The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-09-03

| that he shows himself too much to them. I should not be at all surprised if the lad did not catch the measles from some of his playmates in the Casa de Campo"
 The Casa de Campo, should say is magnificent and very extensive royal park which is closed to the public, and opened only to very few, who must obtain card each time they wish to enter 1t. I had once seen the king there With two humble-lookng boys, but I did not know at the time who they We're. My interlocutor went on:.
 He is always playing with those boys, don't say that they are not excellent company for him, but doubt whether king ought to become inti- mate with any of the lower orders of his subjects"
 And is His Majesty intimate with any of his comrades of the Casa de l Campo?" I asked
 "Oh, yes; with one of them. They are l great chums; always together, two in- separables, in fact; but, of course, they only meet and amuse themselves in the Casa de Campo"
 | And who are all these boys, then?"
 They are only the sons of keepers very humble folk for king to associate with. I dare say they are quite as good as other boys of their age but cannot look at the matter in quite the same light as the chief of His Majesty's stud les, General Sandui, and have often told him so.''
 And when does the king run wild about the park?" I inquired.
 "Oh, centrally in the afternoon. You see, he is busy during the day, aud he likes to take the air when his work is practically over"
 And has he much work to do?"
 Well, enough for delicate boy of his age. I have never been one of His Majesty's teachers, but I know the king and know them very well, and can say that great care is bestowed upon his studies"
 Does he learn Latin?"
 Most certainly. No Spanish educa- ton would be complete without that Yes and he has read q good deal of Virgil and Caesar. We'll anyhow, he is getting on splendidly, and he has an ad- mirable professor to coach him. Senor Lorigo."
 | te studies?" I inquired. < "Oh, yes; and so, too, is geography; they complement each other, don't you | know"
 "Who is the kings professor of histo- ry?"
 Tt is Senor Lorigo, the same who teaches hm Latin. He also gives him lessons In geography"
 | 'Oh, he has an encyclopaedia head, has Senor Lorigo-a wonderful man. firmly believe he would teach him Chi nese or astronomy tomorrow, if asked Nobody knows what mines of knowl- edge lie there unexploited. l don't be- lieve he knows it himself"
 And what other languages does His Majesty have to learn?"
 French. the language of diplomacy; German, the native tongue of his royal mother. and English"
 Does the Queen Regent superintend his studies herself?"
 "Yes; in a general way. But the chief of His Majesty's studies Is Gene ral Sandui who has to fix the hours, see that everything and everybody is in readiness, to report progress etc.
 What are the other principal stud- ies of His Majesty?"
 Mathematics, of course, being the basis of all military science. This is taught by Colonel Castejor, of the mili- tary staff Then religions. Christian | doctrine, ethics, etc, are very impor- tant for a modern monarch, and these are all taught by Father Don Regino Zaragosa, who tells me that His Ma jesty is extremely apt at learning, and remarkably ingenious at picking hole in an argument and detecting flaw in q web of logio."
 And does this exhaust the list of His Majesty's occupations?"
 ''Oh, not at all, He has many others, | which very according to the days. The Queen Regent is very musical you know. I believe all Austrians are. She therefore wishes her son to play. He is consequently taught the piano by the Marchioness of Miraflores, and is rnak- ing progress"
 He seems to be making progress in everything, then?" I remarked interro- gatively.
 He does, and it is not seeming only, I can tell you. He is a bright lad. Be- tween ourselves, he is just too bright precocious is what I should call it, and I fancy 1t is one of the results of his physical health, which has always been poor. I very much fear the lad bears about with him the germs of consump- ton, inherited from his father. I sin | cerely hope not, for all our sakes, as we'll as his own, but can give you my own impression. Well and strong he | has never been. Anyhow, whatever the causes, it is certain that he is intelli- gent beyond his years, and his intelli- gence extends to practice as well as the ory. and imparts infinitely more tact to his deeds than most of his countrymen possess.
 For example: One day, when play ing in the Casa de Campo with that in- innate friend of his, the keepers son. the king asked the lad what o'clock it was. I have no idea, was the reply. Oh, but you ought to have an idea, l said the king; why have you none?' | Because I have no watch 'H'm!' On the following day the boy received a splendid gold watch to supply him with ideas about time.
 "One afternoon His Majesty, on re- | turning from a walk ascended the staircase and looked in vain for the of ficer who should have been in command l