New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-01
SPANS TINY KING.
A HAPPY ROYAL LIFE.
IRON An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRrnru,
Madrid Auone,

IRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRrnrxus
Madrid, August II
Universal satisfaction is expressed on every sds
at the dismissal Of Alcances. Duke Of Sesto from
the post of Grand Master Of the Royal llolsehoh
which he has held for 30 many years. The stem.
father of the young Duo de MOrny, he is almost an
well known at Paris as at Madrid, and enjoys tho
distinction of having been Tilted in succession BIZ
both of the daughters Of the old COmtesse d
Montijo, one OF whom subsequently became the
Empress Of the French and the other the Duchess
d'Albe. In 1868. after having in turn filled the
Offices of Mayor of Madrid Governor Of the CAPITAL
and Member of the Cortes. lie followed Qaeen
Isabella into exile and becamc tie ago. or
bear-leader of the young King On the restor.
ton of the latter to the throne. fourteen veaa
ago. he became Grand Master of the Royal House
hold a post which he held without intermiSsOn
until ten days ago. During the whole reign Of
Alfonso XII he WAS the inseparabe companion,
nay, almost the shadow Of the young monarch, 70
whose pleasures he ministered, and whose mtrigaa
with the fair sex he abetted in manner that
earned for him the hearty contempt OF the people,
and the dsfavor of the Queen. Indeed ii court
gossip is TO be believed, the Duke on one MEM
0rable occasion, while guarding the approaches TO
a pavilion in which the King was receiving the
homage of one Of his fairest subjects, received
Christmas ridng-whip across his face In such
way as 20 leave q tell-tale mark. 10 was solely
on account of his services TO Alfonso Nj. mis-
guided and contemplate thouQh they were "a
times that the Regent retained him az the head
OF the Royal Household after her husbands death.
for, with his squealy voice, his affected air Of
picador and his frantic efforts to retain both the
appearance and the vices of youth Le could not
fail to be an object of antipathy and even disgust
to so sensible and refined woman the Queen.
lie is succeeded in his Office as Grand Master
by the Duke of Medina-Sdonia. who has hereto
fore held the post OF the Regents Chief Chamber
lain, and whose violent quarrel with Pepe'
Scsto preciDitated the lattcr's fall
The mOsf popular members OF the Royal House.
hold are Count Morphy the private secretary 81
the Queen. and also of the late King. and General
Juan de Cordova the PRINCIPAL aide de-camD. The
General in particular. is special iavorlte Of the
little three-year-old King who invariably adj
dresses him MS JuanitO little JOhn). Only last
Sunday while seated beside his mother In the
royal gallery at mass, his dminutive but Most
Catholic Majesty happened to catch sight OF the
General llneeling in the nave OF the church, and
at once amid the silence which Drecedes the eieya-
ton Of the Host. began 20 shout with great giee
Halo there is Juanito' Halo there Juanito!
Juanito" it was only with the utmost difficulty
that the Queen and his gOverness, Sonora Iae1n.
could reduce the little monarch 10 silence. Madame
1acon who has now assumed the control OF the
royal nursery. is a venerable. white-hhlred old
lady. Thirty years ago she was appointed by
Isabella ii TO act as goyerness TO her daughters
and subsequently also 10 Don Alfonso MI. Since
then she has always remained in the service OF
the royal family who all treat her with the most
afiectionate respect and kindness. Raimdnda,
h. Hrch
attracted the infant monarch's notice and favor
by her excepticnal qualities as wet-nurse. still
figures among the Kings attendants, though. OF
course not in the same capacity as formerly. The
child absolutely refused to permit her to be paid
Off. as it was intended to d. and insisted that
she should become a permanency in his household.
The little fellows life at San Sebasten IS
sngllarly happy one, and lie enjoys far more
freedom and liberty of action there than AT
Madrid. Every morning. punctuaily at O'clock
when the guard is relieved. he steps out on the
low and spacious balcony of the royal chateau IN
order TO listen to the music of the regimental
band There is always a crowd OF children assembled
TO see him appear and as he knows many OF them
personally by name he leans over the bal
cony TO talk to them. and the quaintest kind OF
conversations ensue They are generally inter-
ruptcd BY n tap on the window. Oh hearing which
the little King cries: 4" Ados. au revoir: muss
20 in: mamma is waiting for me- Shortly after
o he appears on the sands escorted by Madame
Tacon Raimunda and couple OF
foc.mcn and plays around IN the
most thoroughly democratic manner with his sister
and other children Of his acquaintance At -
o'clock, after having dug and romped and padded
about barefooted i'm the water TO his heart con.
tent. he returns to the chateau for luncheon.
and on his arrival the palace guard turns QUE
and the bugle sounds, a noise which His Most
Catholic Majesty often attempts to initiate. At
: o'clock he goes ont for drive. and rs he comes
down the steps TO the cariiag, the yI hal erdie2s
range themselves. one on each step, either
side of the stairs. As soon he is seated in tho
carriage he turns TO Colonel LoigOrri, the chief
If the halberderS and in obedience to the in.
s,ructions which he has received eXchimS with
tbe utmost gravity: Let them retire. At
o'clock the little chap, who is in splendid health.
i mt IN bed his mother being invariably present
10 gav his prayers with him and TO KISS HIM
goodnight. IL,
While passing weighing machine the other
day Oh the esplanadc ~ san SeDas'Ien, WIN ue
children the Queen took IL into her head 10 ges
the whole party weighed. The scales tipped ire
beam at the following figures King Alfonso welgn
az Mounds. his mother the Queen Regent lis:
his eldest sister the Princess OF the Astutas a. ana
the Infanta Maria Theresa 40. Ihat Is 70 say
the entire family weighs just ,three POUNDS Ie e
then the old hut not venerable, Queen lsapeIa
IT The Regent while az San Sebastien spends
much Of her time in driving spirited ionr-Ih-hahu
team barnessed 70 an English break. She handles
tbe ribbons with thoroughly Austrian Skill
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