Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-14
THE COURT OF A BABY KING.
How His Little Majesty of Spain Reigns
but Does Not Govern.
From the st. James Gazette.

From the st. James Gazette
very soon the exceedingly blue-blooded
little gentleman who was born king of Spain
will celebrate his third birthday. This SOW
ereign, who has been in the world little more
than thirty months, and has succeeded in
that brief space in calming the spirit of fac
ton, rejoices in n vast variety of baptismal
names in addition to the Alphonso by which
he Is TO be known in history. He is, moreover,
the ''well-beloved son" of the Roman pontiff:
the "brother" of all other wearers of crowns;
the cousin Of the Spanish grandees; his mother,
the queen-regent, speaks of him simply yet
tenderly as 1.-The child" Alphonso xiii is an
exceedingly handsome little fellow, with
blonde hair which falls in beautiful curls
upon his shoulders. He is all gayety, light
heartedness, and smiles. His joyous little
majesty gives no thought to his exalted position
or his future destinies. He reigns, but does not
govern. leaving to his mother the care of
signing every day great bundles of DEGREES and
appointments. And when a uniformed minister
comes from the queens chamber, carrying
under his arm a portfolio stuffed with papers
which have caused discussions, intrigues, and
great political debates, his majesty, from his
nurses arms smiles upon him as though to say,
what has all that to do with me?"
King Baby already enjoys the glories of q
military and q civil household. The generals
and aides-de-camp of the late King Aphonso
technically they form his majesty's military
household. The civil establishment consists of
the goyerness, Nine. Tacon, who held the same
position toward the late king; the doctors. who
are attached exclusively to the royal person.
two or three major-domos, a lady of honor, and
several pages, footmen, and servants. The
famous mOnteros of Espinosa watch over the
kings sleep, in an apartment adjoining the
royal bed-chamber. The little monarch's life
is very simple. He rises at an early hour, is
bail he'd ID a.
nurse, who, in addition to the semi-material
duties which there is no longer any necessity
that she should fulfill takes him out for air
lngs and bears him in her arms at state cere-
monies The nurse, Raymunda, at night occu-
pies bed by the side of the royal crib. Di-
rectly the king is dressed he is taken to his
mother. who impatiently awaits his arrival.
He Is sometimes present at the early morn
ing audiences to ministers and members
OF the royal family. His favorite amuse-
ment while Queen Christina is thus occu-
pied is to strum upon the table with
full creature, and is almost as fond of Der
charge as the queen herself. Upon one occa-
sion great lady wished TO see the king. and
the queen accompanied her to the youngsters
apartments; but Raymunda barred the way.
You can't come in" was her peremptory de-
cision; ''he is asleep" The queen and the
duchess retired smiling.
When the weather is fine the king drives out.
Naturally he possesses his own carriage with
an equerry who galiops bravely by its side and
forms the only escort. He dimes alone at
well-garnished table. King Baby has only one
trouble i'll life. 1t is trouble which might
drive some grown-up people to madness; but,
since he Is entirely unconscious of it, it does
not worry him very much. The photographer
is always on the lookout for him. Scarcely
week has passed since ne was born without
demand from some fresh photographer to be
allowed to take his portrait. He has been
photographed standing, sitting in his mothers
arms, upon her lap, or holding her by the
hand; with his hat on and his hat off: full
face, profile; and, in short, in every possible
position. 1t is the ambition of every Madrid
photographer to possess negative of the king,
since his portraits sell by thousands, not merely
i'll Spain, but III most civilized countries. And
this is not all. He has been painted in oil, he
has been engraved and etched, and is the
original of numberless miniatures.
Queen Christina experiences great deal of
difficulty in procuring for the little mouarch
those childish pleasures which are enjoyed by
all children of less exalted rank. There is al
ways the fear of causing jealousy, and there Is
ever intrigue to be reckoned with There is no
lady In Spain. however high her rank, who
would not be proud to say, My boy has played
with the king" Then there is that terrible
Spanish etiquette, and it is almost impossible
to prevent youthful playmate from breaking
the many regulations with which a Spanish
king is hedged around. Usually, therefore, he
Is surrounded by groWn-up people.