The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-04-28
( EGabihdT'e enSl.G, GsolugpD.l


by Stuart Cumberland, "thought
render" of European fame, who thus
speaks of her mnjesty: ~ have ex.
perimented with many women of note
-empresses. queens, great author
esses, artists, travellers, most of them
women of known strong character,
but for downright concentration of
thought aud determination of purpose,
] have scarcely met the equal of the
Qneen Regent of Spain"
With this as a keynote to the secret
of the little monnrch's life training, it
is not surprising to learn that the
sickly "cross" bnby has developed
into fine specimen of sturdy boy
hood, both morally and physically.
He was born on May II, 1856, near
Madrid, six months after the death of
his father, Alfonso MI, when his sis.
ters the lnfnntas Marin de las Mercedes
aud Marin Theresa, were respectively
six and four years of age. The Palace
del Pardo, u gloomy residence about
eight miles from the capital, was the
scene of the young kings birth, his
mother having removed there some
time before, much TO the annoyance
Of the Spannrds, who considered that
the dark forest and the high wall, over
fifty miles in length, shut her oif too
completely from her people.
From his infancy the etiquette of
the country has demanded that the
king should preside on certain occu-
siOns ut state councils, Mt the recep-
tions of the representatives. OF foreign
courts, and Mt special services in the
Cathedral of Madrid. An amusing
story is told of his majesty on one such
occasion, when he was too young to
understand, but not too young to he
bored. A bishop wns preaching a
long sermon, md tho monorchs $ expe-
| ricnce hnd taught him he was expected
| to remain till it was concluded. \
| quarter Of an hour, half, three-quur-
ters passed, and still the bishop
preached on. At last the child felt
that he could endure it no more, and
| tearing off his little gloves, he flung
them almost at the bishops feet. with
such II look of anger aud impatience,
thnt the preacher judged it well to
bring his discourse abruptly to n
| close.
When the court leaves Madrid, the
queen regent aud her children gener-
| ally go to the pleasant watering place
| of San Sebastian. Here swimming ID
their favorite pastime, and the warm
! waters Of the south allow them to
spend II much longer time Mt the ex-
| ercise than would be advisable in our
colder cline. The queen herself is
nn expert swimmer, md to be "ns
| clever in the water ns the mother" is
IL wish the little monarch has often ex-
| pressed.
The Juvenile king must spend many
hours ut his books, even during vaca-
| tion time. Fortunately for himself,
he is not II dull child, and he is es-
pecially quick at languages. Spanish,
of course, is his native tongue. Ger
man lie has spoken much with his
| Austrian mother, and with French,
| Italian and English he is fairly prof.
| cient. The last named he is studying
under an English governess, of whom
ho is very fond, 80 his progress is
rapid, while he often amuses himself
by making an Irish secretary in tho
household of the queen teach him va
rious slang terms, which he brings ont
when English visitors nre present, often
rs much to their astonishment us their
amusement.
Nevertheless, the little king has
great dignity of his own. He is often
as naughty in his bearing as any OF
his arrogant ancestors, whether OF
Iber,an or of Austrian birth, and it is
certain that no one would ever be so
il.-advised rs to take liberty with
| him.
Since he completed his tenth year,
his majesty has hnd complete estab.
lishment of his own; but while at the
sea during the summer, the stern rules
of the court are relnxed to certain
extent, and he is allowed little of
the freedom which alone makes hap
piness in n young life a possibility +;
and it is at this time especially, tina,
| he finds the rather strict rule of his