The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-26
THE BOY KING OF SPAIN
HIS AUToCRATIC LITTLE WAYS HAVE
AMUSED ALL EUROPE.
Seven Years Before He May Mount the
Throne, and in that Time Spain
May be Lost to Him.


entire world particularly of all Americans,
by reason of the delicate negotiations now
pending between the United States ana
Spain relative to the pacification OF CUBA
Never since the birth of the boy King Al
fonso XIII has the Spanish political horizon
been more threatening than it is To-day
With stubborn rebellion in his colonies the
mutterings of revolution in his capital. ana
Don Carlos knocking at the gates OF ms
palace many doubt whether the dynasty
will survive the seven years that yet remain
before the youthful monarch may begln TO
reign. But, whatever destiny may nave III
store for the Spanish monarchy, whetheT
the Bourbon throne endureS or is over
thrown the sight of a woman and her chliu
on the throne of that naughty race, PROUD
even in it's misfortunes. at most crltlcaf
moment of the nations history, cannot but
enlist every ones sympathy. The queen
Regent Marie Christine and the boy hlng
will ALWAYS be remembered among the most
interesting and romantic figures of modern
history.
If there is one dream more than another
INDUCED in by young girls, it is to be
beautiful princess and to marry a charming
prince Such a dream was realized by the
Archduchess Marie of Austria who marIleo
Alfonso XII the late King OF Spaln' III
1879. only to weep at his tomb SIX years
later. A pathetic contrast that, between the
sad and dignified appearance OF the wiz
owed Queen Regent of to-day ana the Slll-
ish figure of the merry hearted young arch-
duchess who was wooed by her Klngly loVei
in the woods of Arcachon
The Queen Regent is still beautltui
woman. but the cares of state have given
face. which adds to the dignity and majesty
of her presence and makes her look oluel
than she really is, for she is just thirty
nine. Since the late Kings death she mas
steadily won her way into the hearts OF the
neOple whom she rules in the name VI me-
son. and it has been said that SPAIN 9w HSo
her deep debt for having transLorle9 TO 70
court of Madrid from the most immoral ~
probably the purest in all Europe. - -ooc
1t was on the morning of May u, e nooo,
that royal salute OF twenty.pne SS ultS had
the palace announced that the queen ma, had
been delivered of a boy. Inc eVSns ~
been awaited with anxiety for weeks. ne ne
Queer had caused prayers 70 pc oneIeu IA
all the churches for her safe delivery. ana
was herself obliged, as regent 10 slsn tro
regulations to be observed on the occasloi1
of the birth Every oe naild Was MAS born the
camarera major was at once 10 dlspd!t'ch .iio
news to the president of the COUNCIL WIo
was to inform the captain general % No
ria and the commander of the halberdiers,
sn that hat the nroper signals might be given
announcing the fact to the populace u
Madrid If the child was prince, tHeH tle
Spanish standard must be run up over Tue
palace and a salvo of tWenty-ohe s uiiiSa
fired; if it were princess, the nag WIN
be white and the number or guns elgnleen.
IF the birth should be at night lanterns
would be hoisted, red or white, accoruIne
to the sex of the infant. A Madrla news VS.
naDer at the time made the following an
nouncement: 1.-THE cyclone has passed anu
the King has come; the smallest possible
quantity OfNa king .4o.,o,,+
In the streets the greatest excitement
prevailed Crowds rushed toward the Plaza
Oriente to gaze on the red banner noisteo
over the Queens apartments IN IIie P e.lacS.
The bells chimed joyouSly and the cannon
Close to the Queens apartments, in a
magnificent ante-chamber, were the nuhCIo
the ministers of the crown, the lnIanta Eu-
lalia, the foreign representatives, the loruS
and ladies in waiting, the captain generaff
of Madrid, deputations OF DOM nous USE +h be
members of the royal household. The doors
of the regents chamber were thrown open ,
and the prime minister appeared careI oni;
carrying the child on velvet cusnioh Gov
cred with lace veil. The baby King was
presented to those present and his MaJesty
was then handed to the head nurse. VINO
retired with him, and the minister or JUS
tice registered the birth.
The next thing to do after his dlmlnutlVe
majesty had been duly saluted by all the
church and state dignitaries was to choose
a name for the infant. The Queen mace up
her mind from the start that ms name
should be Alfonso. But his Most Cathonc
Majesty King of CASTLE and Aragon and
the Indies and a grande OF SPAIN coulu
not go through the world with only one one
his godfather, Pope Leo Kill. terna,nuo
had been the name desired by ms Iatnerc
No good Spaniard could omit the name OF
Maria or that of Santiago. the patron OF
Spain The plowman Isidore was the
esneciaI patron of Madrid, while Paschal,
the shepherd saint OF Aragon; Is ine p pc ~
&c, hirfbd
VIENNA is the patron of the christening udy.
Thus the little sovereign's name was , eA-
tended to eight names-AlIohSo ngor ~ 81
nando Maria Santiago Isidore Paschal Mar
clan r. 4,5 80 ~
Kings infancy, and the following one SHOWS
ance. The Queen in private called him Al
phonsito and by many other endearlng
names, and on one occasion MINISTER ss, a,,
tn his Majesty How are you, Alphonslto!
The King looked at him, and then replied:
''To mamma I am Alphonsito; but to you l
am the King"
Tie first time the royal attendants tried to
ban his Majesty in cold water there was
a dreadful scene. He firmly declined TO
leave his warm cot, and the ladies' had TO
appeal to the Queen, for or course none
might Law violent hands on the sacred per-
son of majesty. Come, baby, SAD MS
mother, going up to his bedside II tell
you to do it will you have your bath? Ills
Majesty maintained an obstinate silence.
'sWeU then, / shall not tell you to do 1T,
baby. but I shall go to my room and cry
because YOU will not obey me" The little
chaps better instincts were moved, and
jumping up he cried, "Tll take my bath,
mamma.
Alfonso XIII has the same instincts as
other boys although he is a King. One day
he was seen gazing with unwonted interest
out of one of the windows OF the royal
palace. When asked what he looking
at he pointed to two urchins who were busy
making mud pies and the King begged,
with tears in his eyes to be allowed to go
and make mud pies with them. The infor-
nation that etiquette forbade kings to in
dulge in such pastimeS failed to console
him At other times his Majesty would take
his exalted rank more seriously and often
closed an argument by stamping his foot
and crying, automatically, Il am the King
Alfonso XIII is now in his eleventh year
and he has developed from a baby into
boy. He is a handsome lad but has a most
fair and his eyes are blue. His thin lips
are almost bloodless, and there is a far
away. dreamy look in his eyes as if he were
already physically weary of life. However,
he is said to be outgrowing this physical
weakness He has an English governess,
besides other tutors but his mother super
vises his education. The young monarch
rides q bicycle and he has pet pony, of
which he is very fond re Queen was
most anxious that he should learn German,
and in a reading book she gave him was
musSen gut regiern'' (kings must rule well.)
Alfonso learned the verse by heart and then
at bedtime he said to his mother: Il have
ruled we'll to-day, have / not?
Two or three years ago boys battalion.
recruited for the youthful members of the