Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-09-02
A BABY KING.

Alfonso Leon Fernando Santiago Maria
Isidro Pascuai de bourbon, OF SPAIN
Tho Prospect before Him Not an En-
viabio One.
On the 18th OF May last, baby was
born in Madrid whose birth was an.
nounccd to the people of that city by
the firing of cannon. This child was
the little King of Spain, aud his birth
rcjoiccd the loyal subjects OF his late
father. In a few hours the Who'll"
ilizcd world knew that son h
given to tho widow OF Alton
and that this boy is the ncw.bo.' ...'
of Spain.
This little baby, so helpless H.
noccnt, has already caused great cx-
citcmcnt in the country over which he
Is expected to rule. The first thing
was tn procure nurse. or nurses
rather. for him. Women camo from
all parts OF Spain to offer themselves
for this position. Two were selected
for the young King, each of the others
receiving n present Of two hundred
dollars rs an indemnity for her loss OF
time and trouble in coming to Madrid.
Among the refused candidates was the
wife of rich merchant, who did not
care for the good salary which Is given
to the nurse. but was very dcsirous OF
the honor of being nurse to the King.
This baby. born in the magnificent
palace of Charles ", one Of the finest
palaces in tho world has besides the
two nurses named, q physician, sur
rcon-dentist and tho whole Spanish
court. composed of the noblest lords
and ladies. eager to be his servants.
wonder If the royal child cries and
keeps the people awake ut night, just
as il he were an ordinary baby!
Early in the day on which he was
baptized immense crowds OF people
filled the streets near the palace. eager
for glimpse of the procession on Its
way to church. At one o'clock the
procession started. Soldiers led tho
way. after them the chief mobiles oi
Spain; then came the nurse carrying
the baby, and by her side was the
papal nuncio. representing the Pope
who is the godfather Of the child.
The godmother followed. and then
came members of the royal family,
noblcmcn, persons connected with the
palace, and finally soldiers OF the
Royal Guard. The church was filled
with invited guests, among whom the
foreign Ambassadors, Ministers and
their suits.
The name given to the child was Al
fonso Leon Fernando Maria Santiago
isidro Pascual. His family name is dc
bourbon. The future King cried on
receiving such terribly long name
lust as il he were an American baby
No doubt they will call him Alfonso
XIII. for short. 1t would be too much
even for Spanish dignity, II his mother
and family were obliged to give hin
his full name every time they adj
dressed him. Twenty-onc cannon
shots were fired at the close OF thu
ceremony. The procession then wcnd
cd its way back to the palace AMI Al
fonso Leon Fernando Santiago Mari'
Isidro Paseual dc Bourbon was pn
back in his cradle!
Perhaps some American children
may think 1t a fine thing to be kim
to live in a beautiful palace and to hav
the highest and noblcst people OF tn
country eager to wait on him. b''
before We feel envious Of all this gran
deur let us sec what this young Kim
has In store for him. Alfonso XIII
will scarcely have any babyhood an
no boyhood at all. The Spanish cour
is very strict in its observance OF ell
quette, and young Alfonso. surrounds
by obedient scrviteurs and flatterer'
must always be the King. Never an
merry, happy play for him on the fool
ing of equality with other children
Evil.minded people will fattcr him
tempt him to do wrong. learn all hl
fai!ings and take advantage OF them t
make him worse. Thus he will be e'
posed to many, many temptation
which common people escape.
Then, too. with oil the magnificenc
of the throne. he has also inherited II
cares and anxicties. For over fift
years there have been rival claimant
to the Spanish throne; which fact hi
caused plotting, insurrcction and civ
war much of the time. The otht
claimant. Don Carlos. has alrcad
issued proclamation. in which he r
fuses to acknowledge the young a
fonso as King. and declares himself
be the rlgh!fpl heir y tho throne
Spain,