The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-12-12
KING LEOPOLD. WITH HIS DEM
OCRATIC HABITS, Is SoJ0URN-
ING IN THE FOGGY CITY.
H|SHlGaNESS DOTES ON IN ACTRESS
He I,ayishes Wealth on Gay Paris
Danseuse-The Fancy Dress Ball
Season Opens-BeerbohE Trees
Version of HRmlets Madness.

London, Dec. t.-(SOlS rlSnteu, 2cSJ
by the Associated Pressl-The great at
fractions of theweek in yoyal circles have
been the goinEs and comings of King
Leopold of Belgium and his charming
young daughter, the Princess Clenentine,
who is abodt22 years of age and unmar-
ried.
King Leopold has always been popular
here on account of his so-called democrat
ic habits. - which he attracted cenSid-
erable attention or his arrival here. He
was met 1T Charilg Cross railroad sta
ton by NUMBER of officials and royal
carriages were placed at his disposal
to conve,y him 10 his destination. But
after acknowledging the courtesy shown
him, the king said he preferred walking
and so ne was allowed to have his own
way and strobe across Trafalgar Square
to a hotel before going TO Windsor to
pay his respects to her majesty, Queen
Victoria. Laaer King Leopold saw all
the sights OF London incognlto and Is
said to have enjoyed himself INNER sely.
King Leopold and the princess return
ed from Windsor yesterday and will pro-
coed to Sardringham on n visit TO the
Prince and Princess of Wales.
AS 10 the real OpSCt vi lNlhe 'ASAt
to London there is the usual amount OF
speculation, but little seems TO be known
about il. The usual report that his jour
ney is connected with the affairs of the
Congo Free State is uppeTmost and sly
references are made to his devotion to
Merodopsld, otherwise Mile De Marode.
the most beautiful dancer at the Paris
opera. The presents, horses. carriages
iewelry, etc. which the gay king has be
slowed upon the pepulur dancer are Sald
TO have cost him small fortune, ana
This is not the first escapadc o. the kind.
1t is now reported that the Earl OF
Derby. formerly governor general OF Gan
ada. is to succeed the Marquis OF Dut-
ferin as British ambassador at Parls.
although the name of Sir Phillip Our
rie the British ambassador At Constan-
tinople. is frequently mentioned IN con-
nection with that highly important post.
Should the report turn out 10 De cor
rect II NAV be safely said that the spe-
ciaI Qualifications of the Earl of Derby
ne n successful successor to the Marquis
of Dufferin is his enormous wealth, ana
II is no secret that the Marquis Is greatly
hammered in filling the position as IL
should be filed by the fact that he Is not
wealthy enough to entertain 10 the eA-
tent considered necessary. -
Vanity Fair, commenting upon TINS
situation. says; -:
Paris is the home of so many Ameri-
can milliouaireS, whose lavish eNieh!l-
tures give them undue prominence IN
Partisan society. and the English resi-
dents and visitors dislike TO see Their
representative play second fiddle 10
Mrs. Passmore. a Mrs. Davis or some
other wealthy American
Comnlaint is made in the newspapers
that the duke of Norfolk. the prime head
of the Roman Catholics of England, III
surprising the Italian postal cards re-
ceived in cOmmemmoratlon OF the hnera-
ton. stated that the cards were so oOJec-
tionable to the vatican that the pope eN-
communicated all who receive them or
aid in their circulation.
The many Americans who have passed
the old church of ST. Mary lie Strange.
whose handsome tower clocks is one of
the land marks which first catches the
eve when turning into the Strand from
Charing Cross, will learn with interest
that the church will be completely reno
waited and restored shortly after the new
year.
The first fancy dress ball of the sea-
son was given ut Covent garden last
Wednesday evening. and came as rehef
to the faded young men about town.
The male frequenters VI the ball are re
cruited from the ranks which are gener-
ally to he seen at the Empire IN the
evening and at the Continental hotel nj
midnight for supper. The lady ire
ouenters of the ball are for the most
mart rather fast actresses and demi
monde, although on Wednesday several
parties who had boxes included some Of
the smartest women in England. They.
however. kept carefully masked. and as
a rule remained in their boxes, looking
on at the gay scene on the floor. \ few
years ago. at one of these balls, Mrs.
Langtry and her party, IN one OF the up
per boxes. created the greatest excite
ment. An old quiet looking gentleman
was seen to be sitting in the midst of
her gay party and from time to time the
old man was subjected to all sorts Of
practical Jokes. He was pulled around
the box. wine thrown in his face. ana
finally, amidst cry of horror from the
people below, he was thrown, after an
apparent struggle with one of the men.
to the floor below, where he lay llfeleSS.
1t was soon discovered. however, that the
old gentleman was a skillfully construct
ed lay-fgure. but the gentlemen of Mrs:
Langtry's party were all arrested and
had to appear at Bow street the next
morning.
Last Wednesdays ball did not begin
until / o'clock. The fun was at its
height at 3. and it was almost daylight
when the last Of the people left the ball:
The charitable season is now at hand
and most of the theaterS are generously
proffering their aid in behalf of various
institutions. Royal patronage has been
promised for matinee to he given at
the Haymarket on December f6. in aid
of the Siddons house, proposed theatrl-
cal institution, something on the plan of
the Forest Home.
1t Is intended to be refuge for actors
and actresses when struck down by Sc
rious illness.
In the course of an interesting article
entitled ''Hhmlet-From an Actors
Prompt Book" published in this month $
Fortnightly Review. Beerbohm Tree
states:
1T has been my aim 10 try practical
assistance of an actors prompt book TO
show that Hamlet's supposed madness
was feigned madness and that many
of the difficulties of this Shakespearian
masterpiece are really little else than
the outcome of super-acute. but IN
practical comment If TO the pure all
things are pure to the plain seekers many
things often anDear plain. And If some
of the alleged obscurities of Hamlet have
been dispelled by an actor-manager
prompt copy, the reason for the miracle
may lie in the fact that Shakespeare was
an RctoF-maAager himself The fact
must never be lost sight of that his plays
were designed for the stage and not for