The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1885-07-31
sovrREIGN or THE CONGO.
p,co1IaritIes of King Leopold OF belgium
His various accomplishment

His various Accomplishment
Every day the king either rides or drives to
rrnsseis, accompanied by one or Two ad!utants.
T., The na,ace OF the capital he grses his audi
ences. The salon set apart for these ceremonies
10 an tho ground floor, opening on The gardens,
.sns ----.hsd by anonsr drawingroo " here
the officer on duty Is in attendance. The king
is most accessible, and easily grants an inter-
view. lie Is affable, and enters feely into con.
versation, apparently interested and eager for
information. The walls of the audience chan
Der are literally crowded with paintings some
of great value and merit, both ancient and mod
crn. Leopold III is at once a connoisseur and
an amateur, and has acquired some priceless
pictures by Van Dyck, Rubens, Hobbema, and
other artists. The magnificent ceiling repre-
sents Day driving away Night, by jean Fran
co.'s Millet. Near this salon is the Cabinet de
Travail, to which he retires Immediately after
the visitors have departed. He resumes work
till it is time to return to Laeken for dinner.
When he entertains civilian guests, the king
appears in black evening suit, with the order of
the Golden Fleece-otherwise always in uni
form. After dinner he reads the evening pa
pers, dips into new books and publications, and
retires early.
His tastes, idiosyncrasies and antipathies are
strong and decided. AS already said, he does
not care for VIM, he is not fond of music, dis
likes hunting and shooting, and hates tobacco,
while his brother is an inveterate smoker and
sportsman. He does not even swim, although
at Ostend during the bathing season he spent
an hour in the sea. He is fond of walking and
riding, but his horses are trained for him, while
the queen trains her own. He has never worn
Gloves even in uniform, and refused to wear the
hat. which his father used to think the proper
headgear at the opening OF parliament, pro-
nouncing the speech from the throne bare
headed.
His dominant passion is architecture, and his
fayorite taste LAYING out grounds and planting.
At his own expense he gave to the parish OF ST
GILES splendid public park and another to the
township OF Laeken. In the Bois de Ia cam
bre, the Bots de Boulogne Of Brussels, ne pnr-
chased for 100000 francs piece OF land which
he converted into square SO as TO preserve lof
the holiday makers the magnificent panorama
of Ixteles. Etterbeek. In the Ardennes he re-.
built the castle and created Tierson. At Ostend
| he erected palace called chaiet, mace OF
wood, marvel of comfort and elegance,
| planned and constructed entirely at Lowestoft,
| England, brought over. in sections and put TO-
| gether at his favorite seaside resort.
He takes a lively interest in all inventions;
His hot houses and winter gardens are heated
| by the most approved system. he has repeat
| edly visited the model dwelling houses Of Lon
don, in order to found similar accommodation
for the working casses in Belgium. He speaks
English, French and German alike fluently, as
well as Flemish. He is courteous, amIable and
Of a most equable disposition. If Slightly
Seams to hovds neither bitter nor severe anf
Nspoeon at St Helena motto .ne %o o i 1 :,
forgive ALL" He is persevering to oDsnnncy
and pursues an aim with unflagging zeal an,
energy. His reign will he marked by two grea
and noble efforts. He has virtually abolished
capital punishment, as he has consistently re
fused to sign death warrant, and he ha
founded on his private fortune prize of 100
pounds sterling for "works OF intelligence"
must, however, be confessed that, save on ON
occasion, the prize has never been awarded b.
the Jury, who found none of the numerou
yearly candidates worthy of obtaining it.
The king has no counSellors. few old AM
trusted advisers of his fathers can hardly b
so called, although he confers with them OF
nomentous occasions. He is himself first
rate diplomatist, and has repeatedly had oppor
tunities of using this acquired or natural gift
and with consummate, yet unostenatous ski
contriyes to avoid the influence OF conflicting
parties at home, and domineering pressure
abroad. To this self contained and subtle pow
er he owes in great measure the success o
the long cherished scheme resulting in the SOW
reignty OF the Congo N Sun.