The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-16
CUBAS'S YOUNG MASTER.
THE IBTCITJON IND TRIINING or
THE IOTNG UONIRCH.
lie Hasa strong Military Character and
l. Exceedingly Fond of Everything
Connected with the Army
"A

sutution, will be of age al 10. During
the first nine years OF his life he was al
most exclusively under The devoted care
OF his mother. the Queen Regent. Dona
Maria Christina. and the beginning Of
his education was confdod 10 lady teach
ers in the palace lie quickly learned to
speak English. French. and German be-
sides his own native Spanish. His rain
| er delicate health in those days ana
| Two severe illnesses. from which he for
tunately recovered. led 10 his being al
lowed 10 have femdc attendants and gov
erncsses little later than Is Customary
/ I'm tho rovll ouse Of Spain At the age
OF nine the boy Was placed under the
care of male attendants, and OF officers
carefully selected among men competent
10 conduct his education. He was given
the same valet as his father had had
some thirty years ago. and gray-haired
| Frudencio took up his post near his very
! Young master with the same faithful and
kind watchfuncss as hc had displayed
| for years when ne served the son of
| Queen Isabella The instruction of his
! Catholic Majesty is directed by "A dis
ungushod officer. Gen. Sanchis. formerly
Professor of the Royal Artillery School
no Scgovia. who had among his former
d'Alencon Gen Sanchis has quarters
i'm the palace az have also two other
military tutors Of the King. Major Cas-
uion. Of the STAFF Corps. and Major Lon
ga. Of the Royal ARTILLERY. They are
each on duty hv turns for twenty-four
hours with their royal pupil taking their
meals with him. going out with him.
sleeping I'm 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 naval
officer. Rear Admiral Aguirre dc Teiade.
attached TO his person. as professor
of history and geography. a French lady
gives him lessons in French. and De
keeps up his knowledge OF English chief
iv with his sisters and their English
gOverness during the stay of the Court
at san Sebastian I'm the summer. II APP
pears that the young King Is an atten-
| tive pupil possessing an excellent memo
~. much power OF assimilation. quick in
grasping explanations. apt TO ask the
cause Of most matters put before him.
and very anxious TO understand an he
hears and sees. lie IS 40 times Some
what wilful and wayward but quickly
defcrs 10 admonition. and shows all his
teachers much Difference.
The education Of Alphonso XIII. has
strong military character. like that OF
his father and his ancestors. II happily
gives entire satisfaction % his own In
chnations m SIS exceedingly fond of
tho army. and of everything connected
with soldering He takes "a keen inter
est in the parades the barracks, and the
drills He is simply delighted whenever
his mother takes him 20 SEQ tho canton
monts near Madrid. and calls him 10 the
! balcony Of the palace 20 watch the march
ing of the battalions departing for Cuba.
When the sentries present arms or the
guards turn ont ass he passes. be ace
knowlodges their attentions with the
most correct military salute. This year.
for the first time be wore the uniform
of "a cadet OF the General Military Acad-
| envy # Toledo. the Castilian Sandhurst
lie appeared in the same uniform at the
levees held by The Queen Regent on his
Saints day San Ildefonzo. Jan. 3d. ani
! en- his birthday. May 18th. These are
! the only State ceremonies. with the open
! ing OF Parliament. in which the Young
| King has vet taken part. standing or Sit
ting gravcly on his mothers right hand.
| He hns not yet been present al any even
ing reception or hanquets or theatrical
performances Of any kind or attended
q bull fight.
Much care las been taken with his
physical training. lie has every day
| half am hour or more Of gymnastics. nne
spends about the same time in the riding
school of the palace. 81 picadcro. lie
likes rorscs and riding. Nothing pieases
| him more than when the queen takes
him for n long ride outside Madrid 300
some of the royal parks. BEFORE hc was
allowed TO have horses ne used 20 ride
donkcvs. Ilc De- very fond of driving %
pair OF ponies that are kept for his spec
cial service Every afternoon. when the
weather permits. Dec spends couple OF
hours i'm the open air. but is. Of course.
able TO take more exercise and fresh
air. in San Sebastian during the summer
than I'm Madrid. This year he enjoyed
his sea bathing for the first time, though
he cannot swim well yet. Fencing is an
art he is most anxious 10 bee allowed %
learn. Up TO the present time Doe has
not INDUCED in cycling. though IL is as
much the rage in Spain as in any other
country. He tried once. no Miramar
summer palace. I'm San Sebastian. tri-
cycle. which came roughly into contact
with stones ana caused "a slight bruise.
without however. dampng his determi-
nation 20 try again. II is said. indeed.
that Alphonso MIL resembles his father
in his stoadincss of purpose when once
hc has made up his mind 90 do anything.
future ruler of Spain must not only
be a. soldier. but hc is bound to Doe %
good Catholic Also especially as bee is iu
this ease tho Godchid of Pope Leo NIL,
and ON many occasions has been shown
marked kindness by Dis Holiness. 80
European court sent moro touching and
more frequent Inquiries than the Vatican
every time that the little King has been
seriously 800.
no more powerful ana more efficient
influence was ever ntcrposcd 10 secure
the good Will OF the Church of Spain and
Of IT'S prolatcs for Alphonso Kill since
1856 than that of the Pope. The Queen
Regent has conhded the religious educa-
ton of her son 10 a learned and highly
respected priest Though Spanish Cath
olics aye. ass "a rule confirmed and made
90 take their first communion very early.
sometimes before they are ten years old
Alphonso XIII. has not yet been confirm
cd or prepared for his first communion
There has been some talk however. OF
his going for this purpose 20 the histori-
cal shrine of CoNadOnga. i'm Asturias.
In personal appearance AlphonsO MI.
IS good-lookng boy. but not tail or
strongly built for his age. lie has a
wcll-proportioned figure and walks very
erect with light. quick step. active move
mcnts that show stamina and health. de-
spite his slender frame and delicate. fair
complexion. His face is bright his fca-
lures regular. his eyes large. and with
much the same expression and Viyacity
as his fathers. His forehead Is high
ANA broad with the archcd eyebrows that