The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-19
FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS
FACTS AND FANCIES WHICH WILL
PLEASE THEM.
Tho child King OF spain-What Dog Did
Fighting Hsres-A Monkey With
Some sense-KiiiIng a Fish with Ball
The Baby Hippopotamus.

The Baby Hippopotamus.
The little King OF Spain, Alphonso MIL,
according To a recent letter from st. sebas-
tian, the watering-place where the Queen
mother, Christine, and her children spend
the summer, grows in beauty and inteli-
gence every day. lie has been quick TO put
of the habits Of an infant, and don instead
those of maturing childhood. AlphOns0 sets
| "A good example TO his subjects, childish and
otherwise. by rising at ! O'clobk in the
| morning. lie at once takes bath under
| the superntendence Of his nurse, TO whom
he is so devoted that it has been deemed
wise 10 retain her in the household. At
I go his toilet being made, he goes out for
an airing in the Ayete Park, and ii is there,
with the fresh breeZes Of the morning as an
appetizer, that he takes his breakiast-a
simple cup Of chocolate and q berOche.
From that time until midday he remains in
the park, running about making mud pies
and indulging in other engrOssing sports of
early childhood, while the warm Spanish
SIM is tntng his pale little face with faint
roses and bronze. When the midday an
gelus sounds from the church towers Of It.
sebastian, it is also the signal for the mid
day meal or meat breakfast taken in lieu Of
luncheon in many of the Continental cOun-
tries. This repast is quite imposing
for the little King, for it is enjoyed
in the company Of his mother and his two
sisters, While all the rigOrs Of the Spanish
court etiquette are observed. breakfast
over. all spain takes sesta, and the little
Kings head mods with the rest Of his sleepy
subjects. His nurse takes him in her arms
and sings him to sleep with the wild, sweet
strains of the gypsy lullabes crooned In the
mountain Businesses Of Central spain. Al
o'clock King AlphOnsO Is awake again.
1t is time for the state promenade. Mad
anne TacOn, the court goNerness, ana zen
COrdOrba, military chief Of the Kings
household, accompany him in this function.
The little King has an intense childish ad-
miration for the brass buttons, the
sword and the splendid uniform
Of the General, and IN order
to please him he has been made a
like outfit in which he takes great pleasure.
lie loves 10 hold the massive cane which
the General always carries, and march
,Older-fashiOu with mimic strides in front
of his suite. The walk Is always on some
highway, and the populace come in crowds
10 cheer and greet the baby king. lie re-
ceiyes their salutatiOns with great gravity
and fails to respond. Generous by nature,
ne fills his little pockets with small coins,
bright and fresh from the mint, stamped IN
his likeness. These he distributes right
and left 10 the numerous beggars tina
crowd the way, calling, as he showers on
them his royal bounty, "IOaiaw (take).
sometimes the expedition is taken in car
riage, but every day this airing forms part
Of the routine OF the Kings life. At q he re-
turns TO the palace, Where MS mOlner Is III
waiting for bin.
The King hat most remarkable appetite.
and the regular lie with its many hours Of
outdoor exercise has increased this facul-
~. He eats all and as uuch as he wants.
One day his gOyerness told him that lbs
should not eat of a certain dish because IL
was bad for him. "Ihen why did you put
il before me:' was the poser prOpOunded by
the little kingly gourmand. His tastes
run 10 all sorts of queer food, and among
other things he has strange fancy for
SAUSAGE. which he eats in large quantities.
His mind is untutOred-he does not know
mis- letters and all mental education is for
hidden him. His mother is determined that
his body alone shall be trained, at least tor
the present. ale is to be made man,
these are the Queens orders. His severe
illness Of last year has made Queen Chris
tine extremely cautious. His nina must
not be fatigued. Fresh air. exercise, baths,
and the utmost freedom are the basis of
this regimen, which seems to have
brought life back into the feeble frame
of the puny king. AlphOnsO, however, is
extremely precocous, and his intelligence
and comprehension are wonderful in
child of his years. As sprecisely he retlres.
He embraces his mother, and with quaint
little Good night. gentlemen TO the mem
Ders of his suite, he is led away TO his royal
crib by the Countess de Ieraita, the OlnclaI
nurse She undrCsses him and listens 10
his infant prattle while he tells her of the
many experiences Of the day. Then his real
nurse. VINO sleeps always by his bedside
fakes him in her arms. The palace is silent.
and her thin, quavering voice can be heard
singing in queer minor cadences Spanish
lullaby