The times., 1897-05-03
MISERLY OLD LEOPOLD.
The King of the BeIgians Makes One
Present Do Many Times.

or no sovereign OF the old world are
more petty meannesses related thIn Of
King Leopold of Belgium, and every Eu-
ropean court, as wen as each diplomatic
chancelerie, has innumerable anecdotes
in stock bearing upon the subject. Just
at the present time there is q story OF
this kind in circulation, which Is too char
acteristic OF his thrifty majesty not to
be placed on record II is customary at
the various European courts for each for
eign diplomat to receive from the SOW
ereign parting gift on presenting his let
tcrs of recall. Sometimes this presenta-
tion takes the form OF decoration. But
where English or American diplomats are
concerned, or when the dignitary in gues-
ton happens 10 be already invested with
the highest order in the gift OF the SOW
ereign, he receives either an oil portrait
OF the monarch or a magnificent piece of
porcelain, or else a jeweled cigar-case OF
snuff-boX.
Four years ago a foreign diplomat, who
shall be nameless, presented his letters
of recall to King Leopold, who invited him
to a farewell banquet at the palace, pre-
senting him during the course Of the even
ing with a superb golden cigar case, stud
sojourn at the court of Belgium, and Of
his majesty's appreciation OF the services
that he had rendered.
On the day following the presentation a
note arrived from Count John dOultre-
mont, the grand master Of the Kings
household, and the fidus achates OF the
monarch, begging that the case might be
returned for some slight alteration-sOme-
interior of the case. OF course, the diplo-
mat sent it. A few days elapsed. Then
the diplomat ventured to inquire how the
alterations were progressing, and when
he might expect a return of the case, as
he was in a hurry to leave the country
and get home A polite reply was forwarded
that the alterations would be completed
in day or two.
At considerable inconvenience the diplO-
mat tarried a week, preferring delay to
intrusting the costly gift TO a shipping
agent to deliver to him in England. A
fortnight elapsed, three weeks, and then,
in despair, after wasting much station
cry and ink, the wearied foreigner set
sail from Belgium, leaving his address be-
hind him. From that day to this the cigar
case has never turned up.
Recently, however, he met ms success
sor, who. in his turn, had just left Brus-
sells The latter was full of enthusiasm
about the King.
Leopold he exclaimed, lis n capital
chap. WhenI took my leave Of him he pre-
sented me with a splendid gold cigar case,
heavily incrusted with magnificent gems
1 would like to show it TO you, only they
asked to have it back for bit to make an
alteration of some sort
The smile that developed on the features
Of the other diplomat became both broad
and eventually loud, and further investi-
CATION brought To light the faCt that set
other diplomats had been i'll treated in the
same manner. Presumably, the identical
gold cigar case had done duty for them
all.
The foreign diplomatic corps now sta
toned at Brussels have accordingly been
warned Of thrifty King Lcopold's little
trick, and it is probable that on the next
occasion when his grand chamberlain
writes to have the cigar case sent back
for alterations, il viii not he forthcoming.