banished. That he had some leisure
was evinced by the long weeks of play hi
passed in Paris with the young Prince I'm
perial of France-then the supposed hei
to the proudest throne of Europe, now
few crumbling bones in an English church
yard.
Like the unfortunate son of Napoleon IL
Alfonso received his first military educa
tion at the famous English military schoo
of Saudhurst. 1t was while an Englsl
army cadet and attIred in the simple uni
J, form Of a private soldier that he was ap
preached by one of the haughtiest Of til
gaaadees of Spain aud greeted as sSire
with the obeisance of knee given by a sui
ject to assoyereign, At the moment th