Warren sheaf., 1896-11-05
ALFONSO, KING OF SPAIN.
Spaniards Fear Austrian Influence May
Affect the Young Monarch.

Spaniards Fear Austrian Influence May
Affect the Young Monarch.
Alfonso MIL, king of Spain, COM
pleted his tenth year on May II, and
his mother, the queen regent, has ar
ranged that from that date onward his
majesty shall have separate estab-
Eshment, though he WILL of course,
still reside under the same roof as her
self and daughters. This is part of the
wise and far-sighted policy Of Maria
Christina, who, fortunately for the
country of her adoption, is one of the
most sensible women in Europe.
The naughty and exclusive mobiles
clustered around the Spanish throne
are, as is perhaps natural, inclined to be
jealous of the power and influence
which this lady, born an archduchess
of Austria, has over their young king.
To the credit of the queen regent, be it
said, instead of resenting this feeling,
she has from the first frankly and
openly, while recognizing it's existence,
shown that it was without cause, as
she is the first to assert the claims
which the hidalgos have upon her son,
bringing him up otherwise than as a
true Spaniard. With a 1nagnanimity
and self-denial on which too much con-
not be said, she has, during the IT
years of her residence in the country,
and especially since the death of her
husband, formed her own household al
most exclusively of men and women
Spanish born, and given no one a right
to whisper that Madrid was Influenced
in the remotest degree by any voice
from Vienna. Now, though the youth
of her son and the delicacy of his health
for, though getting stronger every
year, he is by no means robust-:both
gave her right to keep him under
her own Immediate surveillance, and in
the hands of her personal attendants
for some time to come, she has taken
the step described.
The little king has, of course, from
the hour of his birth, had his own suite
of rooms, with a large staff of officers,
civil and military, especially appointed
to his service, but in most cases their
duties have been nominal; henceforth
they will be strictly defined and carried
out. The Spaniards are very proud of
pointing out the child's resemblance in
features and in character to his ances-
tor, Charles w., though less preju-
diced observers are inclined to say he
is more of Hapsburg than a Bour-
bon. That he has a touch Of the hauteur
and of the self-will of each illustrious
house cannot be denied; but on the
other hand he has, for the present at
all events, gayety of manner and light
ness of heart which are not often re-
marked, even in the early years of the
scions of the two families.
OF the nobility of mind of the royal
lady in whose hand the future happi-
hess of the peninsula rests, to GER
tain degree, no better proof can be
given than by quoting the words with
which she greeted her future husband
soon after she was first presented to
him. It will be remembered that Al
fonso XII. was tenderly devoted to
his wife, and it was hard, indeed, for
him to contemplate the possibility of
another marriage. Realizing this, the
young archduchess, on seeing him sad
ly gazing at a portrait of the lovely
Mercedes, approached him softly: "My
dearest wish is to resemble her in all
things, for, if must succeed her, I dare
not hope TO replace r."-Philadel-
mia PresS