Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-30
A CHILD KING.
THE THIRTY MONTHS, OLD BABY
MONARCH OF SPAIN.
Something of the Court gony H.
duiged in Over the Prospective
Spanish Ruler.

Gerrish for the RECORD UNION.
There has been published in LIE Figaro,
of Paris, by It's co-laborer, Mondragon
(Eusebio Blasco), a curious article in rela-
ton to the Child King, Don Alfonso XIII.
Perhaps the most rigorous monarchist may
encounter some want of respect in the
words of the writer, but they are inspired
in a sweet enthusiasm that absolves him
OF all fault. Here are the principal para
graphs of the article of Mondragoa:
Don Alfonso Kill, King of Spain, by
the grace of God and the Constitution, ac-
oording to the traditional phrase, will in a
brief time complete three years. | go,
therefore, to congratulate him. anticipate
ing relating his life and customs. This
sovereign of little more than thirty months
that has produced calm In all the politi-
cal passions, has distinct names: In Off
cial language the Holy Father calls him
Ny dearly beloved Son." the Emperors
and Kings of the rest of Europe call him
" My brother" the grandees of Spain have
the right to say to linn "My cousin" the
nurse, an unpreposessing peasant woman,
has dared many times to call him the
little one" the Queen Regent, his mother,
SAYS tenderly MY child"
His Majesty the child King has his mil
itary and civil quarters The Generals
and Aids-de-camp of his dead father lend,
It Is true, their services near the Regent.
but they constitute the military quarters
of the King, formed by high personages of
the that bova tol-1
politics. His civil quarter is composed of
mis- governess, the Sonora de Tacon, that
has already educated his father, Alfonso
NIL; OF physician exclusively devoted
10 the royal person, and various persons
for his exclusive service.
The celebrated Monteros de Espinosa
watch his sleep in the station immediate
to his. His ordinary life is very simple ::
very early ne is contded to the care of the
servants to see to and deliver to the royal
nurse, who is not expected to be occupied
IN those cares. She solely goes with him
and carries him in her arms in official GER
emonies. All the rest is the duty of other
persons. The child King does not sleep
in the same bed with his nurse, following
the Spanish custom. He has his cradle by
the side of her bed; if he awakes during
the night, the nurse rises in regard. This
etiquette requires. When his Maiesty's
toilet is concluded, the child King passes
TO the habitation of the Queen, who is all
ways impatient to bid him good-morning.
In good time-which occurs often in
Madrid : his Majesty the child King
goes out in coach. He has his own, with
an equerry that goes galloping on his
horse near the little door. No escort or
apparatus; landeau, whose eoachman
sees TO the freedom of the ROYAL House.
and in which he rides by the Casa de
Campo, the ad of the Pardo and the
Moncloa. At FIVE in winter and six in
summer his Majesty the child King re-
turns, and when he passes in advance of
the Cortes, where they are discussing arch
democratic reforms that are true arti-
fees against the monarchy, he does not
look there, for he has yet the happy I'M
consciousness of the great political and
social problems, and this Inconsistencies
is what constitutes his happiness and his
charm. As the Queen Regent has invited
guests at her table, his Majesty the child
King eats alone with his servants. but his
table is no less well provided than that of
his mother.
Don Alfonso XIII. has but one misfor-
tune to detract from his happy life-which
nearly every one has to sutherland it will
be enough to comprehend what poisons his
existence. His Majesty is pursued, vexed,
tortured by the photographers. Since he
came into the world scarcely passes week
without his sitting for new photograph.
1t is incredible the number OF times this
child King has been placed before the
lens. They have taken his portrait on
foot, sitting, in his mothers arms, sitting
on the knees of his mother, holding the
hand of his mother, bareheaded, cove red.
profile, front, and iii all manners.
The dream of every photographer in
Madrid is to have royal negative, for Ii. {,
portrait is sold by the thousands in success
sion. II is impossible to give an idea Of
The quantities sent to the furthest cor
pers Of the earth. Thuslwhen it rains and
The royal coach does not follow its accus-
toned road from the Palace to the Re-
treat, or from the Palace TO the Prado. it
is sure that his Majesty has gone direct
10 the house Of some photographer Be-
sides the amount before mentioned they
have made portrait in oil colors, engray-
ing, water colcrs, and his bust is prominent
in the royal seal and on the gold and sill
yer money.
His Majesty the child King has no
friends as yet, and perhaps he may never
have any, for the Kings unfortunately for
them, have no more than either subjects
or adversaries; but in his infancy will show
at time preferences. To procure for
child King the innocent pleasures that
other children especially enjoy, is ques-
ton most difficult, and besides, how grave
Mainly there is that TO avoid that might
produce Jealous intrigues. Certain women
would consider il as most happy of all
things that they could say in the court or
in society, " My child has played with the
King Soon there would be danger of
lack OF respect, so difficult to avoid among
His Majesty the child King
viii soon choose his affections. Until now
be has always been seen surrounded by the
grandees, generals and others. This sum-
rner in San Sebastian, upon the terrace of
the palace of Ayete, his Majesty the
King ran, laughed and screamed; but he
was alone without any children. Each
age has It's necessities, and it will be need
fnl to give to the Joys of this little soyer-
eign the liberty that is not incompatible
with etiquette.
It is sight to see him on the great days
Of official reception in the Palace, sitting
on the throne. II you can contain your
self to the point of not being disturber, |
to see upon that throne of San Fernando |
and of Carlos V. child that is sovereign |
of twenty millions of subjects, whose po-
litiSal hatred has been dulcifed before |
this royal shoot 1t is sight to see at
his right the Queen, and at his left the |
lnfantas, and around the throne the |
grandees of Spain and the other gentle |
men, and finally the long files of uniforms,
Of dresses and of toilets, the diplomatic
body, the Congress, the Senate, the Min
isters the Generals, all the officials of the |
garrison, all the high functionaries of the |
State, passing one by one before the little |
monarch of three years, already smiling |
An Instruction contrary to etiquette, as |
he should at such times retain himself and |
not move. And there below, in the grand |
plaza OF the Armory, you hear the royal |
march played by various musicians.
All this pomp, all this splendor is Tor |
that little Majesty that can penetrate none
Of it, and yet he is smiling. Yes, little,
bat great at the time. 1t is not to him
alone that they acclaim and respect and