Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-12-30

DOOR yo41 ing of Spain Ever
since the tidings CT his death reached Paris
have been hadnted by vision of the hand
some boy~That used to see driving about by
his mother side on the Champs Elysees 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 a 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 pur-
pose which I do not now remember. The
Two how princes, Louis and Alphonso, fra
ternized extensively, and Napolean III. was
amused at hearing the late remark to his
own son and heir: "Look here, Louis, when
YOU are Emperor and 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 filled so
wide place.
On the occasion of the i'll omened visit of
King Alphonso to Paris few years ago,
he amused himselfby strolling on the boule-
wards, buying papers containing the account
of the riot produced by his arrival and 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
actual Danger But he was as brave as a
lion. as became the traditions of his race,
and also that of his possible paternity. For
1t has been extensively whispered OF late,
when Marshall Serrano and the young King
died within a few hours of each other, that
tie 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.
In was a matter of wonder to many per-
sons in Paris that DIR. Fauvel, the great
French specialist in throat diseases, had not
been summond to attend the King at the
commencement of his malady, especially as
| DR.. Fauvel had always attended Queen Is
abella and her children during their resi-
dence in Paris for any troubles of that ma
| 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 Spaniard by birth. Atthe time
|
cedes 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
recently saw ID the life of Mrs. j. r. Lowell
when she was suffering from violent at
tack of that terrible malady. A few days
before Queer Mercedes breathed her last, her
Spanish doctors sent for their German col
league, and requested him to prescribe for
their patient without seeing her. This he
positively refused to do, saying that he must
examine into the physical condition of the
Queen before prescribing for her. But that
could by no means be permitted. Then, .
he said, ssles me merely see her-let me go
to the door Of her room and look at her with
out crossing the threshold" Even that
concession was refused. ..Then, gentle
men," lie declared, 81 can do nothing. /
will not attempt to prescribe for patient
have not even SEEM" He withdrew from
the palace and few days later the young
Queen was dead. But the sacred laws OF
Spanish regal etiquette had been preserved
without infringement. A similar affair, but
with differ ent denouement, took place
good many years ago in Russia. The late
Czarina, the mother OF the present Emperor
of Russia, was shortly after her marriage
attacAea ",lu 'e t. w ,,,,os;o;a =
stomach. W W 'haS .,'n ne nv e f ~ ,ad1
couio approaoh Ino Dcsu ~ IN -,
patiehts Vi ZIG ,,nrsa and ba
Ten lee,. no n"p'o1 ~ E,,aror Az
ander gave orders that famous physician
called Botkip, of whose skill in such cases
, he had heard, should at once be sent for
Bolkin came, and, to the horror of his col
leagues. he walked up to the beside of the
I'm ose '''' z 80 - hurried fror,
he foolil ana was loaui .lsnluhstlated with
on the rpr,priety of his conduct, being
told that bis Imperial patient was to be look.
ed at from !. distance, and that he must not
approach er, much less touch her. Bot
kin listened ia silence to all thas the other
doctors Lad say, but " ben 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 tie report, and on noticing that
the name of be new doctor did not appear in
it he caused him to be summoned at once to
his presence. "Your Majesty" quoth Bot
kin frankly, 81 cannot pretend to treat a
patient that I a,n not perniitted to examine.
The Empress is, 1 learn, in very critical
situation / think can sas her, but to do
so l must be allowed to go t. work in my
own way" The Emperor Use from his
chair, took Dr. Botkin by .e arm and
Empress and straight up to her bedside.
s'There, DOCTOR" he said, Examine your
patient, and If any one pretends to interfere
with you remember that you are obeying
my commands" The course of tseatment
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 Queen
Christina, widow and expectant mother
thus left alone and sorrowing to guard her
children's rights as best she may among the
clash of conflicting interests around the
throne. A little over six years ago she
passed throush Paris, full of hone and Joy,
; on bar wav tn Madrid tn ioin her royal