The Arizona sentinel., 1886-08-21
NUMBER 3S.


 wonder if the royal child cries and keeps the people awake at night, just as if 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 the way, after them the chief nobles of 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, noblemen, 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 de Bourbon. The future King cried on receiving such a terribly long name, just as if he were an American baby. No doubt they will call him Alfonso KILL for short. It would be too much, even for Spanish dignity, if his mother and family were obliged to give him his full name every time they ad- dressed him. lTwenty-one cannon shots were fired at the close of the ceremony. The procession then wend- ed its way back to the palace, and AL fonso Leon Fernando Santiago Maria Isidro Paseual de Bourbon was put back in his cradle!
 Perhaps some American children may think it fine thing to be King, to live in beautiful palace and to have the highest and noblest people of the country eager to wait on him. But before we feel envious of all this gran deur let us see what this young King has in store for him. Alfonso XIII. will scarcely have any babyhood and no boyhood at all. The Spanish. court is very strict in its observance of eti- quette, and young Alfonso. surrounded by obedient serviteurs and f1atterers, must always be the King. Never any merry, happy play for him on the foot ing of equality with other children, Evil-minded people will fiatter him, tempt him to do wrong, learn all his failings and take advantage of them to make him worse. Thus he will be ex- posed to many, many temptations which common people escape.
 Then, too, with all the magniicence of the throne, he has also inherited its cares and anxieties. For over fifty years there have been rival claimants to the Spanish throne; which fact has caused plotting, insurrection and civil war much of the time. The other claimant, Don Carlos, has already issued a proclamation, in which he re- fuses to acknowledge the young AL fonso as King, and declares himself to be the rightful heir to the throne o3 Spain.
 The late King, Alfonso XII, was not very popular with his subjects, neither is his widow, the Queen Regent. Shels an Austrian Princess, and not much beloved by the Spanish people. Thus we see that the young King enters into the world with enemies ready to dis pute his claim to the throne, with in- surrection threatening him, and pros. poets of civil war.
 Until the birth or thls baby, hlS older sister was considered Queen of Spain, and, in the event of her death, the younger sister would have the position. These two little girls. aged respectively six and four years, are too young now to realize what difference the birth of a brother has made in their lives; but, amid the envy, plotting and intrigue of court, these children will only too soon awake to a full knowledge of what they have lost, and enmity may arise between the sisters and their young brother.
 Thus you see that the life before this young King of Spain is not all bright and happy. It seems to me that any American baby, with good parents and affectionate brothers and sisters, has the prospect of happier and bet ter life than Alfonso KILL, King of Spain. -COngregationGltst.