The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-18
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SPANS YOUNG KING.
lie Is 10 Years Old and Is Being
Trained as a Soldier.

From the London Standard.
Alphonso XIII, the young King of Spain,
was born May II, 1886, not quite six
months after the death of his father, AL
phonso XII. He is, therefore, in his 18th
year, and according to the constitution,
will be of age at Is. During the first nine
years of his life he was almost exclusive
ly under the devoted care of his mother,
the queen regent, Dona Maria Christina,
and the beginning of his education was
conhded TO lady teachers in the palace.
He quickly learned to speak English,
French and German, besides his own ma
tive Spanish. His rather delicate health
in those days and two sever illnesses,
from which he fortunately recovered, led
to his being allowed to have female at
tend&ntS and governesses a little later
than is customary in the royal house of
Spain. At the age of 8 the boy was placed
under the case of male attendants, and of
officers carefully selected among men
competent to conduct his education. He
was given the same valet his father had
had some thirty years ago, and gray
haired Prudencio took up his post near
his very young master with the same
faithful and kind watchfulness as he had
displayed for years when he served the
son of Queen Isabella. The instruction of
his Catholis majesty is directed by dis
tinguished officer Gen. Sanchis, formerly
Segovia, who had among his former pupils
the Count dEu and the Count d Alecon.
Gen. Sanchis has quarters in the palace,
as have also two other military tutors
of the king, Maj. Castijon of the staff
corps, and Maj. Tonga of the Royal Artll-
lery. They are each on duty by turns
for twenty-four hours with their royal pu-
pill, taking their meals with him. going out
with him. sleeping in his room, and never
losing sight of him except when he joins
his mother and sisters. They teach him
Spanish, mathematics, algebra, literature
and drawing. The king has a naval OFF,
Ger, Rear Admiral Aguirre de Tejade at
tached to his person, as a professor of
history and geography; a French lady
gives him lessons in French. and he keeps
up his knowledge of English chiefly with
his sisters and their English governess
during the stay of the court at San Sc
bastian in the summer. 1t appears that
the young king is an attentive pupil pos
sessing an excellent memory, much power
of assimilation, quick in grasplng explain
ations. apt to ask the cause Of most mat
ters put before him, and very anxious to
understand all he hears and sees. He is
at times somewhat wilful and wayward,
but quickly defers to admonition, and
shows all his teachers much Difference
The education of Alphonso XIII has a
strong military character, like that of his
father and his ancestors. 1t happily gives
entire satisfaction TO his own inclinatons
He is exceedingly fond of the army, and
of everything connected with soldering
He takes a keen interest in the parades
the barracks and the drills. He is simply
delighted whenever his mother takes him
to see the environments near Madrid, and
calls him to the balcony of the palace to
watch the marching of the battalions de-
parting for Cuba. When the sentries pre-
scented arms or the guards turn out as he
passes, he acknowledges their attentions
with the most correct military salute
This year, for the first time, he wore the
uniform of a cadet of the general military
Academy of Toledo the Castilan Sand
hurst. He appeared i'm the same uniform
at the levees held by the queen regent on
his saints day. San lldefonze, Jan. 23
and on his birthday, May II. These are
the only state ceremonies, with the open
ing of parliament, in which the young
king has yet taken part, standing or sit
ting gravely on his mothers right hand
He has not yet been presented at any
evening reception or banquet or theatre
cal performances of any kind, or attended
a bull fight.
Much care has been taken with his
physical training. He has every day half
an hour or more Of gymnastics and
spends about the same time In the riding
school of the palace, ell picadero. He
likes horses and riding. Nothing pleases
him more than when the queen takes him
for a long ride outside Madrid in some
of the royal parks. Before he was allow
ed to have horses he used TO ride don
keys. lie is very fond OF driving pair
OF ponies that are kept for his special
service. Every afternoon, when the
weather permits, he spends a couple OF
hours In the open air but is. of course.
able to take more exercise and fresh air
In San Sebastian during the summer than