St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-02
BELGIAN ROYALTY.
A Glimpse at King Leopold
and His Fam
lily.
The Life of the Monarch One
Of Extreme Sim
plicity.
His Absorption in the AZ
fairs Of the Congo
State.
A Pen Picture of His Home
Life and the Many Sur
roundings.

AAAO CtA1A GA4O 1UsAAAy SSsA
roundings.
It was in 1853, before his accession to
the throne, says a writer in Leisure
Hours. that Leopold, king of the Bel
gians, married the ArchducheSS Marie
Henrietta, of Austro- Hungary. -Four
children sprang from their union, the
Duke Of Brabant, whom they were to
lose all too soon, and three Processes.
The eldest married Prince Philip of Co
burg; the second is the Princess
Stephanie, widow Of the hapless Crown
Prince Rudolph of Austria; the third,
the Princess Clementine, is still I'M
welded. Report assigns her to the
Prince Of Naples. King Humbert's only
child. Both before and after their ac
cession to the throne the family
of Leopold Ii. lived with great
simplicity. The girls were brought
up without the least preten-
ton, and even went to a school
the Sacre Ceur of Jette, situated at half
an hours distance from the royal castle
of Lacken-where they Joined in all the
studies and recreations of the other
pupils. The king above all loves quiet
life and devotion to scientific work. At
the beginning of his reign he was rarely
to be seen in the streets dressed in uni
form. He is most indefatigable
walker, and with his long legs strides
across the ground, firing out almost all
his companions. 1t is a characteristic
trait that he never wears gloves. 1t is
f,.,,o 1,e ful n
aristOcratic cut, and in this, above all,
he proves that he is descended from the
Orleans family. who were noted for their
eXqulSitely shaped hands.
From every poiEt of view the kings
life is one of great simplicity. He sleeps
in camp bed, and
Has Horror
of anything that could enervate. He
rises early; generally at 6. After
light repast he goes into his study.
where he carefully examines all the pa
pers and documents concerning state
business that Rave accumulated there
since the previous day. To this work
he gives the most minute attention,
reading everything himself and anno-
tating with his own hand. Before ac-
cording a favor OF distinction he often
does not rest satisfied with what is pre-
sented to him officially, but makes prl-
vate inquiries as to the PERSONS worth.
He never signs anything lightly, which
reminds us of an anecdote little known.
1t was some years ago at court ball.
The king was making the tour of the
rooms, when he saw functiOnary who
that same morning had received his
promotion.
II congratulate you, M. lie Directeur,"
said his majesty.
How, sire, you know that had been
named director?"
LEARN, monsieur" replied the king,
''that never sign nomination without
reading the name Of the person to
whom [ accord favor"
And so speaking he turned his back
upon his shametaced auditor.
Still, it must not be inferred from this
anecdote that Leopold is caustic and
overbearing. He knows men-he has
studied and mixed with them much; he
knows how to be indulgent, and to for
give easily any little defects, weaknesses
or incoherenceS of
Human Nature.
Thus he gladly and readily pardons
the condemned whenever possible. or
commutes their sentences. Of capital
punishment he is Jealous adversary.
s'Never," he said before his accession,
''shall drop of blood flow during my
reign" And verify in Belgium, if capt.
tai punishment is not abolished de jure,
it is de tactO.
To the pleasures of the table the king
is also insensible. He eats little, and
prefers frugal to sumptuous meals. He
hardly ever touches wine; water is his
favorite beverage. AmuSements, too,
are not beloved by him. AS for the
theater, he almost hates it, and never
puts his f0otinSide one when he can alb
solutely avoid it. Nevertheless, he con-
tributes out of his private purse the an
nual sum of 100000 francs toward its
maintenance. The same dislike ex-
tends to the opera. In this he differs
widely from the queen, who passlonately
loves music, and is seen in the royal
box almost every evening. Riding is
the kings CHER pastime. He rides
once or twice day, generally going to
the Bots, winter and summer. He reads
up with all that goes on. And this love
of being all courant he actually ex-
tends to quite pronounced liking for
gossip, for hearing the chit-chat, the
little scandals of the town. He knows
his Brussels as we'll as one of Its most
Ancient Burghers.
For faces he has surprising memory.
In the streets, at public ceremonies, he
Immediately recognizes and remembers
not only the physiognomy. but the
name and circumstances when he last
met the person. One day his majesty
was Oh the pier at OStend walking about
quietly among the crowd of his subjects
like a simple citizen. He sees Brus-
sells burgher and accoSts him:
''Eh, bien, and how are your OF
chids?"
MY orchids, sire?"
''Mais ou, those which you exhibited
two years ago"
The flower ameteur had himself for
gotten that he had thus exhibited, other
matters having meantime absorbed his
attention.
Leopold Ii. possesses that art, so prec-
ious for king, of finding ever the prop
er word to say at the right moment to
everyone, no matter who it may be. For
example. when he visits picture gal
lery he knows how to encourage young
beginners. often buying their first
works. Whatever the milieu in which
he finds himself he knows how to put
himself at the standpoint of the people
with whom he speaks. Thus, when he
visited the famous establishment of
Cockerill in company with the shah of
Persia he approached a group Of work
men, and, pressing their hands, said;
Never forget, my dear fellows. that
we must all work. We are all work
men in our respective spheres"
England is specially dear to the king
and be takes deep concern in all that
affects it, whether great or small. He
speaks the language with rare purity,
and is never happier than when he can
talk in that tongue. That he often visits
England incognito is well known.
Another of the
Royal Hobbies,
and one which threatens to absorb him
entirely, is the Congo state, which he