The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-28
Little alfonso, SPANS Boy King.
MUCH THE SAME OTHER BOYs-YOUNGEST MAJESTY

IN THE WORLD.

ment prevailed. Crowds pushed toward
the plaza oriente to gaze on the red
banner hoisted over the queens apart
ments In the palace. The bells chimed
joyously and the cannon roared.
Close to the queens apartments, In
a magnificent antechamber, were the
nuncio, the minister Of the crown, the
Infanta Eulalia, the foreign represen-
tatives, the lords and ladies in wait
ing, the captain general Of Madrid,
Populations Of both houses Of parlia-
ment, the Madrid authorities, and the
members of the royal household. The
doors of the regents chamber were
thrown open and the prime minister
appeared carefully carrying the child
on a velvet cushion covered with lace
veil. The baby king was presented to
those present, and his majesty was
then handed to the head nurse, who re-
tired with him, and the minister of
justice registered the birth.
The next thing to do after his
diminutive majesty had been duly
saluted by all the church and state dig
nitaries was to choose a name for the
infant. The queen made UP her mind
from the start that his name should be
Alfonso. But His Most Catholic Mai
esty King of CASTLE and Aragon and
the Indies and a grandee Of Spain,
could not go through the world with
only one name. So he was also named
Leon after his godfather, Pope Leo
XIII. Fernando had been the name
desired by his father. No good Spanfard
could omit the name or Maria or that
of Santiago, the patron Of Spain. The
ploughman Isidore was the especial
patron of Madrid. while naschal, the
shepherd saint of Aragon, is the patron
of the kings birthday and Marcian Of
Ravenna is the patron of his christen-
ing day. Thus the little sovereigp's
name was extended to eight names
Alfonso, Leon, Fernando, Maria, San
tiago, Isidore, Paschal Marcian R.
AM THE KINGw
A number Of anecdotes are old Of
the kings infancy, and the following
one shows that he early understood his
own Importance. The queen in private
called him Alphonsito and by many
other endearing names, and on one &C.
casion a minister said to his majesty,
"How are you, Alphonsito?' The<ktng
looked at him, and then replied--''To
mamma, am Alphonsito; but to you 1
am the king.
The first time the royal attendants
tried to battle 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 of course none might lay
violent hands on the sacred person Of
majesty. Come, baby" said his moth
er. going UP to his bedside. IF l tell
you to do 1t will you have your BATH"
His majesty maintained an obstinate
silence. "Well, then, 1 shall not tell
YOU to do it, baby, but 1 shall go to
nv room and cry because you will not
obey me-" The little chaps better in
stincts were moved, and jumping up
he cried, "I'll take my bath, mamma"
LIKES MAKING MUD PIES.
Alfonso XIII. has the same instincts
as other boys although he is king.
One day he was seen gazing with I'M
Wonted interest out of one Of the win
dows Of the royal palace. When asked
what he was 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
information that etiquette forbade
kings to indulge 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, IT am the king"
Alfonso XIII. is now in his eleventh
wear and he has developed from baby
into a boy. He Ia q handsome lad, but
has a most delicate constitution. His
face is pale. thin and delicate looking.