New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-11
LEOPOLDANDMARIE HENRIETTE
TRAITS OF THE BELGIAN sOvEREIGNS
From Leisure Hour.

that Leopold married the Arcnduchess Marie Hen.
from their union the Duke of Brabant. whom they
were TO lose all too soon, and three prncesses. The
eldest married Prince Philip Of COburg. the second
Is the Princess Scphanie, widow OF the hapless Crown
Prince Rudolph Of AUSTRIA; the third. the Princess
70 the Prince OF Naples, King HuinOer's only child.
10th before and ateI their accession to the throne
ns a% Tne L sE wes 5r yss with ap %ss
out the least prctenslon, and even went to a
schoothc sacre Occur Of Jette situated at half an
they Joined in al the studies and rccreations OF TIE
% to Tns RE a MS s nf5 LIE
hi, reign he rarely 20 be in the streets dressed
In uniform. lie is most lndefa gable walker and
almost all his companions II Is characteristic trait
a be never wears sosos Is true S. a Gea
all no proves that he is descended from the Orleans
family. who were noted for their exausitely shaped
From every point Of view the Kings life is one Of
s Soror Anything that could enervate lie rises
early generally at g. After light rcpast no goes into
his study. where he carefully examines an the papers
cunuated there since the previous day. To this work
be Syf' anG G am2 st with lis own hand Before
cordlng favor, distinction he often docs not rest
makes private inquiries to the PERSONS worth. Ito
never Signs any thing lightly. which reminds us OF an
court BALL. The King was making the tour Of the
rooms when he saw iunctionary who that morn
ING had
INK 'U c6Hgratliato you, NJ lc Directcur" said his
Majesty. 49,. ..
Learn. monsieur replied the King. that
never sign a nomination without reading the name
Of the person TO whom 1 accord a favor"
And so speaking lie turned his back upon his
still it must not be inferred from this anecdote
that Leopold Is caustc and overbearing. lie knows
mcn-he has studied and mixed With them much ne
knows how be indulgent, and 10 forgive easily any
little defects weaknesses or lncohercnces OF human
nature Thus lie gladly and readily pardons the con
dcmncd whenever possible. cOmmutes their son
fences OF capital punishment he Is Jealous sdvcr
sary Never" he said. before his accession " shah
drop Of blood flow during my reign" And verify IN
Belgium II ptal punishment is not abolished de urc,
To the pleasures Of the table the King IS also in
sensible lie eats little. and prefers frugal to sump
tuous meals lie hardly ever touches wine, water
his fayorite beverage, Am NM too arc
hate, it, and never puts his foot inside one when
he absolutely avoid ii. Nevertheless. he con
tributes ont Of his private purse annual sum Of 100
600 francs toward It's maintenance The same dislike
extends to the opera. In this he differs widely from
IN tho royal box almost every evening. Riding ia tho
King Ghet mst e rides once and Or 5TiGs d1T
reads enormously and keeps himself posted up with All
that goes on. And this love Of being an courant no
p for hearing the chltchat the itl" scandals Of the
town. lie kuows his Brussels as vel as one Of Its
memory In the streets public ceremonies. he i'm
mcdiaely recognizes and remembers not only the
When he lat met the person.
one day HIS Majesty on the pier at ostend
w y%cetS i Sc 's @pc Citizen lie sess Brussels
burghcr and accost' him .,,,.,,
IN bicn; and how are your orchid'
Yais oui. those which Won exhibited two years
The flower amateur had himself forgotten that he
had thus exhibited. other matters having meantime
'Oi Leopold ii possesses that art so precious for I.
King. Of finding ever the proper word to say az
-f~N Il.
1 1ey 'i be F'r cxampo. 4hon he visits picture
% he know how 70 encourage STst the young MAT sf
ever tho milcu in which he finds himself. he knows
how to put himself at the standpoint OF the peopie
famon, Establishment Of Cockerin in company with
the ns of p their he San . Ss
INV dear fellows that must all work. We arc all
vorinen in our respective spne,I.,, ~. r.. ..,.s
dep concern In all that Affects IT, whether great or
small lie speaks the language with rare purity. and
That no of,ca visits England incognlto IS well Known
Another Of the royal hobbies an. ana cO one w sats
/ which he may be said 10 have founded The idea was
that he had long cher.ed Even before s,nro
us severance from holland. was deprived OF All those
trade outlets that 50 profitable Vas II not posi-
/ b" for MS Young sincdGm 10 attempt sonc'"'s "p''
Influenced by the recital OF Stanley and his own
Initiative I'm work which viii very likely secure 70
him an eminent place in history lie comsu naa "a
~ clyllzc that great mysterious continent OF africa
In 1876 preliminary conference was held IN Brussels
re S OF The The E ks a' pd Ssf% ' pFGe
| had elaborated. In l775 was founded 'no AZ,
e eisnty Of his his RcsIan Majesty. vim cen
trail Government at Brussels and an eNeca,vc ,bc
King Is constantly aud actively occupied; a n'
/ hobby his passion. for whose sake he has not hes,
tated to spend vast sums out q his private purse aaa
iaons on the Congo have embarrassed him not lttle
financially lie l. firmly convinced that MS plan VII
prosper. and srat ono his kinrdom viii find thq
he has lowered Il wt source 81 great R~t meanwhile
a f' these rs chcmss S Of the p scTere Of
@ DO not feel as ccra as he Tney or ,Rcse Of N.
CONGO In Ills they are unjust. Leopold Is en-
WIN ss go%s err Of S95 aH NTH nae two tnn
! at A time proof Of the injustice Of The accusation
pnrlneipa Of universal military service Further. h
Just dcvotcs much attention g. tne HuSeon %
Visited the spot to superntend IN person '"o p'osS
and his reception Of the members OF the lnternatona
/ Conference. all must have gratefully observed -.
II has been often and rightly remarked that nae
Ieopold II been born In the burghcr class-or M
matter I'm whatever other condition ne Would hI''
made him, cN talked about. and woud rave become
rrmnrtablc man. As monarch hs has. for some
! cause not quite clear missed that popularity wnvN
other mouarchs seem 10 gain 50 easily ana oi'ei WIN
VI" The belgian people have much more sympathy with
heir a
Although but year Younger than the King; sno M, ;,
prc.ervcd into maturity the grace and quick VII Oh
,outh Her appearance at FIRST sight gives the III
nresslon Of hautcur. but closer observation reveal,
that this apparent GOODNESS a warm heart ahu
also one that has suffered kccnly. The mother has
never recovered the grief ~ losing her only son
Her chief occupations works OF charity. She
love, 10 comfort thsc In distress and 10 Is SAID ths
her goodness and patience with her poor dcIlclte
lister IN law the Empress Charlotte. Is most touchlhe
to witness she Is the only person who mas soh.e
! little influence over the distracted lady. .
As IA wife, Queen Marie Henrietto knows fuu well
what all the world knows also that lci
husband seeks his pleasures away from her. she tile
10 ind consolation and distraction In the arts
Horsemanship and horses are also great delight o
hers She frequently goes into the stables ana In
spects her favore stceds. even grooming them her
,rlf nj times. AZ all hours OF the day she may be me
either on horseback. followed by groom. or drivin.
two ponies in an elegant little phacton.
But this love Of horses does not hinder her ron
beng an artist. She IL an excellent musician. play
Ing well upon tho piano and the harp. She offer
composcs Few know that she has even written al
oprra called Wanda. on la pussance de PAmour,